Attorney General's News Release

August 7, 2006

Nixon warns of home-repair crews going door to door in central and western Missouri defrauding consumers

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon is warning consumers in central and western Missouri to be wary of questionable companies going door to door offering asphalt paving, lightning rods and electrical wiring services. Reports last week from Cass, Cooper, Jackson, Morgan and Pettis counties indicate that crews are targeting elderly residents, offering cheap driveway repair and telling homeowners their aluminum wiring is a fire hazard and needs to be replaced with copper.

Nixon and law enforcement authorities in Cooper County say the companies operate under different names including Rickey's Lightning Rod, Inc. and Tom's Asphalt. Consumers say the door-to-door solicitors use high-pressure sales tactics, begin work then demand more money and in some cases collect money and disappear. The Attorney General's Office is working with local law enforcement to look into the recent rash of complaints about home repair fraud.

“Con artists often try to take advantage of seniors by scaring them into thinking something is dangerously wrong with their homes,” Nixon said. “Consumers considering home repairs need to seek out a good contractor, not rely on a solicitor who shows up at the doorstep.”

Nixon says home-repair scams often begin with a door-to-door sales pitch. The asphalt paving scenario is a classic scam, with a con artist claiming he has left over building materials from a recent job. Typically, the crook collects money up front from the consumer, then does little or no work and vanishes. Consumers in other Missouri counties also should be wary, Nixon said, since home repair con artists move quickly from one area to another to avoid being caught.

Consumer who have problems with these companies or any other home-repair contractor can file a complaint by calling Nixon's Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222 or visiting his Web site, www.ago.mo.gov. Tips on avoiding home repair fraud may also be found on the Attorney General's Web site.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818