MADISON, Wis. — In the wake of severe weather that brought hail and tornadoes to several Wisconsin communities, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is advising property owners to exercise caution when approached by door-to-door repair crews.
According to DATCP, transient repair crews, often referred to as “storm chasers,” may appear in affected neighborhoods using high-pressure tactics to solicit business. These crews frequently promise quick fixes but have been known to provide substandard work or take payment without completing any repairs.
“A repair crew knocking on a consumer’s door and promising a quick fix may be tempting, but storm chasers have been known to provide poor quality work, or take payment and not complete any work at all,” DATCP stated in a release earlier this spring.
DATCP notes that many of these crews are not from Wisconsin and travel throughout the Midwest during spring and summer to capitalize on vulnerable consumers. Their transient nature makes them difficult to track, and if issues arise, it may be impossible for consumers to recover their money.
To protect themselves, DATCP recommends that consumers:
- Hire established local contractors instead of unknown, out-of-state crews.
- Be wary of high-pressure sales tactics and unsolicited offers.
- Ensure all agreements are in writing and understand the terms before signing.
For more information or to report suspicious activity, consumers can contact DATCP’s Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 422-7128 or visit ConsumerProtection.wi.gov.
