In short
Mayor Dave Maughan’s July 2024 column is about contractor scams. He writes that Syracuse is not immune to the fraudulent contractor practices seen elsewhere, and that a labor shortage in Utah makes it harder to find qualified help. The column describes the tactics he says are showing up locally, including unusually low prices, pressure to decide fast, and work done without a license or insurance. It ends with a list of checks residents can run before hiring, and asks people to report suspicious activity to local authorities or consumer protection agencies.
Everything else
What the mayor describes
- The mayor writes that one common scam is a contractor offering quick fixes or home improvement work at unusually low prices, often going neighborhood to neighborhood in the summer and claiming to have leftover materials from a nearby job. Payment is made, then the work is poor or the contractor disappears.
- He says urgency is a tactic: a contractor may claim limited availability or say the deal is only good for the first few people to put money down, to rush the decision.
- He cautions that online searches and social media are also where scammers look for victims, since no license is needed to set up a page or website. Recommendations from friends and neighbors are better references.
- Another tactic he reports seeing in Syracuse is contractors working without proper licensing or insurance, advertising through flyers or online ads. If unlicensed work does not meet code, the homeowner can be liable for damages or have to pay to have it redone.
Checks the column asks residents to make
- Verify licenses and insurance with the Utah Department of Commerce or local authorities, for the specific type of work. A door-to-door solicitor in Syracuse must display a permit to solicit.
- Ask for references from previous clients and check online reviews on platforms such as Google or Yelp.
- Get a business address, phone number, and business account details. The column says scammers avoid permanent addresses and contact details.
- Get more than one estimate, for the information it gives you and not just the lowest price.
- Read the whole contract before signing, including payment schedule, warranties, and the specifics of the work. The column notes many scams run on paper estimates or verbal agreements only.
- Pay by check or credit card to create a paper trail, and tie payments to project milestones instead of a large amount up front. The column warns that Venmo or Zelle payments to personal accounts cannot be canceled if the work is never done, unless marked as a business transaction.
Contact
- Mayor Dave Maughan: [email protected], 801-927-7752.
- Residents are asked to report suspicious or fraudulent activity to local authorities or consumer protection agencies promptly.
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