ATTORNEY GENERAL LARRY LONG WARNS CONSUMERS TO BE WARY OF SPRING SCAMS 

(Pierre)- Attorney General Larry Long is warning South Dakota consumers about transient paving, roofing and painting scams that surface every spring. Traveling crews wander from door-to-door promising low prices for roofing, paving or painting because of leftover materials from some other jobs they just finished. What the consumer actually receives is a poor quality job that will not last, but the crew will be long gone. 

Some tips to consider: 

• Request a written contract specifying in detail the work to be done and the agreed upon price.
• Be cautious if cash-only terms are required.
• Ask for local references and call these references to make sure they were satisfied.
• Get bids from local companies to compare prices. If you buy locally, you will know where you can find the seller.
• Consumers have a three day right to cancel on door-to-door sales contracts.
• Sellers must provide the consumer with a copy of the contract or receipt at the time of the sale. This receipt must show the date of the sale, the name and address of the merchant, and a statement to the buyer of his or her right to cancel the contact within three days.
• After proper cancellation, the seller has 10 days to refund your money.
• Remember that a legitimate offer does not require you to have the work done immediately. Do not get pressured into a sale.

Contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Office at 1-800-300-1986 or consumerhelp@state.sd.us with questions or concerns about transient contractors prior to having such work done. 

-30-