Consumer Alerts!
Door-to-Door Sales: Your Right to Cancel (June 2011)
When homeowners head to the back yard during Iowa’s warmest months, sellers head to the front porch. The products they sell vary: magazines, home security systems, home improvement or home repair projects, household products, or even food products like meat or fruits. But their sales tactics are often quite similar—they’re high-pressure.Read More
ID Theft: Prevent & Protect (May 2011)
Whether it’s a computer hacker who steals personal information through the Internet, or a thief who steals it the old-fashioned way, someone can use that information to commit fraud and steal your identity. Criminals can use the information to obtain goods or services, obtain bogus government documents, or even get a job, all under your name.Read More
Nailing Down Home Repair Rip-Offs & Disputes (April 2011)
Spring and summer are prime seasons for home improvement projects, and also for home improvement scams and fraud. Home improvement fraud includes contractors who ask for substantial up-front payments, do little or no work, or never finish the job right. Other contractors offer a low price and then unrealistically charge more as the job progresses, otherwise known as “lowballing.” Others are “fly-by-night” traveling con-artists working their roofing, paving, chimney repair, tree trimming or “storm chaser” scam artists who show up after the damaging storm leaves.Read More
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