Protect Yourself From “CalFinder Scams”
With more and more scam artists taking to the Internet for fraudulent activities, it’s important that you learn to recognize a scam before it begins. Often, scammers will use the names of trusted, established brands to appear credible. CalFinder is one such brand that may be impersonated to deceive consumers. So-called “CalFinder scams” are in fact unknown individuals trying to exploit the trust between CalFinder and its users. To protect yourself from a “CalFinder scam,” it’s best to know what information CalFinder will and will not request from you.
Real CalFinder Service vs. Scammers
CalFinder exists to connect homeowners with remodeling contractors, and vice versa. Know that CalFinder is free to homeowners, and though they require minimal information from you to find your best contractor match, they will never solicit money from you for any reason.
To match you with local contractors, CalFinder will only request your phone number, street address and brief description of the work you would like done.
CalFinder will also call you at the number you provided, confirm that your information is correct, and make sure that you are “estimate ready” before connecting you with local contractors.
CalFinder will never:
● Ask you for a payment of any kind. The service is 100% free to homeowners.
● Ask you for your credit card information, finance accounts, social security number or other confidential information.
● Call you after 9 p.m. or inundate you with unsolicited calls.
● Coerce or otherwise push you into booking contractor appointments.
Consumers sometimes complain that they receive too many phone calls from these types of contractor services. Know that if you are browsing many sites for estimates and enter your information into several of them, you are going to receive more calls as a result. It’s best to pick one that you trust and use that service alone for estimates.
Contractor Scams
When shopping for contractors, you must also be wary of “certification scams.” This is when contractors try to represent themselves as “CalFinder certified,” when in fact they are unaffiliated with the organization. CalFinder certifies contractors only after confirming that they are licensed, insured and quality-approved.
If you request estimates from CalFinder contractors, you will receive an e-mail with the names and phone numbers of your contractor matches. Therefore, you will know your contractor is CalFinder-certified if their business is listed as a match in that e-mail.
CalFinder never shares your personal information with anyone other than certified contractors. If you believe a contractor has obtained your information by other means, call the authorities to investigate.
Protection from Fraud
As a rule of thumb, it’s best to:
● Never pay a contractor more than 20% of fees upfront for your remodel. Some states limit upfront payments to 10% as a protection for homeowners.
● Always request written estimates rather than verbal quotes.
● Check your contractor’s references, licensing and insurance before signing a contract.
● Conduct daily walkthroughs during the remodel, pay close attention to the materials being used and ensure they match those specified in the contract.
● Maintain clear and open communication with your contractor to ensure he is meeting your scheduling expectations.
● Keep a journal or daily log of progress made. Written accounts are the most useful in the event of a dispute down the road.
If you requested referrals from CalFinder, you can always call them to confirm that your contractor is in fact certified. If he is not, and you do suspect a scam, contact the authorities immediately.