EMERGENCY NUMBERS TO HAVE ON HAND
Florida Rural Legal Services
Belle Glade
(561) 993-0003 or 1-888-993-0003
Fort Myers
(239) 334-4554 or 1-800-476-8937
Immokalee
(239) 657-3681 or 1-800-476-1837
Lakeland
(863) 688-7376 or 1-800-277-7680
West Palm Beach
(561) 820-8902 or 1-800-284-4588
FEMA 1-800-621-3362
FEMA Florida Bar Hotline
1-866-550-2929
Department of Financial Services Insurance Claim Hotline 1-800-227-8676
Agency for Workforce Innovation Unemployment Claims 1-800-204-2418
Attorney General’s Price Gouging Hotline 1-800-646-0444
American Red Cross Food, Shelter & Financial Assistance 1-866-438-4636
Adapted by Florida Rural Legal Services with thanks to
Legal Services of North Florida, Inc.
Our Thanks to:
The Florida Bar Foundation
HOME REPAIR
DO’S & DON’TS
AFTER THE STORM
A LEGAL AID GUIDE
Florida Rural
Legal Services, Inc.
SOME CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTING
DO’S AND DON’TS
• DO ask to see the
contractor’s license and make sure it matches the person showing it;
• DO determine how long the contractor has been in business;
• DO contact the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (850-487-2252) or www.myflorida.com to verify the current status of the license;
• DO ask for references and check them out;
• DO choose several contractors and get estimates from each; and
• DO get the agreement in writing – read the contract, fill in all the blank spaces, make sure it contains the contractor’s name, address, telephone number, license number, description of the work, completion date, and any warranty agreements.
✖ DON’T hire a contractor who requires advance payment – arrange to pay upon completion or in installments;
✖ DON’T sign the work completion certificate until all the work is satisfactorily completed;
✖ DON’T pay cash; and
✖ DON’T pull the construction permits.
WATCH OUT FOR SCAMS!
Victims of Natural Disasters should take care not to be victimized a second time – by unscrupulous adjusters, contractors or retailers.
Verify that an adjuster is licensed by calling (800) 227-8676.
Consumers should verify that a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) or SBA (Small Business Administration) representative has a laminated photo identification card. A FEMA or SBA jacket or shirt is NOT proof of an affiliation.
“The price-gouging statute does not forbid making a profit, but it does forbid profiteering.”
Consumers can check if a contractor is licensed at www.myfloridalicense.com.
Any suspected fraud or price-gouging can be reported to the state Attorney General’s office at (866) 966-7226 (fraud) or (800) 646-0444 (price-gouging).
OTHER RESOURCES