Recently, Debra Kendle, a resident of Colorado, claimed that she lost $4,600 because she was victimized by a contractor who was a scam operator. The victim stated that she checked with the Better Business Bureau and other consumer organizations about the reputation of this company and learned that it was a well-recommended business with great contractors. Despite all the positive feedback from her research, surprisingly the company declared bankruptcy, taking her money with them.
When considering this situation, it makes one wonder what happened to this company to cause it to suddenly declare bankruptcy without an apparent reason. It is possible that this could have been prevented with federal and state legislation that regulates the operation of roofing contractors.
Importance of Roofing Regulations
Throughout the United States, local lawmakers have established rules that govern the construction industry. Licensing laws have been created to regulate those contractors who are not licensed to install roofs or any of its related components. While some state and federal lawmakers tackle worker’s compensation, liability, and safety laws, there are other government lawmakers that are working on regulations that restrict contractors from working in an area without first registering their business with the local government or becoming a member of a local contractor’s organization. In short, regulations are made to govern and control roofing companies so that the consumer is protected.
Consumer Protection
Interest was generated with the above example as to what would cause a highly-regarded and well-known company to turn their back on responsibility to their customers and file bankruptcy after accepting payment for a job that they never started. The real answer is that no concrete rules have been established to protect a buyer from this sort of occurrence. It is clear that the government must strongly enforce consumer protection laws that control any transactions and business practices, such as sales, advertising, quality of services, housing materials, and door-to-door marketing. These laws allow victims to safeguard their interests and file lawsuits against any unlawful business practices.
Consumer Agencies
Certain agencies exist to help avoid fraudulent acts and to safeguard consumers individual rights. This includes the Consumer Protection Committee (CPC), which is used to monitor and report deceitful business practices across the United States. Buyers can turn to the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) if they are victims of intentional deception. Education is also a vital ingredient in being shielded from fraud and dishonest transactions. Contact the Federal Trade Commission for more information on how to prevent getting involved in such a bad business deal.
Many surprises can happen when hiring a contractor for the installation and repair of roofs; there are many legal concerns that occur every day, just like what happened to Debra Kendle. Her rights as a client were ignored by the construction company that took thousands of dollars from her, knowing they were filing bankruptcy. These events would not happen again with the enactment of solid rules and regulations to protect buyers from harmful and fraudulent business operations. Nevertheless, knowledge and awareness about these laws are the most helpful tools in preventing unpleasant surprises in the future!
Does your Houston roof need some work? Schulte Roofing can provide all roofing services that are needed to customer in the greater Houston area!