Fall is upon us and that means winter is not far off. Allow us to remind each of you about dealing with contractors.

Whether you are looking to hire someone to clean your windows, gutters or to plow your driveways please understand the following:

You should be suspicious of the contractor if any of these apply.

• Does not list a number in the phone book, which may indicate a fly-by-night operation. They may seem legitimate in the beginning, but as soon as you make your first payment for the job they may vanish.
• Asks you to get required building permits. Contractors should provide all necessary permits. If they don’t, they may not be licensed or registered properly under the requirements of your state or locality.
• Only accepts cash. A legitimate business should have the appropriate financial accounts and should accept a variety of payment options from clients, including personal checks and credit cards.
• Solicits door-to-door. Most legitimate contractors find enough work through word of mouth referrals or a service.

If you give partial payment to a contractor and that person does partial work for you, the POLICE DEPARTMENT CANNOT help. By sending partial payment and some of the work being completed you have created a civil agreement! It is always a good idea to check references and check the Better Business Bureau with the name of the contractor you are thinking about. For further information visit the Ohio Attorney General’s web page at www.ag.state.oh.gov. As always, feel free to contact Detective Mike Debeljak with any questions or suspicions. He can be reached at 440-287-5219 or

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