The Trumbull Police Department has received information regarding Chimney Cleaning scams that are targeting Trumbull residents among others.
Here's how one current scam works -
- Residents receive a phone call from a telemarketer representing a chimney cleaning service.
- They state that the last time they did service on your chimney was in October 2006 or in 2006.
- The company offers to clean/inspect your chimney for $50.
- Once you sign on, the company inspects your chimney and informs you that you need thousands of dollars worth of work to repair your chimney.
Don't fall prey to this scam.
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection provides these tips for avoiding Chimney Repair Fraud:
- NEVER hire a chimney sweep who shows up at your door uninvited. There are many home improvement scams that commonly take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners; fly-by-night chimney sweep scams is one of the most prevalent.
- Be aware of telemarketing offers where someone offers you a very, very low price to come and clean your chimney. If someone is trying to get in at a very low price or is calling you out of the blue, they may just want to get their foot in the door, because they're really looking to do some type of repair work.
- Some scammers provide photos they claim are from inside or outside your chimney, as evidence to convince you that your chimney needs repair. You have to be sure the photos are actually from your house. So any pictures that are provided to justify getting work done should include something in the photo or in the background that identifies it as your home.
- Some scam artists show debris from a chimney as an indicator of something that's broken. If the company claims that this debris shows that your liner is broken or collapsed that you need a new liner system, get a second opinion, or have them show you where it is broken.
- Be aware of attempts to frighten you. If you get the feeling that a salesperson or sweeper is using terms like carbon monoxide poisoning or house fire in a way that feels alarming, you should get another opinion. This could very well be a hard sell tactic.
- If you are being pushed to make an immediate decision, then make the decision to look for someone else.
For more information regarding Chimney Repair Fraud click on the following:
While it's important to maintain a clean chimney, you are encouraged to find a reputable local company to clean and inspect your chimney.