FRAUD WARNING

History has shown that in times of great disaster and hardship, remarkable people step forward to help their neighbors and communities recover. Unfortunately, these same moments attract individuals who seek to take advantage of people when they are vulnerable. As many residents begin the process of flood recovery and may need to hire contractors for repairs, we urge everyone to proceed with care. Whatcom County is fortunate to have many skilled, reputable tradespeople who serve our community with integrity. However, events like this can also draw in bad actors who may attempt to exploit the situation. In speaking with community members who experienced both the 2021 floods and the current event, we have heard multiple accounts that underscore the importance of remaining cautious and informed during the recovery process. 

This is a simple, easy to use resource to help with the due diligence process. Keep in mind these resources are for Washington State. When working with smaller contractors who may be newly registered in Washington State be sure to ask, and look into, where else they may have worked and follow up with that state.

Verify an active state license. The resource below gives a fairly comprehensive overview of current status - history - previous names used etc. You can also determine what type of work they are licensed for.

Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business

Confirm bond & insurance coverage. Search for past complaints or bond claims. You can find bond and insurance info through the following link. You can also easily see a list of lawsuits, debts and infractions.

https://secure.lni.wa.gov/verify/

Get and follow up on PERSONAL references

While you have done your due diligence in verifying the legal standing of a business that will not give you a clear picture of workmanship, business acumen or customer satisfaction. Check with friends and neighbors to get personal referrals (and vet them thoroughly)

Look at online reviews & references (a reddit detective may have done the deep dive investigative work already) Tools like Google reviews can give a glimpse into customer experiences. Make sure to read the reviews - you want to weed out the reviews that aren’t related to actual work that has been done.

Get everything in a written contract. Be sure to make sure you know what the contract really means. Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion before signing - could be informal or even a legal review depending on the monetary value of the work. If possible bring a trusted friend or family member into your meeting - a second set of eyes and ears can really help especially in these high stress scenarios.