NOTICES
BBB Offers Education for
Young Consumers
The ABCDs of Choosing
a Contractor
Choosing a contractor can be intimidating. Homeowners and homebuyers
are not sure where to look or what they’re looking for. The Oregon Construction
Contractors Board offers some tips for finding a good contractor:
A. Ask around. Ask friends, relatives, and co-workers who they’ve used. If
neighbors have had work done, ask about their experiences. Was the work
done on time? Would they use this contractor again? If no names surface,
look in the yellow pages or newspaper. You also can call trade associations
(Oregon Remodelers Association, Oregon Building Industries Association,
and others) and ask for recommendations.
B. Be a wise consumer. If you’re having a bigger project done, ask contractors
for references and check them. Ask to see similar work the contractor has
done. Is the quality up to your standards?
C. Check with the Construction Contractors Board (CCB). Make sure any
contractor you contract with is licensed. You can check online at
www.ccb.state.or.us; by calling the CCB's automated toll-free, 24-hour phone
system at 1-888-366-5635 (503-378-4610 in Salem); or by calling CCB staff
at 503-378-4621, ext. 4900. Ask if the business is actively licensed,
how long it’s been in business, and the number of CCB claims (complaints)
against them.
D. Do your homework. The bigger or more expensive the project, the more
time you should take in finding and checking out a contractor. Get two or
three detailed written bids for bigger jobs. Understand why there are wide
variations in estimates and be careful about accepting a substantially lower
bid. A detailed written contract is a must. Avoid the single biggest cause of
disputes between homeowners and contractors - the lack of a written contract
or one that’s poorly written.
The CCB protects consumers by regulating construction businesses. To
download or order free consumer brochures with tips on finding and working
with a contractor, go online at www.ccb.state.or.us. For a free copy of “16 Ways
to Avoid Remodeling, Repair, Construction, and Landscaping Problems’’ and
other brochures, call 503-378-4621, ext. 4974.
The BBB’s Education Foundation includes the Young Consumer Program,
which is designed to give teen-agers the knowledge they need to make wise
consumer decisions now and in the future.
Consumers come in all shapes and sizes. Young consumers (teens) are an
increasingly important and growing segment of the overall consumer mix.
The BBB Education Foundation offers several free seminars available to
high school seniors that are designed to assist teachers in preparing young
consumers to live on their own. These seminars focus on three major topics:
1) Understanding Credit, 2) Buying Your First Car, and 3) Financing a
College Education.
Unfortunately, not knowing the rules of credit makes young consumers more
vulnerable to hazardous credit card debt. At the BBB, we would like an opportunity
to educate this group before they start accepting these offers and incurring
unmanageable debt.
Our educational seminars also incorporate tips on buying an automobile to
help young consumers make the right choice when they buy their first car. A new
addition to our program, “Financing a College Education,’’ informs students of
the economic options available to fund a college education.
To find out how to schedule a seminar in your community, visit us online at
www.thebbb.org.
About the BBB: The Better Business Bureau is a non-profit organization
funded by BBB member companies. The mission of the BBB is to promote the
highest ethical marketplace relationships through self-regulation, education, and
information. For more information on the services and products provided by the
BBB, visit us at 333 SW 5th Ave., Ste. 406, in Portland, Ore.; call the Consumer
Hotline at 503-226-3981; or visit us online at www.thebbb.org.
Scholarship Scams Don’t
IO/ «
Many college-bound high school
seniors will look for every possible
way to fund steep college coot ?
The Better Business Bureau
advises consumers to watch out for
companies that ask for advance fees
ranging from $12 to hundreds of
dollars. Some companies ev’®g
“guarantee” scholarships or refunds.
In exchange for their fees, students
may receive lists of possimffg
scholarship sources. Some companies,
however, do not assist students in
obtaining the listed scholarships.
To avoid losing money when they
can least afford it, students and their
parents should seek out information
from reputable sources. Consider all
available options, including federal,
state, and local aid programs; financial
institutions’ loan plans; home equity
Ioans; and scholarships, fellowships,
or other programs offered by colleges
themselves. Many private organ
izations, foundations, professional
OOIS
clubs, and churches also provide
legitimate scholarships to students.
If you are interested in using a
scholarship service, investigate the
company's background by:
•
Calling the Better Business
Bureau for a reliability report
^M&sking the company to put all
details of its services and
.
promises in writing, including the
O refund policy
•
•
Being suspicious of any
“guaranteed” offers
Requesting the names and
addresses of past scholarship
recipients and asking those
references about their experience
and satisfaction with the company
For more information on college
funding, request a free seminar hosted
by the BBB to be held at local high
schools, or request free educational
brochures at 503-226-3981 or
www.thebbb.org.
February 2002
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Siletz News
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