Monday, March 3, 2008

Tenn. Residents Need Caution in Hiring Contractors

Tennesseans starting to rebuild homes and businesses damaged in the severe storms and tornadoes on Feb. 5-6 are advised to be careful when hiring contractors. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) are working to ensure that residents have the assistance they need for the disaster recovery. Consumers who need repair work done quickly following a natural disaster are sometimes targets of unscrupulous business practices. Although neither the state nor FEMA recommends contractors, officials encourage citizens to take the time to evaluate the bidder before contracting for the job. Tennesseans can call the state Consumer Affairs Division at (800) 342-8385 or (615) 741-4737 to check the "Problem Contractor List."

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