Authorities: Man cheated Durham residents in driveway repair scam
A man has been charged with scamming elderly Durham County homeowners out of thousands of dollars for driveway repairs that were never completed, authorities said Tuesday.
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Millard Fillmore Smith IV, 31, is charged with two counts each of obtaining property by false pretense and exploitation of the elderly. He was being held in the Yadkin County jail under a $20,000 bond.
Durham County Sheriff's Office investigators said Smith used the name "Jack Tuttle" when he approached homeowners unsolicited and offer to do repair work on their driveways. Investigators said he would quote a price, begin work without the homeowner's consent and charge them even before the work was done. He would then cash their checks and disappear.
Investigators said they believe more people may have paid Smith to do work on their homes, and they asked anyone with information to call Detective C. Reimann on the sheriff's office tip line at 919-560-7151.
The state Consumer Protection Division recommends the following tips before hiring a contractor:
- Shop around. Get recommendations from friends, neighbors, co-workers and others who have had work done on their homes recently. Avoid contractors who knock on your door or leave fliers on your door or mailbox.
- Get at least three written estimates for the work you want done.
- Go online or call to check the license held by an electrician, plumber, HVAC installer or general contractor.
- Check the contractor's complaint history with the Better Business Bureau or with North Carolina Attorney General's Office.
- Get a written contract detailing all the work to be completed. Make sure it spells out the quality of materials to be used, the total price for labor and materials and any warranties or guarantees. It should also include the start and finish dates and who will be responsible for clean-up and trash removal.
- Ask to see the contractor’s insurance policy or bond and then contact the insurance company to verify coverage, especially for roofing, painting or tree removal services.
- Don’t pay large fees in advance. If a small contractor claims to need a lot of money in advance for supplies and materials, it may be a sign that he has poor credit or is in bad financial shape. If you wish to do business with such a contractor, buy the supplies and materials yourself and pay for the labor once the project is finished.
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