Tips offered on ways to avoid becoming a victim
New Castle County Police arrested Mark Perry, 52, of Middletown in reference to two home improvement incidents that occurred in a Newark-area development. He was jailed after failing to post bond.
The first incident occurred on March 23 in the Middle Run Crossing community. A 46-year-old man reported that he paid Mark Perry $17,425.00 for renovations. Work was never completed, and materials were never purchased.
The second incident occurred on May 12 in the Middle Run Crossing community. A 63-year-old male victim reported that he paid Perry $10,000.00 for renovations; however, the work was never completed, and materials were never purchased.
After a lengthy investigation, the officers signed arrest warrants for. Perry. He was charged Wednesday with two felony counts of home improvement fraud. Perry was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11. Bail was set at $5,000 cash, and Perry was taken to the Howard R Young Correctional Institution after failing to post bail.
Click here for past stories regarding home improvement fraud
Police believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward. Victims of home improvement fraud are often embarrassed and are reluctant to report such cases. Also, a continuing labor shortage has led to people not getting callbacks on estimates, leading some to not seek more than one quote.
Any individual wishing to provide information pertaining to Perry or who may be a victim of similar type of fraud is asked to contact M/Cpl. Paramjit K Dhanju at paramjit.dhanju@newcastlede.gov or by calling the New Castle County Division of Police non-emergency number at (302)573-2800. Tipsters may also call Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333 or visit us on Facebook (Messenger) at New Castle County Division of Police.
Tips on avoiding potential home improvement fraud
Do’s
- Insist on getting references. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends asking past customers detailed questions, including whether the project was completed on time and if there were unexpected costs. The FTC also suggests asking the contractor if you can visit a job currently in progress.
- Require a bid in writing and compare bids from multiple contractors before agreeing to any work.
- Check the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website to see contractors’ ratings and whether any complaints have been filed against them.
- Get a written contract before you pay any money and before the work starts.
- Read the fine print. The BBB says a contract should include a detailed description of the work, material costs, start and completion dates, and warranty information.
- Verify before you make the final payment that all work has been completed to your satisfaction, any subcontractors or suppliers have been paid, and the job site has been cleaned up.
Don’ts
- Don’t pay cash. The FTC recommends using a check or credit card or arranging to finance.
- Don’t place a big deposit. The initial payment should be no more than a third of the total estimate, payable on the day the materials arrive.
- Don’t automatically take the lowest bid. Some contractors cut corners to come in lower than competitors, according to the BBB. The FTC recommends that if one contractor’s estimate is significantly less than those of competitors, ask why.
- Don’t let the contractor arrange financing. The FTC warns that you might be tricked into signing up for a home equity loan with hefty fees or a high-interest rate or one in which the lender pays the contractor directly, giving him or her little incentive to finish the job or do it properly.
