No sooner we have a Hail storm; we can see all the roof repair folks swarming like bees to make the pitch to replace the roof for a reasonable price, and many of them use scare tactics or family values or religious sentiments. So far so good.
In early 2002 my house suffered Hail damage and the singles on the roof had to be replaced - this is not a new thing in Texas where Mother Nature turns against us every 2-3 years. I met an American citizen (who had a roof repair business). He looked pretty decent and gave references and talked about family/religious values and promised to fix my roof damage. Having “trusted” this person and his company, I signed a contract and entrusted the responsibility of fixing the roof to this person.
My home owners insurance gave me approximately $5000 check to replace the roof, which I endorsed and gave it over to the person (since the roof repair person needed advance to buy materials).
This was the last I heard of this repair person, he had encashed the check and vanished. I tried contacting the repair person, and when failed escalated the matter to Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org), Texas Attorney Generals office and my Home Owners Insurance provider (Allstate Insurance). But all I got was a “rosy letter” and “No Luck” response.
Having come from a society where fraud is more likely to happen, to a society we see on movies where we see police cars and sirens and law and order, little did I know fraud will also happen in “Developed Economies” and as with “Developing Economies”, there is no one to help?
The lesson one can learn from my experience is to carefully weigh your believes before you make a decision. |
