Price Gouging Hotline is Open in Florida

Unscrupulous merchants and contractors in Florida seeking to take advantage of Hurricane/Tropical Storm victims beware! The State's Attorney General set up a "price gouging hotline" at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226). Florida resident are encouraged to report any storm related price gouging.

The Attorney General offered the following advice to residents to avoid scams (and these tips are good anywhere):

• Require home repair contractors to obtain all necessary government licenses and permits.
• Make sure contractors have proper occupational licenses as required by state law.
• Work only with reputable, established businesses. Take caution with "contractors" who knock on doors and offer to fix roofs and windows. Try to obtain more than one estimate for the repair work.
• Before signing a contract, check the payment terms and other provisions carefully.
• Do not pay cash to home repair contractors or tree removal services.