Media Release - 7/1/19
The Minot Police Department has received recent reports of possible fraudulent construction related contracting services.
Area residents are reporting being approached at their doorsteps by businesses offering to perform contracting services such as paving, driveway resurfacing, or sealing services. In the past we’ve also received similar reports of offers for roofing services. The people from these companies will often claim that they have left over materials from other nearby projects and offer their services at substantially reduced prices.
What at first sounds like a very good deal, often results in substandard work being done, or the work being started and not completed with the homeowner being out thousands of dollars. Some residents have reported having to pay far more to have the work entirely re-done by a more reputable company.
Prosecutions of these individuals and companies can be particularly difficult as substandard work is generally not in-and-of-itself evidence of fraud, however there are steps for property owners to follow to help determine if the company is licensed as a contractor in good standing in North Dakota:
First, check the Licensed Contractor List with the North Dakota Secretary of State (http://sos.nd.gov/business/contractors/contractors-licensed-north-dakota). All contractors who perform jobs valued at $4,000 or more must be licensed. Contractors offering expensive services for less than that, when most others charge more, may be a red flag of fraudulent intent.