Cosumers should beware of post-flood scams

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU®

PRESS RELEASE
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Bernas, Better Business Bureau of Chicago & Northern Illinois, 312.245.2514; president@chicago.bbb.org

Chicago, IL September 15, 2008-Chicago and northern Illinois experienced 6-10 inches of heavy rainfall and power outages this weekend. The flooding has resulted in four flood-related deaths and the rescue and displacement of many Chicagoland families. Flights were delayed and cancelled at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, I-90 was temporarily closed, and Chicago Transit Authority’s Blue Line service was also temporarily suspended between Rosemont and O’Hare. The flooding created several road and highway closures, creating traffic jams.
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, 33 percent of U.S. heads of household falsely believe that flood damage is covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy. Because the devastation from a flood is typically widespread and costly, many insurers in the U.S. do not even provide flood insurance.
"When it's time to spend your hard-earned money, especially in emergency situations when people’s homes or businesses are damaged, it's time to check with the Better Business Bureau,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois. “Our information and services are available 24-7 to assist you at the time you want to make your purchasing decision. When you use the BBB free services, you start with trust."

The BBB suggests that you solicit two or three bids for the repair work you are planning. Do not automatically accept the lowest offer. Make sure all bids are based on the same set of specifications and materials to be used. Ask for local references and inspect the finished projects. Check to see if the contractor is a member of a professional association which has standards for members. Make sure the contractor is in compliance with all local licensing, bonding, and insurance requirements, and that any necessary building permit is obtained.
Most standard homeowners insurance policies don’t cover damage caused by a backed-up sewer system either. Homeowners who found themselves with something as simple as a clogged toilet or as devastating as a basement full of sewage have learned the hard way the importance of reading the fine print on a homeowners insurance policy.
Never sign a blank or partially blank contract, especially in emergency situations when your home may be damaged. Typically a down payment of one-third of the total contract price is made with additional payments made after completion of each phase of work; final payment should not be made until work is completed and you have inspected the work.

“On these occasions many of the best contractors are already spoken for,” said Bernas. “This is when checking with the BBB becomes even more important.”

Look for the BBB Accredited Businesses logo and use the following tips:

Contact the BBB to learn how long a contractor has been in business at www.bbb.org.
Compare costs before making a financial commitment.
Discuss bids in detail with each contractor.
Ask the contractor for local references and find out if he or she is a member of a professional remodelers association.
Find out if a contractor is insured against claims covering worker's compensation, property damage, and personal liability.
BBB recommends you take some basic preparedness steps to help you immediately following a catastrophe and offers advice for working with your insurance adjuster to ease the stress and anguish after disaster strikes.
· Create and maintain an inventory of your personal possessions. This includes taking pictures or creating a video, as well as keeping receipts for major items.
· Make sure you carry your policy numbers and contact information for your insurance company with you at all times.
· Contact your insurance adjuster immediately. Not only does this get the ball rolling on the claims process, but you might be eligible for loss-of-use benefits, which means you could be reimbursed for hotel costs, food, and other living expenses while your house is unlivable.
· Document the damage to your property and possessions thoroughly.
· Keep all your receipts spent on supplies and living expenses for future reimbursement.
· Do not make any permanent repairs until you get approval from your insurance company. Your insurer might not fully reimburse you for repairs made without their authorization.
· Insured drivers whose cars have been flooded may be covered. Car owners should read their car insurance policy closely or they will miss out on reimbursements or other benefits they are entitled to when disaster strikes.
· If your house was destroyed by a major disaster, you may qualify for additional assistance when insurance doesn’t cover all of your losses. Check with the Federal Emergency Management Agency at www.fema.gov for more information.
For more advice you can trust on protecting your home and loved ones before and after natural disasters, go to www.bbb.org.
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About the BBB

As private, non-profit organization, the purpose of the Better Business Bureau is to promote an ethical marketplace. BBBs help resolve buyer/seller complaints by means of conciliation, mediation and arbitration. BBBs also review advertising claims, online business practices and charitable organizations. BBBs develop and issue reports on businesses and nonprofit organizations and encourage people to check out a company or charity before making a purchase or donation.

Is your computer safe: from the Better Business Bureau

Steve J. Bernas President & CEO

Tel: 312-245-2514
Fax: 312-832-1907
Cell: 312-848-8437
Web: www.chicago.bbb.org

BBB
330 N. Wabash Ave Suite 2006
Chicago, IL 60611




News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE





Is Your Computer Taking You Where You Want To Go?

Chicago, IL, August 14, 2008- The Better Business Bureau warns that if you use your computer to buy or sell items, or do other financial transactions, requiring passwords and user IDs, you should confirm the online security of those Web sites. And you need to make sure the latest patches to stop criminals from diverting users to fake Web sites where a user’s personal and financial data could be stolen have been installed.

“For every new use that your computer enables you to do, there always seems to be another negative, nefarious or criminal use that often counters the benefits,” says Steve J. Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois.

Bernas explains that on July 30, 2008 the New York Times printed an article about a flaw in the Domain Name System. This Internet-wide system translates Web site addresses that most users can understand into numeric versions that computers understand.

The flaw allows a criminal to redirect Web traffic to a fake site that looks like the intended Web site. This would allow the person to steal the user’s name, password and other information. There would be little or no indication of the user’s misdirection.

“This is a global problem but it is our understanding that many of the large Internet providers, such as AT&T, Comcast and Verizon have fixed the problem for their customers,” Bernas says. But he adds “for consumers to insure the safety of their personal information they need to check with their internet providers”.

This issue affects businesses as well so it is equally important that IT departments and network administrators take the necessary steps to safeguard their systems. That includes contacting the webmasters of the sites that you visit to make sure that the appropriate system patch has been installed.





“As with any type of potential identity theft, it is often difficult to determine what’s been done,” Bernas notes. “It’s always a good practice to look at all your credit card and other financial transaction records on a regular basis to spot any that are unauthorized.”

Additional information about the Better Business Bureau and this specific situation can be obtained by going to www.chicago.bbb.org, or contacting the BBB at: 312-832-0500.


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About the BBB

As private, non-profit organization, the purpose of the Better Business Bureau is to promote an ethical marketplace. BBBs help resolve buyer/seller complaints by means of conciliation, mediation and arbitration. BBBs also review advertising claims, online business practices and charitable organizations. BBBs develop and issue reports on businesses and nonprofit organizations and encourage people to check out a company or charity before making a purchase or donation.

Press Release from the Better Business Bureau

Steve J. Bernas President & CEO

Tel: 312-245-2514
Fax: 312-832-1907
Cell: 312-848-8437
Web: www.chicago.bbb.org

BBB
330 N. Wabash Ave Suite 2006
Chicago, IL 60611


BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU®
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve J. Bernas, Better Business Bureau of Chicago & Northern Illinois, 312.245.2514; President@chicago.bbb.org

PRESS RELEASE

Nominations being accepted for the BBB Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics

The Torch Awards are presented annually to outstanding businesses from Northern Illinois in recognition of their commitment to exceptional standards in relationships with their customers, employees, suppliers, competitors, and the surrounding communities. Like the BBB Torch logo, this award is helping to illuminate the importance of a corporate conscience and accepting the responsibility of creating a fair and honest marketplace.

The Torch Award is open to all for-profit Chicago and Northern Illinois based businesses. An individual may nominate the company he or she works for, owns, or is affiliated with, or any company that individual does business with, or any company, which the nominating individual believes, meets the Torch Award criteria. A company can also be nominated by an organization (i.e., Chamber of Commerce, academic institution, ethics organization, trade association, etc.).

Candidates for the 2008 Better Business Bureau’ Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics will be evaluated by a prestigious independent panel of judges from the business and academic community against these criteria:
High ethical standards of behavior toward customers, suppliers, shareholders, employees, and communities;
Demonstrated ethical practices surrounding their buyer/seller relationships;
Marketing, advertising, communications, and sales practices which reflect a true representation of the nominated business;
Acknowledgment of ethical marketplace practices by industry peers and in the communities where they do business;
Management practices and policies that give long-term value to shareholders, customers, employees, and vendors.
Training programs that assist employees in executing ethics policies.

Companies are judged in five categories based on the following employee head counts: 1-9; 10-99; 100-999, 1,000-7,499 and 7,500+. Recognition and awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2008 at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza. To nominate a company go to our website www.chicago.bbb.org and click on the torch award at the middle of the page; e-mail tjoyce@chicago.bbb.org or mail to BBB Torch Award, 330 N. Wabash Ave., #2006, Chicago, IL 60611. Deadline for completed entry is September 5, 2008.
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As a private, non-profit organization, the purpose of the Better Business Bureau is to promote an ethical marketplace. BBBs help resolve buyer/seller complaints by means of conciliation, mediation and arbitration. BBBs also review advertising claims, online business practices and charitable organizations. BBBs develop and issue reports on businesses and nonprofit organizations and encourage people to check out a company or charity before making a purchase or donation.