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The Better Business Bureau recommends check the company’s rating, complaint history and customer reviews at its website at bbb.org. To file a complaint with BBB, please visit bbb.org/complaints.

Yuma, Arizona. - The Regional Center for Border Health, Inc., in collaboration with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) are working together to help prevent homeowners become victims of a possible bad financing deal and or contracting with an unlicensed contractor.

In this effort to bring awareness to the community, the Regional Center for Border Health, Inc. is spreading the word about this awareness campaign with the support of the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO), Arizona Public Services (APS), the City of San Luis Police Department and City of Somerton Police Department whose representatives attended a planning meeting this last Monday April 6^th, 2015 at the RCBH Somerton Headquarters in Somerton.

According to the BBB, several San Luis homeowners have filed complaints regarding allegedly unlicensed contractors. The unlicensed entities promise to install solar panels for homes. However, they may not be properly licensed to sell such systems, they do not have a local office to receive complaints, they may also make inaccurate statements as to the performance and cost of the systems, as well as confusing or false statements regarding the anticipated tax benefits of installing such systems.

According to the Registrar of Contractors website (http://www.azroc.gov), they advise homeowners to always perform the following steps:

• · Review the contractor’s license record at (http://www.azroc.gov/forms/contractorsearch.html).
• · Verify that the person is an authorized representative of the licensed contractor by calling the contractor’s number listed on the ROC license record.
• · Ask for written estimates from at least three contractors.
• · Request a list of references and check them.
• · Make sure the scope of the project, the price, the responsibility to obtain building permits, and any other relevant terms are spelled out in a written contract.
• · Never pay in cash, making checks payable to the licensed contractor (not an individual), and not allowing payments to get ahead of the work.
• · Avoid contractors who require large upfront payments.
• · Never make a hurried decision.  

Other tips about hiring qualified contractors can be found at www.azroc.gov.

The Better Business Bureau also recommends checking the company’s rating, complaint history and customer reviews at its website at bbb.org. And to file a complaint with BBB, please visit bbb.org/complaints.

Another way homeowners can file their complaints is at the Arizona Attorney’s General Office by contacting the following offices:

• In Phoenix:

1275 West Washington Street

(602) 542-5763

• In Tucson:

400 West Congress

South Building, Suite 3014

(520) 628-6504

For complaints contact the Consumer Information Complaints at consumerinfo@azag.gov or by calling (602) 542-5763 in Phoenix, (520) 628-6504 in Tucson or the Community Outreach/Satellite Offices at (602) 542-2123 in Phoenix, and (520) 628-6504 in Tucson.

Information on how to prevent becoming a victim of a fraud, and things homeowners should know before installing solar panels will be available at any Regional Center for Border Health, Inc. offices, at RCBH website, and at Facebook and Twitter of RCBH.

For additional information, please call Ms. Mariajose Almazan, Executive Assistant to the President and CEO of the RCBH at (928) 627-9222 or via e-mail at mrincon@rcfbh.org.