Chestnut Hill Chimney & Hearth
(603) 755-4835
News about Chimney Sweep Scams in the Rochester, NH; Kittery, ME; Manchester, NH and surrounding areas:
We are helping Rochester police again with another possible scam investigation. A man in the area is going door to door doing chimney work, specifically sealants. The best way not to be scammed is to never hire anyone that you didn't contact. Most scams are started by someone "in the neighborhood doing other work and can give you a deal" or even started with phone calls claiming to be your sweep/plumber etc and pressure you into setting a up an appointment.
We were asked by the Rochester Police to help investigate a possible scam in the Rochester area. Although we can not release details of an ongoing investigation at this time please be aware that there are 2 people (apparently husband and wife) who are allegedly offering to do a discount chimney inspection, then allegedly doing chimney repairs that may not be needed, or may not actually be done correctly. While one person is doing the chimney inspection and repairs the other person may be casing your home and allegedly stealing cash or other easily concealed items while you are talking to the one "performing" the chimney work.
Another contractor in the Manchester area is supposedly from either Massachusetts or New York, and is using scare tactics concerning chimney fires (which are not caused by gas appliances), charging extremely high prices for work such as gas chimney liners, and insisting on "cash only" with no receipts (which means no way to follow up any investigation). Also remember that in NH you must have a gas fitters license to do any work on any gas appliance.
NEVER invite "contractors" into your home when you did not initiate the contact, or agree to "cash only" work. Legitimate contractors will provide you with receipts, written estimates and accept checks (many will accept charge cards too). Legitimate contractors don't drive around neighborhoods, stopping by to see if you want your chimney cleaned or inspected or pressure you into having expensive chimney work done immediately for cash.
Many chimney sweeping or chimney repair scams go unreported because people are embarrassed to admit that they were scammed. But by not reporting it to the police you are in giving these thieves permission to continue scamming other people. Sometimes people don't call the police because they don't feel they can tell them much, but remember you are probably not the only one who was scammed and you never know what small item you can contribute to an ongoing investigation that may help the police. Scam artists are thieves, they are stealing your money, possibly damaging your home, they don't pay taxes and they damage the reputation of legitimate contractors everywhere, and they target the elderly. They belong in jail.
There have been chimney sweep scams in Maine recently. Please be wary of anyone who comes to your door and offers service, this is a very common way to scam artists to operate. We helped the Rochester Police with a similar scam a few years ago, and are now trying to help in Maine as well. The article about this is here http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20101009-NEWS-10090321
If you think you have been a victim of this particular scam contact the Kittery Maine police and Fire Departments. If you have been the victim of something similar call your local police to report it. These thieves can be stopped.
This is an interesting article that was just brought to our attention :. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38939858/
Please remember that only "Santa" can fit through a chimney! And apparently chimney caps can't keep out all intruders.
To make an appointment or for answers to questions please call us at 603-755-4835
or email:
Mark (technical questions) chcs@metrocast.net
Laura (all other questions) chcsadmin@metrocast.net