BBB Advises Caution With Richard Steffan, Firms He's Worked For In Missouri, 2 Other States

When a big hailstorm hit the St. Louis area more than a year ago, a contractor named Richard Steffan headed out to damaged areas offering to help homeowners rebuild. Since then, the Better Business Bureau has received numerous complaints about Steffan and the firms he's worked for here and in other states.

Steffan has been associated with All Seasons Contracting of Creve Coeur and Cannon Builders and Remodelers of St. Peters. He also was associated with contractors who headed to New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast last fall, and he was sued in Texas for poor or uncompleted work at a mold removal firm he and his brother owned in Austin.

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster has sued All Seasons for taking insurance payments for storm repair work but never doing the work. Today's BBB press release includes details of the problems with Steffan and the companies.

After last weekend's tornado and other storm damage, the BBB has warned consumers that storm chasers like Steffan may again be on the prowl for unsuspecting homeowners. Some may offer to fix roofs or other damage for the amount homeowners receive from their insurance companies. That's illegal in Missouri and Illinois.

The BBB advises homeowners to research contractors carefully before signing a contract. Here are our other tips on hiring contractors:

1. Check with your insurance company and read your policy carefully to determine the extent of your coverage.
2. Know who you are dealing with. Find out where the company is headquartered and how long it has been doing business in your community. Does the company have an established office in your area or simply a postal box? Watch for out-of-state phone numbers and license plates.
3. Find out whether the contractor is bonded and insured against accidents or issues with workmanship. If it is soliciting business door-to-door, ask whether it has a legitimate soliciting permit.  If you are unsure, call your local government officials to find out.
4. Ask the company for references and call those property owners. Ask them whether the jobs were performed as agreed and if they were satisfied with the results.
5. Ask for a written contract and read it to ensure that everything mentioned by the salesperson is included. Make sure it includes all details of the work as well as when and how payments are to be made and when work will be completed.
6. Find out if there is a cancellation penalty if you terminate the contract before the work begins.
7. Beware of any company that suggests you do not have to pay your insurance deductible.  Such a claim is illegal in many states, including Missouri and Illinois.
8. Get more than one estimate.
9. Do not pay the entire amount in advance. Hold back a portion of the payment until all work is completed to your satisfaction.
10. Contact the BBB for a BBB Business Review by calling 314-645-3300 or by going to www.bbb.org.