Monthly Archives: December 2024

Winter is a great time to start thinking about your next home improvement project

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By Jonah Brodtman, CAP Intern

Next time you’re sitting by the fire, enjoying your favorite seasonal beverage, why not take a moment to start thinking ahead about that roof repair, bathroom renovation, or other home improvement project that you’ve been delaying?

Winter is a great time to start thinking about your next home improvement project. Contact the VT Consumer Assistance Program for questions and consumer help. 1-800-649-2424

It might seem counterintuitive or maybe it’s just not on your mind while there is two feet of snow in your driveway. A few key considerations might make you think twice about further delaying a call to a contractor and getting on their schedule.

In Vermont, contractors and other home improvement specialists are in high demand during the prime building season (summer/fall) and can book several months in advance. So, call now and get on their schedule early.

Thinking ahead to your spring/summer home repair project will help to ensure that you will have enough time to check off every step of the Home Repair How-To Checklist on the Attorney General’s website (https://ago.vermont.gov/home-improvements), including checking contractor registration and obtaining quotes from three contractors.

Planning ahead in the winter months will help to set you up for the smoothest possible project. You may not be able to predict every bump in the road. However, if you do your due diligence as a consumer and start shopping around early, you could set yourself up for less delays, and a smoother experience overall.

For more home improvement tips and information, including energy project considerations, visit the AGO’s website home improvement page. If you have further questions, call our Consumer Assistance Program to speak with our Home Improvement Specialist.

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Called for Jury Duty, or a Jury Duty Scam?

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Scammers posing as local law enforcement are calling, saying you missed jury duty and are threatening “serious legal consequences”. They first leave a message for you to call back, visit a website, or schedule a meeting. Next, they may demand payment of a fine and ask for your sensitive personal information. They may claim there is a warrant out for your arrest.

Jury Duty Scam Alert by VT Attorney General issued December 4, 2024.
Called for Jury duty, or...a jury duty scam? -Demands fee payment now! - Requires sensitive personal information, -Claims to be local law enforcement calling, - Threatens arrest or says there is a warrant for arrest. Hang up on unknown callers. Take steps to verify. Ago.Vermont.gov/cap | 1-800-649-2424.

While all these claims are very jarring, hang up and do not pay! Always take steps to verify the legitimacy of unknown officials, using publicly available resources. Connect with people you trust to discuss unexpected, urgent, unsettling, or unknown communications.

For jury duty specifically, know that you would be issued a letter, and you would not receive a threatening call about it, even if you actually did miss an actual jury duty assignment. Also know that, in order to serve jury duty, you first have to be selected through a process called a jury draw that occurs at the courthouse. If you were supposed to serve as a juror, you would have been informed.

When in doubt, check it out. The Consumer Assistance Program is your local Vermont resource for scam prevention information: ago.vermont.gov/cap or 1-800-649-2424.