Summer is often the time for home renovations. But did you know that home improvement was the top scam for Canadians last year according to the Better Business Bureau?
The BBB numbers are troubling:
- People targeted lost an average of $1,900 in 2022.
- Reports of home improvement scams to the BBB climbed from 4th place in 2021 to the top spot.
Check out this link to CityNews Calgary. Canada’s top scam is home improvement: Better Business Bureau
How can people protect themselves? Here are some tips
- Initiate contact with the contractor yourself.
- Check the background of the company you plan to hire.
- Resist high pressure sales tactics.
There’s more from a news article in British Columbia’s The Province. Beware: Spring is the target season for home renovation scams
April showers….May flowers….June blooms….and staying safe while doing those seasonal cleaning chores. Here’s expert advice on prevention from Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital.
- When cleaning eavestrough place ladders on solid footing and have a spotter.
- Do a quick check of the backyard for stones, debris or garbage that might be tripping hazards;
- Check BBQ for small animals that may have blocked gas lines.
#endbiketheft
The hashtag says it all. Many of us like to get out on our bikes in the warmer months. London police want to curb bike thefts, and they’re encouraging people to register their bikes by using a special app. “The app works to alert other London-area cyclists any time a bike is stolen or goes missing. Once the user determines his or her bike is missing, they activate an alert notification to 529 Garage, which sends out a broadcast to all users in the area to be on the lookout for the missing bicycle. This information, along with a police report, helps us recover your bike in the case of theft.” London Police
For information and to register go to: 529 Garage Bike Registry
‘Where are you coming from? Where are you going to? What’s the last road you were on?’ These are questions to ask yourself if you need assistance from 911 when you’re on the road in an unfamiliar location, such as a country backroad. Here’s a timely tweet from OPP with a link to a video with advice on how to help yourself in an emergency.