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Rockland County Warns Residents Of Crooked Contractors Family Scammed Out Of $90 K

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2 months ago

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In a recent scheme, a Rockland County family was scammed out of $90,000 by a contractor who promised to renovate their yard while the family was away on vacation but never did and has since disappeared. So far this year, the Rockland County Office of Consumer Protection indicates families have been scammed out of over $200,000.

Unfortunately, these types of scams are common with an estimated 1 in 10 people falling victim to Home Improvement Contracting Scams. 

“These individuals can often be hard to catch, and the money stolen harder to reclaim, which is why I stress to our families that prevention is key,” said County Executive Ed Day. “A little amount of due diligence will go a long way to protecting yourself from falling victim.”

Office of Consumer Protection Director Kim Von Ronn urges families to always:

  • Steer clear of unsolicited contractors
  • Get a written contract
  • Never pay until job is complete
  • And utilize a licensed contractor

“The benefits of contracting with a licensed vendor/contractor ensures a few things but first and foremost that the contractor is insured,” explained Director Von Ronn. “Without appropriate and adequate insurance coverage, if the contractor or their employee gets injured when working on a home, the homeowner can be responsible for damage or injury.”

Once you decide on a contractor, keep in mind:

  • Every home improvement project over $250 requires a written contract. 
  • A down payment shall not exceed $1,000 or 15% of the contract price, whichever is less. Exceptions to this must be stated within the written contract and agreed upon.

If a conflict arises between the consumer and business, Consumer Protection can assist with the dispute and mediation process.

Complaints regarding terrible workmanship from unlicensed vendors or an unlicensed vendor scamming a consumer out of money for an uncompleted job can also be investigated by our Office of Consumer Protection resulting in bringing the responsible party to Criminal Court. The Office of Consumer Protection also can impound vehicles in these scenarios thanks to Rockland County Local Law Chapter 286-21(H) which was sponsored by County Executive Ed Day during his time serving in the Rockland County Legislature.

In 2023, the Rockland County Office of Consumer Protection investigated 617 complaints and returned $66,000 to homeowners.

Residents with questions or concerns can contact their Office of Consumer Protection at (845) 364-3901 or by email at [email protected].

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Senator Bill Weber Announces Five Towns of Rockland Blood Drive Challenge Winners

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5 days ago

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September 1, 2024

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The Tappan Zee Bridge was lit in red for five days to mark the competition. Clarkstown took both the prize for the most blood collected and the prize for the most newly registered Red Cross blood donors in Senator Bill Weber’s Five Towns of Rockland Blood Drive Challenge.
The Red Cross set a goal of collecting 100 units from the challenge and that goal was exceeded with 111 units of blood collected and 64 first time donors participated across the five towns.
Clarkstown – 30 units, 18 first time donors
Orangetown – 27 units, 16 first time donors
Stony Point – 21 units, 12 first time donors
Ramapo – 18 units, 11 first time donors
Haverstraw – 15 units, 7 first time donors
“Only three percent of the population regularly donates blood, so these 64 new donors are helping increase that number. Thank you to everyone who donated, thank you to the supervisors of the five towns for their help in promoting it, and thank you to Orangetown Supervisor Teresa Kenny for personally donating blood. I am overwhelmed by the support we saw from the community and I look forward to making this Blood Drive Challenge an annual event.” said Senator Bill Weber.
“It’s a great honor to have the Town of Clarkstown lead the way in donating the highest number of units and having the most first-time donors participate. Donating blood is a selfless act of charity that truly saves lives and I couldn’t be more proud of our residents and town staff who made donations. Thank you everyone who gave and to Senator Weber for organizing this wonderful contest where everyone involved is a winner,” said Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann.
Senator Weber’s Five Towns of Rockland Blood Drive Challenge was done in partnership with the American Red Cross. This will now be an annual event.

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Over The Past Two Weeks RCDOH Has Seen A Sharp Increase With Approximately Half Of The Pools Submitted For Testing Came Back Positive for WNV

Published

5 days ago

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September 1, 2024

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This uptick can increase the risk to the public’s health for mosquito-borne diseases. No human cases have been reported in the county this season; the last reported human case in Rockland was in 2023. View West Nile Virus mosquito pool testing results on the West Nile Virus Webpage.

“This time of year is when we often see a rise in West Nile Virus activity, and these positive mosquito pools confirm that. While the Health Department mosquito control teams continue to visit known mosquito breeding sites and apply larvicides throughout the summer to control mosquito populations, it is important for residents to practice sensible mosquito control in their backyards to help reduce the risks of WNV and other mosquito-borne diseases,” said Amy Isenberg, Environmental Health Specialist, Mosquito Program Coordinator. “The best and most effective mosquito control begins in private yards.  Eliminating standing water is the first step in reducing mosquito breeding.”

Not everyone infected with West Nile Virus will become ill and although a person’s chances of getting sick are small, those aged 50 and older and those with compromised immune systems are at the highest risk for serious illness. Serious complications that can be caused by WNV include neurological diseases, milder flu-like illness, fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and occasionally a skin rash and swollen lymph glands. If you think you have symptoms of West Nile Virus, see your doctor right away.

If you have concerns about mosquito breeding or standing water in your neighborhood, contact 845-364-3173 or submit a complaint form.

Follow these simple mosquito control tips to protect you, your family, and your community:

  • Eliminate any stagnant water from property including birdbaths, unused flowerpots, discarded tires, bottle caps, etc.
  • Make sure roof gutters drain properly and remove leaf debris from yards/gardens.
  • Drain water off covers of unused pools or spas or treat the standing water with Mosquito Dunks®.

Dunks are available free of charge at the Health Department, Building D, 50 Sanatorium Road in Pomona, Monday – Friday by appointment only, while supplies last. Call 845-364-3173 or e-mail [email protected] to arrange a pickup.

To reduce your risk of being bitten:

  • Cover up when outdoors for long periods or when mosquitoes are more active with long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt.
  •  Use mosquito repellent. (Do not use repellent on babies younger than 2 months old. Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children younger than 3 years old.)
  •  Cover baby carriers with mosquito netting when outside.
  •  Close doors and ensure that all windows and doors have screens and that the screens do not have rips, tears, or holes.

Call the Rockland County Health Department at 845-364-3173 to learn more or visit the Mosquito Control webpage. For more information, visit the New York State Health Department West Nile Virus webpage.

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