PIERRE, S.D. (Legal Newsline) - South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley warned South Dakotans and local business owners Thursday about transient vendors targeting the state with door-to-door scams.
Recent hail storms near Sioux Falls and Rapid City led to many damaged neighborhoods in need of repair. Jackley's Consumer Protection Division is seeing transient vendors performing poor quality work on the repairs at exaggerated prices. Some vendors double or triple their original quotes after the work is completed.
"Every single year our Consumer Protection Division receives numerous complaints against transient contractors and this year has been no exception," Jackley said. "Unfortunately, some scammers will try to cash in on the misfortune of those affected by storm damage by providing low quality services or in some instances taking consumer monies and providing no service."
The division is also seeing a large number of out-of-state vendors targeting consumers for paving work.
In South Dakota, consumers have a three-day right to cancel, which should be stated when a vendor signs a contract with a consumer. Sellers must give consumers a copy of the contract at the time of sale. This receipt is required to show the date of sale, the name of the merchant, the merchant's address and a statement to the buyer about the right to cancel within three days. After proper cancellation, the seller has 10 days to refund a consumer's money.
State law also requires that all individuals and businesses selling services or products have a current South Dakota sales or contractors' excise tax license.
S.D. AG warns residents about door-to-door scams
