Southern Wisconsin Times

On the evening of Saturday, June 22, a reported tornado touched down on the south side of the City of Janesville. This weather event caused considerable damage to structures and infrastructure. The City of Janesville recommends property owners be skeptical of door-to-door repair crews who use aggressive, high-pressure sales tactics to secure contracts after a storm.

When severe weather strikes, traveling contractors are referred to as "storm chasers" have been known to provide poor-quality work or collect upfront payments without doing any work at all.

The City of Janesville encourages consumers to ask for contractor recommendations from trusted sources such as friends, neighbors, and insurance agents. Do not let a traveling repair crew into your home, and never agree to their offers before confirming they are permitted to operate in your area.

Wisconsin's storm chaser law aims to protect consumers and businesses by preventing insurance fraud. If you have questions about insurance agents, adjusters, or companies, contact the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance of Wisconsin at oci.wi.gov or (800) 236-8517.

For more information and consumer protection resources, or to file a complaint, visit the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's Consumer Protection webpage at consumerprotection.wi.gov or contact the Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 422-7128 or DATCHotline@wisconsin.gov.