DFW contractor horror stories: How to vet before you hire and what to do when it goes wrong

The post-storm contractor scam cycle in DFW is predictable: hail hits, 500 "roofing companies" appear overnight, half of them vanish with your deposit.

How to vet ANY contractor in Texas:

1. Check TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation):

   • tdlr.texas.gov — search by license number or name
   • Verify their license is active and not expired
   • Check for complaints and disciplinary actions

2. Check BBB (Better Business Bureau):

   • bbb.org — search the business name
   • Look at complaint history, not the rating. The rating can be bought.

3. Check Texas Secretary of State:

   • sos.state.tx.us — verify the business entity exists and is in good standing

4. Verify insurance:

   • Ask for Certificate of Insurance (COI)
   • Call the insurance company to confirm it's active
   • No insurance = you're liable if a worker gets hurt on your property

5. Never pay more than 10% upfront. Texas has no specific statute limiting deposits, but the Texas AG Consumer Protection Division recommends never paying more than 1/3 upfront, and 10% is better.

What to do if you've been scammed:

• File a complaint with TDLR: tdlr.texas.gov/complaints
• File with Texas AG: texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection
• File with BBB: bbb.org/file-a-complaint
• Small claims court for amounts under $20,000 (Justice Court)
• If they took money and did no work, file a police report for theft of services (Texas Penal Code 31.04)

RECEIPTS REQUIRED: If sharing a contractor horror story, include the business name, TDLR lookup result, BBB complaint status, and documentation of what happened. Claims without evidence help no one.

Sources:

• TDLR — Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (tdlr.texas.gov)
• BBB — Better Business Bureau (bbb.org)
• Texas AG — Consumer Protection Division
• Texas Penal Code 31.04 — Theft of Service

Get everything in writing. Every conversation. Every promise. Every change order.