Website that claims to pre-screen contractors may leave customers with false sense of security

DENVER A website that claims to check out contractors for you is at the center of a FOX31 Denver investigation.

HomeAdvisors website claims to prescreen contractors, but Investigative reporter Heidi Hemmat uncovered major gaps in the companys screening process that could give consumers a false sense of security.

HomeAdvisor claims to do the work for you by making sure the service providers on their website have passed background checks, are licensed and have good reviews. But, dozens of consumers claim HomeAdvisor has cost them thousands of dollars.

Nate Wright is a highly rated painter on HomeAdvisors website, even though hes accused of taking a large deposit from one of his customers and disappearing. Find resources about how to find licensed contractors below.

Hemmat asked Wright, Did you take her $1,300 for work that you never did? Wright said, No. I did it all. Wright told us hes done nothing wrong. His alleged victim does not want to be identified. She says, My home is an eye sore. And he left me with a mess.

The Denver metro area woman said Wright required $1,300 of the $1,800 job in cash up front.

The woman claims he started painting her home and never finished. She said, I feel like I was duped. Im upset. Its stressful.

The alleged victim said she thought she had hired a painter she could trust because she found Wright and his company Wright Painting on HomeAdvisors website. The site, HomeAdvisor.com, claims to screen and approve all of the service providers on their site by requiring that they pass criminal and financial background checks. HomeAdvisor says it also verified professional licenses and customer reviews

The woman filed a formal complaint sending HomeAdvisor pictures, Wrights three-line handwritten contract and copies of the cash advance she used to pay him.

The HomeAdvisor complaint department suggested she pay Wright the rest of the contract. She said, They pressed me and pressed me to pay the last $500 when nothing had been done on my house.

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Website that claims to pre-screen contractors may leave customers with false sense of security