Page 18 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 5, 2024 BBB Scam Alert: Home improvement scammers take money, don’t complete work U se caution when hiring a home improvement contractor, especially following a major storm, flood or other weather event when many homeowners are trying to repair their homes. However, contractor scams can happen anytime, so be wary of high-pressure sales tactics, upfront fees and fly-by-night businesses. Con artists will take homeowners’ money and deliver (or not deliver) less than quality work. How the scam works: Home improvement scams can start with a knock on the door, a flyer or an ad. The contractor might offer a low price or a short time frame. One common hook is when the scammer claims to be working in your neighborhood on another project and has leftover supplies. Once started, a rogue contractor may “find” issues that significantly raise the price. If you object, they threaten to walk away and leave a half-finished project. Or they might accept your upfront deposit and never return to do the job. Following a natural disaster, scammers persuade homeowners to sign over their insurance payments. Tips to spot this scam: • Watch out for “red flags.” Say no to cash-only deals, high-pressure sales tactics, high upfront payments, handshake deals without a contract, and on-site inspections. Not all “storm chasers” are con artists, but enough are that you should be cautious any time a home contractor contacts you first…especially after a natural disaster. • Ask for references and check them out. Bad contractors will be reluctant to share this information, and scammers won’t wait for you to do your homework. If you can, get references from past customers – both older references to check on the quality of the work and newer references to ensure current employees are up to the task. Check them out atthe Better Business Bureau (BBB.org) to see what other customers have experienced. And always get a written contract with the price, materials and timeline. The more detail, the better. • Know the law. Work with local businesses that have proper identification, licensing and insurance. Confirm that your vendor will get related permits, and make sure you know who is responsible for what according to your local laws and that your vendor is ready to comply. Find trusted, vetted home improvement contractors near you at https://www.bbb.org/ near-me/home-improvement and check out BBB’s home HQ at https://www.bbb.org/all/ your-home-hq – go to BBB.org to look up business profiles, file a complaint or write a customer review. Visit BBB Scam Tracker to research and report scams: https://www.bbb.org/ scamtracker Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma City of Malden MASSACHUSETTS CHILD AND FAMILY TAX CREDIT ing individual. If you are a Massachusetts Y ou are entitled to claim a tax credit on your 2023 Massachusetts individual income tax return if you are taking care of a dependent child, other dependent or spouse with a disability or another dependent who is age 65 or older. You can claim this tax credit if you are filing single, head of household or married filing joint on your tax return. Your dependent child must be under age 13 as of December 31, 2023. With respect to a dependent age 65 or older as of December 31, 2023, that would not include you or your spouse. The tax credit to claim on your Massachusetts return is $310 for each qualifying individual. There is no limit to the number of qualified individuals that you can claim the tax credit for. For calendar year 2024, the tax credit will increase to $440 per qualifynon-resident filing a non-resident Massachusetts income tax return, you cannot claim this tax credit. Part year residents can claim the credit and must calculate the tax credit he or she is qualified for based upon the days living in Massachusetts. A dependent or spouse with a disability is an individual who is physically or mentally incapable of caring for himself or herself and who principally lives with the taxpayer for more than half of the taxable year. This is also a refundable tax credit so even if you your total tax is zero and you had no withholdings from wages or pension income, for example, you would still be able to receive a refund based upon the tax credit as calculated on your Massachusetts income tax return. This is the first year that Massachusetts has provided for such a tax credit. It is a big help to taxpayers caring for children, parents or disabled individuals. This is in addition to the virtual doubling of the circuit breaker tax credit available to taxpayers age 65 or older. Joseph D. Cataldo is an estate planning/elder law attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a master’s degree in taxation. Community Preservation Committee Monthly Meeting and Public Hearing Agenda Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 6:00 PM Monthly Meeting and Public Hearing Agenda Hybrid City Hall Room #105 (in-person) Live streamed via Zoom (virtual) On March 29, 2023, Governor Healey signed legislation extending certain COVID-19 relief measures including extending remote meetings for public bodies. The same provisions which permitted public bodies to meet remotely, or convene in a hybrid manner, have been extended through March 31, 2025. This extension allows public bodies to continue to meet remotely or to meet in a hybrid manner, without a quorum of the public body physically present at a meeting location. The law requires that a public body provide “adequate, alternative” access to remote meetings. Additional information/guidelines for the public can be found here: https://www.mass. gov/service-details/updated-guidance-on-holding-meetings-pursuant-to-the-actextending-certain-covid-19-measures. Members of the public who wish to attend remotely can do so using the following information: https://cityofmalden.zoom.us/j/94555285228 Webinar ID: 945 5528 5228 Or join by phone from the US: +1 646 518 9805 or +1 929 436 2866 If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Maria Luise, ADA Compliance Coordinator at mluise@cityofmalden.org or 781-397-7000, Ext 2005 CPC Monthly Meeting and Public Hearing Agenda April 17, 2024 Annual Survey 1. Public Information Session 2. Call to Order/ Roll Call 3. Approval of Meeting Minutes from March 20, 2024 4. Start Secure Program Guidelines 5. CPC Plan Update 6. Launch of the FY25 Pre-Application 7. Other Business 8. Adjournment of CPC Monthly Meeting Fill out the CPC Annual Survey by 5/1/24! https://forms.gle/3BuG49iqpgNF9zmF9
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