GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – There isn’t much concern about flooding locally anymore, but the Better Business Bureau warns that flood-damaged goods could be on the move.
The Midwest may be far removed from hurricane danger, but cars that were hit by storms might be headed here.
“People will try to dispose of those flood-damaged cars,” says Susan Bach, Regional Director of the Better Business Bureau of Northeast Wisconsin. “Maybe ship them out of the area to places like Wisconsin or the Midwest.”
That should put potential buyers on alert to ensure that they aren’t being scammed into a poor purchase.
“You want to make sure that if you’re in the market for a used car, you’re looking for signs that it could be a flood-damaged car,” she says.
The good news is that many of the signs of flood damage are easy to spot.
“Stains, mildew, sand or silt under the floormats, or along the dashboard, or under the seats,” explains Bach.
Other signs, such as fogging inside headlights or taillights might be harder to notice.
“If you are considering purchasing a used vehicle you may want to take it to a mechanic to find those things that are unseen to the natural eye,” says Bach.
Other red signs might be new carpet or upholstery in an older vehicle.
Someone might be trying to cover a mold or odor problem by using cleaner or disinfectant with a heavy aroma.
It’s also important to check a car’s history by obtaining a vehicle history report.
“You just need to be very careful, look for signs that there has been tampering and look for signs that there has been flood-damage to the car,” she says.
And if you do find out that someone attempted to sell you a damaged car, don’t just move on.
“You should always report fraud,” explains Bach. “And of course don’t purchase the vehicle if it’s been tampered with or it has some storm damage.”
