In late June, the Attorney General's Office announced that it had filed charges in Hillsborough County Superior Court against a construction contractor on charges of stealing $27,000 from two clients, and a Warner man was convicted of falsifying asbestos lab results and then posing as a construction contractor.

Two months earlier, the agency announced it had sued an Epping-based construction company, alleging that the company extorted more than $500,000 from its clients, did little or no work on their projects, and used the money for other expenses.

This week, the Attorney General's Office again turned its attention to contractors – this time with a guide to avoiding dubious contractors.

In his first NH Consumer Insight In its newsletter, the agency's Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau identified risks and offers tips on how to avoid them when it comes to payments, dealing with substandard work and planning for unexpected changes.

“Awareness and education are among the most powerful and effective tools my office uses to prevent harm to consumers,” Attorney General John Formella said in a press release.

Here's what to avoid when hiring a contractor – and what to do.

• Find out more and ask for a detailed list of all expenses.
• In New Hampshire, contractors are not required to be licensed, so the Consumer Protection Bureau recommends asking a contractor for references and scouring online reviews. Call the bureau at 603-271-3641 to see if any complaints have been filed.
• Request a detailed contract and ask potential contractors what they will use your deposit for.
• Make sure your contractor is insured. If a contractor fails to complete a job, does substandard work, or damages your property, you can sue their insurance company—assuming they have insurance.
• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warns against hiring anyone who does not provide proof of a valid insurance policy that protects against losses due to errors and negligence. Even then, call the insurance company to verify coverage before hiring them.
• Prepare for the unexpected. It's common for changes to the scope of a project or the discovery of hidden defects to increase costs. Make sure your contract states how changes or delays to the contract will be handled, and require that your contract document any changes.
• Make sure you understand the terms of the contract. If not, don't be afraid to ask or clarify the terms.