Orland Park officials tell residents to ensure door-to-door contractors have proper licenses

ORLAND PARK, Ill. (WLS) -- Residents in Orland Park are continuing cleanup and repair work after Monday's storm, while some homeowners report an increase in unsolicited offers from contractors seeking business in storm-damaged neighborhoods.

Corey Nepomuck said multiple people knocked on his door in a single day looking for work. One left a note on his front door that he said appeared similar to a package delivery notice.

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"To me, it seems pretty deceptive," Nepomuck said. "This note says delivery. I don't have a delivery. Like you're giving me a company, and like now I'm curious. I want to call, but like, I'm probably not going to do to well with your company."

Elsewhere in the village, Rachael and Michael Mishka are dealing with extensive storm damage at their home, after the National Weather Service confirmed an EF0 tornado moved through Monday.

"I never expected what I came out and saw, which was oak trees from the root just tipped over, all leaning on my house. You know, four of them leaning on the house. The gutters were ripped down, you know. I was in shock," Rachael Mishka said.

Homeowners say contractors were on the ground within hours, already looking for business. Many are licensed, local vendors, while others are not registered to operate through the village. Michael Mishka said homeowners facing significant damage may feel pressure to act quickly.

"There is a sense of panic, because you're like, 'I just want to get this done as fast as possible,'" he said.

He also described what he considered warning signs during one interaction with a solicitor.

"He was telling me he'll deal with my insurance company on my behalf; so some random person I don't even know all of a sudden wants to represent me," Mishka said.

Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge said the village has received numerous calls from residents reporting solicitors. He said the village requires door-to-door solicitors to obtain a license.

"The police department runs a background check; so we make sure that you reduce the probability of somebody getting ripped off," Dodge said.

For homeowners approached by contractors, Dodge said residents should first ask to see a solicitor's license.

"Show me your Orland Park solicitor license. That's No. 1 right there. If they don't have it, close the door," he said.

One neighbor told ABC7 Chicago that a crew offered to move tree branches from an older man's yard to the curb for $1,500. He says instead, they helped complete the work in about 30 minutes, for free.

As cleanup continues across Orland Park, village officials are urging residents to verify that anyone conducting door-to-door solicitation has the required local license before agreeing to any services.