In light of the recent severe weather in Hawaii, the Hawaii Better Business Bureau is reminding residents to be wary of traveling repair crews offering unsolicited emergency repair services to homeowners and businesses.

"These repair crews know demand for service will be high and that local, well-established building repair and roofing companies will be working their crews around the clock," said Dwight Kealoha, chief executive officer of Hawaii's BBB.

"Some people don't want to wait for estimates on repairs, so when there is a knock on the door from a repair crew, good consumer and business practices are sometimes forgotten."

Checking with the BBB on the reliability of any company can provide information on its business history, including whether the company is a BBB Accredited Business. The BBB also can provide information a business' principal officers, the business' start date, the number of complaints, and what to do if you experience a problem.

Hawaii's BBB website includes an Accredited Business Directory that lists all local accredited businesses by industry.

For more information, visit the Hawaii BBB's Web site, www.hawaii.bbb.org, or call 536-6956.