>>>S WELCOME BACK, EVERYBODY.

WE ARE COZYING UP IN FRONT OF

THE CRACKLING FIRE, BUT ONE

WOMAN’S FIREPLACE HAS BEEN OUT

OF COMMISSION FOR MONTHS AFTER

SHE WAS DUPED BY A CHIMNEY SWEEP

COMPANY.

>> AND OUR REPORTER LESLIE GATOS

IS HERE WITH TIPS ON HOW TO

PROTECT YOURSELF.

>> Reporter: WHEN SHE BOUGHT

THIS HOUSE, SHE SAID THAT THE

FIREPLACE WAS A BIG DRAW.

>> I LOVE A FIREPLACE.

IT IS SO NICE.

>> Reporter: IN JANUARY SHE GOT

A CALL FROM A CHIMNEY COMPANY

OFFERING A FREE INSPECTION.

>> THE WOMAN CALLED ME THREE

TIME, AND THREE TIMES I SAID

THAT I AM NOT INTERESTED, AND

THEN SHE CALLED ME A FOURTH

TIME.

OKAY.

>> Reporter: WHEN THE TECHNICIAN

SHOWED UP HE HAD BAD NEWS.

>> HE IS SAYING, OH, YOU HAVE

THIS WRONG, AND THE PIPES ARE

TOO CLOSE, AND YOU IS TO WATCH

OUT FOR CARBON MONOXIDE, AND

SCARING THE HECK OUT OF ME.

>> Reporter: LUCILLE AGREED TO

$4,600 OF REPAIRS AND WHEN SHE

LIT A FIRE, SMOKE POURED INTO

HER HOME.

>> IT IS A NIGHTMARE.

JUST A NIGHTMARE.

>> Reporter: LUCILLE FILED A

COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY

GENERAL’S OFFICE, BUT INDUSTRY

EXPERTS SAY THEY HAVE SEEN IT

MANY TIMES BEFORE, THE OUT OF

STATE COMPANIES CALLING WITH

CHIMNEY DEALS ONLY TO GET THEIR

FOOT IN THE DOOR TO SELL