O-N-G complaints mount, scam warnings issued

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Rising heating bills are helping keep the telephones ringing at Oklahoma Natural Gas.

O-N-G spokesman Don Sherry says the call center is answering more than six-thousand calls a day with about 70 percent related to natural gas bills.

Cold weather isn't the only problem. The December storms left widespread damage and now state officials are warning about scam artists.

State Department of Civil Emergency Management officer Fred Liebe says residents should be very cautious when hiring contractors and repair crews.

Liebe says scam artists are usually ready to take advantage of others misfortunes and encourages people to hire reliable, licensed and local contractors.

He also encourages residents to get written estimates and references, and to check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints against a contractor.