NEWARK
– With the home improvement season
well underway, the State Division of Consumer
Affairs last week continued its crackdown
on unregistered and non-compliant home improvement
contractors, assessing $66,500 in civil
penalties against 25 contractors nabbed
as part of the Division’s new monitoring
and enforcement initiative.
Since
initiating its efforts on March 2, Consumer
Affairs investigators have issued 30-day
warnings to 130 contractors for their alleged
violations of the state’s Home Improvement
Contractors’ Registration Act. Contractors
issued warnings have 30 days to come into
compliance with the law or face fines up
to $10,000 for a first offense. To date,
a total of $133,500 in civil penalties has
been assessed against 42 different contractors
for failing to comply with the law.
“We
will continue our monitoring and enforcement
efforts through the spring and summer, which
tends to be the height of the contractor
season,” Attorney General Paula T.
Dow said. “Each year, dishonest or
shoddy contractors rip off consumers for
thousands of dollars. New Jersey’s
registration law helps consumers know they’re
working with a properly insured and registered
business, before they sign a contract or
make a down payment.”
State
Consumer Affairs investigators, in partnership
with the Hudson County Office of Consumer
Affairs, conducted the latest investigation
on Friday, May 13, at the parking lots of
two Hudson County home improvement stores.
They issued 30-day warnings to 10 home improvement
contractors who failed to display registration
numbers on commercial vehicles, in violation
of the Home Improvement Contractors’
Registration Act and Home Improvement Contractor
Regulations.
The
statewide effort to bring home improvement
contractors into compliance appears to be
having a measurable effect. So far, of the
contractors who have received 30-day warnings
since the initiative began in March, 39
have come into compliance. In addition,
a total of 1,277 home improvement contractors
applied for new registrations during March
and April – a 19 percent increase
over the same period last year.
“Year
after year, complaints about crooked contractors
perpetually top the list of consumer concerns
in New Jersey – with more than 1,400
consumer complaints last year alone. That’s
why the Division of Consumer Affairs and
our county partners are going on the offensive,”
Thomas R. Calcagni, Acting Director of the
State Division of Consumer Affairs, said.
“We’re gratified this effort
is having its intended effect, as shown
by the number of contractors coming into
compliance. Those who don’t comply
will pay – and we are going to continue
this statewide crackdown as a strong message
to all contractors operating outside the
law.”
Calcagni
thanked the County Offices of Consumer Affairs
of Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon,
Middlesex, Monmouth, Passaic, and Somerset
for their assistance in undercover enforcement
actions since the initiative began in March.
Later
this month, State and County Consumer Affairs
investigators will conduct similar undercover
operations in Mercer and Ocean counties.
Since
2006, the New Jersey Contractors’
Registration Act and Home Improvement Contractor
Regulations require home improvement contractors
to register with the State and obtain a
registration number that begins with "13VH."
To register, a home improvement contractor
must provide proof of liability insurance,
disclose a legitimate business address,
and provide other information about the
business. Contractors must display the registration
number on all contracts, advertisements,
and commercial vehicles as a reference for
consumers.
Advice
for New Jersey Consumers:
Before
hiring a home improvement contractor, New
Jersey consumers are urged to:
- Obtain
the contractor's State registration number,
which always begins "13VH."
- Contact
the State Division of Consumer Affairs
to learn whether the contractor's registration
is still valid. Call the Division’s
License Verification Line at 973-273-8090,
or check the Division's database of all
43,000 registered home improvement contractors
at www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov/LVinfo.htm.
- Ask
the State Division of Consumer Affairs
whether there are any consumer complaints
filed against the contractor.
- Demand
a copy of the contractor's liability insurance
policy.
- Contact
the insurer to learn whether the policy
is still valid.
Advice
for Home Improvement Contractors:
Consumers
who believe they have been cheated or scammed
by a business, or suspect any other form
of consumer abuse, can file a complaint
with the State Division of Consumer Affairs
by visiting its website, www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov,
or by calling 1-800-242-5846
(toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504-6200.
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