Caution urged in using home improvement contractors
Springtime brings sunny skies, flowers, greenery and one more thing 鈥� contractor fraud.
However, there are a number of things consumers can do to avoid being ripped off when they hire someone for home improvements.
One protection is a law in Pennsylvania requiring contractors to register with the state, according to Mike Shimko, president of the Builders Association of Fayette County.
In 2008, the Pennsylvania legislature passed the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act.
The law requires that all contractors who perform at least $5,000 worth of home improvements per year register with the attorney general蘑菇视频 office.
Registration may be completed online or by mailing an application to the attorney general蘑菇视频 office.
As of July 1, 2009, consumers in Pennsylvania have been able to verify registration with the attorney general蘑菇视频 office by visiting the registered contractors page or by calling a toll-free hotline, 1-888-520-6680. Contractors with questions about the law can call 717-772-2425.
The registration process, according to Shimko, also makes sure contractors have insurance.
鈥淥nce you (a contractor) register you have to show proof of insurance,鈥� Shimko said.
Contractors who 鈥済o to the trouble of getting a registration number in Pennsylvania generally keep their insurance,鈥� he added.
Another point, Shimko explained, is that if a contractor is not registered with the state any contract he makes is 鈥渘ull and void.
People may not even have to pay for the work if he isn鈥檛 registered.
鈥淐ontractors do have a bad rap for fraud, but mostly it comes from fly-by-nighters who do it illegally,鈥� Shimko said.
The state registration law, he added, covers a variety of contractors, not just those who do remodeling work.
It includes such services as lawn care, painters, carpenters and others.
One of the provisions of the law is an arbitration clause, which is a process in which a neutral arbitrator or panel of neutral arbitrators is engaged by the parties to settle a dispute between a contractor and an owner.
鈥淚t蘑菇视频 a good law but, like many other things, people aren鈥檛 aware of it,鈥� Shimko said.
According to the attorney general蘑菇视频 office, if you plan to hire a contractor, there are important things to keep in mind.
To guard against hiring a disreputable or fraudulent home improvement contractor, you should:
n Never enter into a repair or improvement project without a written contract that includes a start and finish date and a three-day right to cancel notice.
n Never sign a blank contract, or one that does not include all the costs and supplies.
n Never hire a contractor who does not have a business card or local phone number and address. The business should have an actual physical address, not just a post office box.
n Never hire a contractor who refuses to give you names and phone numbers of references.
n Never make final payment until you are completely satisfied with the work.
n Never feel pressured by contractors who make special or limited time offers.
According to the attorney general蘑菇视频 office, a written contract should include the type, quality and warranty of materials to be used and an outline of all the financial terms and payment schedules.
鈥淒o not pay for the entire job up front. Include a penalty clause in the contract for failure to complete work on time,鈥� according to the attorney general蘑菇视频 office.
The contract also should carry a complete description of the work to be done and a guarantee that old materials and debris will be removed.
All necessary permits must be secured by the contractor, who must have proper liability and compensation insurance.
Some elements to be wary of, which may warn of a scam, include unsolicited, traveling contractors who come to your home and point out specific problems you haven鈥檛 noticed yourself; contractors who arrive in an unmarked truck or van and who refuse to provide proof of insurance and references when requested; contractors claiming, 鈥淚鈥檝e just done a job nearby and have some material left over, so I can give you a great deal on the job;鈥� and high pressure sales tactics.
For additional information on how to select a home improvement contractor or to report a fraudulent contractor, call the Pennsylvania Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555 or go online to www.attorneygeneral.gov.