Home
Improvement Scams
When the need arises for
improvements or repairs that you can't do for
yourself, many people turn to others to do the work.
Most of the time the result is a competent and
professional job. But there is a faction of
unscrupulous people out there that will take your
money and either leave the job unfinished or not
done at all.
You can avoid many of these
pitfalls by using a licensed contractor to conduct
home improvement and repairs to you home. But you
should know that a contractor license is not the
same as an occupational license. In Florida, by law,
a contractor's license number must appear on any
business proposal or contract. It must also be
conspicuously and legibly displayed on the vehicles
marked as business vehicles.
Investigators can track down
licensed contractors by their number. Criminal
charges can be pursued when criminal violations
occur and their license can be in jeopardy too. This
is a powerful tool as the loss of a contracting
license may be more punishment than incarceration.
Con Artists may...
- Target the
elderly, uninformed, young and the
inexperienced.
- Focus on
driveway paving, roofing & painting.
- Solicit
door-to-door claiming to have "just
finished a job down the street."
- Arrive in
unmarked vehicles, sometimes from
out-of-state
How to find a
Reputable & Reliable Contractor
-
Ask to see
their state contractor's
license. All state-generated
licenses come with a wallet card
printed on the same paper stock
as the main license. Check that
the license you are shown
matches the person showing it.
Ask to see additional
identification if you're still
not sure.
-
Determine how
long a contractor has been in
business. You may wish to check
with local building supply
retailers. An established
contractor with a reputation for
using quality materials and
paying his or her bills with
suppliers is more likely to do
quality work for you.
-
Check with
the Department of Business and
Professional Regulation or local
business officials to verify the
license is current.
-
Ask for
references of persons whom the
contractor has done work for and
check them out.
Dealing with a
Contractor
-
Avoid any
contractor who requires advance
payment. Arrange to pay after
the work is completed or in
regular payments
-
Don't sign
the work completion certificate
until all work is completed to
your satisfaction.
-
Avoid paying
cash.
-
If your
contract exceeds $2,500, you
should be familiar with the
Florida Construction Lien Law.
A notarized release of lien will
help ensure you will not have to
face the possibility of double
payment or loss of property to
unpaid workers.
-
Reputable
contractors won't object to
reasonable provisions for
consumer protection
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Tampa
Palms Bulletins
