Home Improvement Scams: Unlicensed Contractors

[HardTomOn]

i am not a crook!! i just change my company name, and use others to get a license, my license got revoked. in utah, you tell them you are a good church member, they will use you.

[legion0101]

what is a "licensed" contractor. say i was a tiler..could i be a licensed tiler? or licensed handyman? or licensed flooring installer?

[fayettadog]

i have been in the costruction trade my whole life, 40 years, carpenter, cabinet shop, remodel, anything for a buck, what burns my butt is going in after the so called licensed cont dumps on the homeowner and sticks him with the unpaid materials bill. i can't wait for these idiot law makers have to call a licensed electrician to change a bulb. they'll change that law fast. no contractor wants a small job.

[IAMSatisfied]

I've been both a licensed & unlicensed contractor & have determined that the state runs a mafia style protection racket for their contractor clients that subscribe. In the town I live in many of the contractors do shoddy work or don't want the small jobs, so homeowners opt to hire unlicensed craftsmen whom they know & trust to do their work. If people would simply take personal responsibility & do their homework, they wouldn't need the state to "protect" them while greatly increasing costs.

[mdowning77]

fuck you lady....no more than 10% down? i dont think so. cause i wont be paying for your materials!

[arnoldcustom]

I think licensed contractors are the worst of the worst cons and scammer around because people trust them to much, but in fact they cut corners far more than any other type of contractor, pluss it give the licensed contractors ability to charge out ragas pricing, even on parts, I tell people all the time, get a list of parts they need and go to the pluming suppliers warehouse, as they will sell to anyone anything just about what they need for far less than a dam licensed contractors

[jeffpicks]

While it's true that SOME unlicensed are good, it is equally true that SOME licensed are BAD! Just don't think for a second that just because they are licensed that they are good. and likewise for the unlicensed. But here's the thing...

Like it or not, laws are laws. If your town, city, county, whatever, requires that contractors be licensed, then do NOT support the guys who are NOT licensed. And ALWAYS ask for and CHECK references! Don't be a sucker... use common sense!

[originalgrim1]

I work for a "Licensed" contractor. I do all the bidding, estimates and work. He just holds the license. I had to demo a load bearing wall and gave him a list of materials I needed to accomplish it. He told me to "cut a hole and put drywall on it." On a load bearing wall?! Seriously?! I do not do shoddy work. Ever. No cutting corners here. I do it right the first time. I will make enough to get licensed one day. Until then, I will keep working my ass off and doing it right.

[barry34785]

The licensing by government serves one purpose, to use the police power of government to limit your competition. The purpose is not to demonstrate competency in a particular trade. In fact most licensing requires paying for and taking a written test not actually showing the gov't you can do the work correctly.

Private peer review companies like Angie's List are a good way to research your contractor as well as checking with the gov't sites.

[sparks277]

Oh, yeah... cause a "license" means they know what their doing... BULLSHIT!

[samten10a]

@sparks277

It means the gov has some kind of remedy for bad work. But for unlicensed contractor there is none. At least in some states. Most state licensed contractors, usual means the contractor has insurance and bond for shity, dangerous work. Ware as unlicensed there is nothing to sue for.

[MrTahoe2011]

A license does not prove that someone you hire is honest or not. it does not prove they are compitent to do anything. except 1 thing. they paid the contractors board and insurance companies tons of money..get the facts

[MrTahoe2011]

The state govenment is totally and compleatly after your money. wake up!. a license does not prove that a person is honest or have the skills to do the work. The contractors boards ruined the whole carpentry buisiness. they charge these people tons of money. their making money off it in everyway. get the facts

[MrTahoe2011]

Why would anyone give a stranger money? for prommised this or that? the contractors board in any state is just as crooked as the people they call crooked.

I would pay someone to do work on my home w/out a license. just pay them upon compleation.and satisfaction. fuck the state govn. they don't give a damn about anyone.

[mentat102]

In California the maximum amount of money that can be collected up front is $1,000 on a home improvement project. If you are being asked for more, beware!

[hbloch1]

Video must see!......Toll Brothers....Go to Youtube......Looking For Schmucks

[TheJustanotherDave1]

Using licensed contractors will give you a better chance of a satisfactory outcome, but won't guarantee it. Reputation + license is what you want - do your homework. Licenses mean they are legal, not necessarily honest or competent. A business license costs about $30, but you can't buy a reputation. Many people hire contractors like they shop for cars, thinking they are all the same and only the price is different. WRONG! There are good, honest contractors out there. But they are not cheap.

[pwnage333]

@TheJustanotherDave1 I'm unlicensed and I have a very good reputation =/

[MyCANOAS]

LICENSED CONTRACTORS ARE BETTER BUT, IS HARD TO GET THE JOB BECAUSE UNLICENSED CONTRACTORS DO THE SAME WORK FOR 1/2 PRICE, BUT NO LICENSE, NO INSURANCE, NO WORKS-COMP. NO BOND AND SOME TIMES THE COSTUMER DOESNT KNOW THE NAME OF THAT PERSON, BUT THATS WATH THEY WANT, IM LICENSED AND LOTS OF TIMES I LOST THE JOB FOR THAT REASON, BUT THEY HAVE TO FEED THE FAMILY TOO, SOO GOOD LUCK TO EVERY ONE, LICENSED AND UNLICENSED AND BETTER LUCK FOR ALL OUR CLIENTS. JAJAJAJA IMBECILES...

[MyContractorListcom]

You need to know as much as possible about who you are going to hire. Some people think they are getting a better deal with an unlicensed contractor, maybe its true sometimes and sometimes the cheap comes out expensive. Good Luck

[MyContractorListcom]

License or unlicensed, whom ever you hire check them out! How long have they been around? These days everyone has a paper trail, follow the bread crumbs and find out who you are dealing with, don’t rely on simple referrals they can be made up, and ratings can be manipulated, pictures may say a thousands words but they don’t always say who did the work. I know some great licensed and unlicensed contractors, but then again that’s my point I know them.

[TheTileNinja]

I'm the best tile installer I know, and carry no particular license, per se. I screen my CUSTOMERS because I don't want flakes or people short-changing ME. This thing goes both ways. I wouldn't dream of taking on a job without a materials deposit, spending my own money, and risk not getting paid. I give (and stick to) written estimates. Because honestly, you've usually done plenty of work on their project before you even spend the first day physically working on it.

[honda125]

Thats what you GET..haha

[shonholmes]

As an electrical contractor for over 26 years I can say that homeowners should only hire licensed tradesmen. True, not all tradesmen are good. Referals are a start but those can be fake as well. You need 100% trust with contractors as well as trust on the homeowners part. Many home owners are bad apples as well. Thats life. There should always be a VERY detailed description prior to start that states the price. There are thousands of illegals now saying they are contractors. Beware.

[markhinr]

License alone doesn't mean you'll get a good contractor. Get referrals from reliable sources, check with the BBB website, google the contractors name to see if anything comes up, and keep in mind that it's usually true that you get what you pay for.

[howtohireacontractor]

Amazing

[cgasucks]

My house been renovated 2 years ago for over 50K......all by an unlicensed contractor...he was cheap and we did our homework on this guy before he put a finger on my home...I'm glad he did...he's pretty cool and works like a motherfucker....if you're gonna hire an unlicensed person...check his references and do your homework...

[YourLastViewer]

Only after work done and bs contractor got the money did I found out my elderly mother had work that was horribly done on rental property. She said he said he was licensed. He was not. I wish murdering crooked contractors was legal, I know one ass I would set on fire.

[Depelos1040]

i work in construction an most of the home owners they like to hire unlicense contractors you may say why? yes some of them are tight or some of them don't have money ,

[pclle]

@Depelos1040 exactly, you get what you pay for, there is nothing for free, stop calling shitty jo blo companies that have zero reputation , go with a large company thats been around for a while

[NeighborhoodReferral]

Here's a great site for homeowners who are looking for contractors.

neighborhood referral.com

[DBCS19]

I just did some checking around and this guy isn't a reporter.

[GiantBuilders]

Licensed contractors must go through a background check through fingerprinting by the FBI.

[gregvancom]

I'm a licensed contractor and no one ever finger printed me. Is this a new rule and what state are you from. I'm in California and got my license in 1986

[payntingdotcom]

Unless it is electrical or plumbing or roofing, as far as know, in Canada, and it varies from province to province, no license is required to work as a contractor in most common trades. In fact, licenses don't exist for most trades. Very few trades are regulated.

You do need a business license, but that is just a number the government uses for tax purposes.

[LIcensedContractor]

Most of the problem could be stopped if the homeowners would check licenses. Most though are more concerned with the cost and what they're untrained guess on costs should be for the work. As soon as they find someone willing to work for next to nothing, they give them the job-- licensing? who cares. Just like drugs, if the demand went away we wouldn't have a problem with unlicensed contractors.

[razoredge45]

they need to extend to local goverment to enforce these Laws and ticket these Clowns! no permit who's in charge or ticket one or all! that will clear the air! and make the City's ton's of money! to buy more code enforcement cars

[minee22]

What this is basically saying is even though I know how to install sprinklers or landscape ur house I have to pay the government money to say that i'm aloud to do the work. Its bullshit. I see it trying to make it better for people but fuck with the economy being the way it is now hell i need money. I'll do anything I know how to do and I won't scam you. I'm not paying the government money to say that i'm aloud to work on your stuff. I realy think Cops don't care they just want to write tickets.

[deltafreelancer]

Unlicensed contractors only come in 2 flavors, either very hard worker, or just pure scam.

[bubbzontario29]

because you dont pssoess a state license thats means your unqualified what crock most good contractors cant get licenses because of criminal record such as protecting your wife from ana assault and you taking the charge instead and in turn your business license is revoked so now im not a master plumber any more im unqualified because no license BULLSHIT

[unytcommsys]

Your situation is unfortunate. If what you say is true you had to make a choice. You protected your mate. You did your duty, good man.

[jojuma91]

Licenced or not , there's people that only mess things, the best way to go will be to Call me, ha ha ha ha ha , just kidding, 10% to start the job and then progress payments will do just fine. ( it's fair) and is fair to say about people that are trying to get advantage of the contractors as well , I think it's important to put everything in a paper so both parties will have a comun ground,

[holm79]

every time i hire a contractor he wont get a cent until the job is done by 100% or else he can forget all about the money.

Job not done as contract says = no money

and when the contractor needs materieals? he wil buy and install it on his account, when he finnish ill buy it from him. not before.

[SaviourSole]

FYI, In California the law says you pay the contractor 10% or $1000 whichever is less at the outset of the job.

[bubbzontario29]

so the contractor should put the money out opf his pocket for your house ? YOUR FUKED

[holm79]

Else he can tear down whatever he made, yes we are fortunated when it comes to that, not fucked...

I can tell you though the contractor can insure himself that I will pay, when he handing over the finnish product.

Then the hole workpart, and every single nail used as materiel will appear on paper, made by a thirdparty, to insure proper quality, deadline and payment.

I think 95-99% does that nowadays and include that payment of the thirdparty, in their salary.

People here like it that way.

[eldagwood]

Homeowners are stupid as a whole. They want the cheapest.

[27noah27]

that ignorant woman. 10 percent down won't even cover most materials for the job

[helliott123]

.

in most states a license only means that they payed a fee for a license but took no test. just ask the contractor for 3 or 4 references call them and see what they say about the contracted. If the bid they give you is 75% cheaper then the rest, expect to get what you paid for.

[SaviourSole]

There is a difference between a license to perform work in a specific trade and a contractors' license. Contractors' licenses require tests in the trade, business laws, etc. A current contractors' license also ensures bonding, workers comp, etc.

[helliott123]

why are you replying to me?

.

[cerqs76]

how dumb is this... even licensed contractors do shitty work.

[jsunac]

cuz your a tough guy!

[biscuitfarmer]

My Karate and Firearms training business has never been scammed. I wonder why?

[michecaballe]

wow