Watch CBS News

3 On Your Side: NJ Cracks Down On Contractors

NEW JERSEY (CBS) -- How much do you know about the home improvement contractors that you hire to do work around your home? 14,000 contractor complaints were received by the New Jersey Attorney General's office last year alone. 3-On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan finds that has prompted a state crackdown on contractors who are violating the law.

Rose colored carpeting, aqua blue tiles, and a kitchen that has seen better days. This New Jersey home is in need of a major makeover inside and out. But first it was the setting for a sting.

Thomas Calcagni, Acting Director for the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs says, "Our undercover investigators did what consumers would do. They went on the internet, they did a search for home improvement contractors in this area and then invited them down to the undercover house to give estimates on the kind of work they could perform. Roofing, carpentry, closets, everything you see here they were giving estimates on what it would take to renovate."

Fourteen of the 18 home improvement contractors who responded to the undercover house were not registered as required by law. So they're now being fined $5,000 each by the Attorney General's office.

The contractors are:

· Above the Rest Fence, LLC, of Deptford

· Affordable Carpentry, of Sewell

· Big John Handyman Service LLC, of Woodbury

· Bruce Stewart, of Franklinville

· Bryant Home Repair & Remodeling, of Sharon Hill, PA

· Chris King Carpentry, of Mantua

· D&D Painting, of Woodbury

· Handy Dan, of Clementon

· Harland's Roofing & Remodeling, of Deptford

· Juliano's Lawn & Garden, of Millville

· KCT Painting & Fine Carpentry, of Delran

· MAM Landscaping, of Glassboro

· McShane Construction LLC, of Media, PA

Just last month investigators with the New Jersey Attorney General's office scoured home improvement store parking lots and issued warnings to contractors who didn't have required state registration numbers on their commercial vehicles. The Attorney General's office says that by hiring a registered contractor, it reduces the risk of being scammed. According to Calcagni, "We're also ensuring that they have legitimate places of business, that they are not fly by night operations and we are requiring of course, that they have, they meet our insurance threshold, that they have at least $500,00 of liability insurance."

New Jersey state investigators were looking into whether the contractors were registered as required by law with the Attorney General's Division of Consumer Protection. The inspectors didn't take into account whether the estimates they received were accurate or inflated. If these contractors register within the next few weeks their fines will be lowered to $1,000.

Before hiring a home improvement contractor in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, consumers are urged to obtain the contractor's State registration number. In New Jersey that number will always begins "13VH."

Search for NJ contractors at: https://newjersey.mylicense.com/verification/

Search for PA contractors at http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/hicsearch/

No matter what state you reside, demand a copy of the contractor's liability insurance policy. Then contact the insurer to learn whether the policy is still valid

Reported by Jim Donovan, CBS 3

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.