State Agency Listens to Your Contractor Problems
Source: AARP.org | August 2, 2007
Now there's a way to get even—or at least complain to someone who cares—with that home improvement contractor who never showed up or the one who didn't do what he or she promised. Situations arise in which unscrupulous contractors canvas neighborhoods, receive down payments, and fail to perform properly under the contract. As soon as consumers start to complain, the company closes up shop and disappears, hides the income or files bankruptcy so that consumers cannot actually recover against the company.
"Every year the Consumer Protection Board (CPM) hears complaints ranging from incomplete or poor workmanship to instances where contractors take upfront payments but never show up for work," according to Mindy Bockstein, CPM Chairperson and Executive Director.
AARP believes that New York State should develop a policy that requires all those engaging in home improvement work to be bonded and registered with the state. The state should also encourage all New York homeowners to use only those contractors who have registered with the designated state agency and have the proper insurances.
AARP supports the establishment of a consumer recovery fund to enhance a consumer's chances for recovery for "actual loss' when a contractor fails to perform or does shoddy work. These policies would bring more oversight to this industry and give consumers more remedies when they fall prey to fraudulent home improvement contractors.
Check out the resources that are available on the Consumer Protection Board Web site if you would like to:
- Register a complaint with the CPB.
- Take a homeowner survey about a home contractor problem.
- Read about tips in choosing and hiring a home-improvement contractor.
- Obtain a copy of a sample contract for home repair.
- Find an investigative hearing in your neighborhood
AARP New York would like to hear from you.
Has a home improvement contractor failed to perform properly under contract or have you or a family member paid in full for a job but the contract never showed or performed shoddy work?
preview