How come the most potentially dangerous trade is the trade that unqualified and unlicensed people are so eager to put there hands on? I'm speaking of HVAC guys, Plumbers, handymen, homeowners ect. My biggest beef is with HVAC and handymen(yes you can get an uppercase H when you get licensed). I don't think we as Ec's really realize how much work these unlicensed people are doing. Most of the work that Iv'e seen by this kind has not been code compliant and at the least very dangerous for the customer. What say you?
well, this is a good thread for ranting, and we can all vent our spleen, and
as it seems there about 5 pages of vents, i'd say this has been therapeautic... ;-)
i got three emails from the californicate state license board today. they are
doing stings on people, and taking them to court. it looks like this:
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Two Repeat Offenders Among 10 Nabbed in Chico Sting
Jail time a possibility for contracting without a license
SACRAMENTO ? Ten illegal operators are headed to court next month following a Contractors State License Board undercover sting operation conducted at a Chico home on April 14, 2011, with investigators from the Butte County District Attorney?s Office.
CSLB investigators posed as property owners, inviting suspected illegal operators to bid on home improvement projects such as concrete, landscaping, fencing, painting, and tree trimming. Those who bid more than $500 received notices to appear in court for contracting without a license. California law requires that all home improvement projects valued at more than $500 for labor and materials be performed by a licensed contractor.
Some suspects are facing additional charges for illegal advertising and soliciting excessive down payments. State law requires that contractor license numbers be in all advertisements. Those who are not licensed may perform work valued at less than $500, but their ads must state that they are not a licensed contractor. Contractors are also prohibited by law from soliciting a down payment larger than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less.
This is not the first time Thomas Christopher Chadwick, 38, of Bangor, and Alvaro Barajas Garcia, 45, of Chico, have been caught in a CSLB sting. Both were issued notices to appear during a September 14, 2010 operation at a Chico mobile home park. Garcia pleaded guilty and was fined $1,010 for contracting without a license. Chadwick pleaded not guilty and is set for trial on one count of contracting without a license on June 20, 2011. Garcia and Barajas are now charged for a second offense which carries a penalty of up to $5,000 and at least 90 days in county jail.
?This sting should serve as notice that CSLB and its partners are serious about cracking down on illegal contracting activity in Butte County,? said Registrar Steve Sands.
In addition to the suspects caught in the sting operation, CSLB and the DA?s office will conduct follow-up investigations on at least two licensed contractors who are suspected of having employees who are not covered by workers? compensation insurance. Contractors are legally required to purchase workers? comp coverage for all employees to protect homeowners from liability if a worker is injured on their property.
?The Butte County District Attorney?s Office welcomes the opportunity to work with agencies like CSLB to ensure compliance with our state?s consumer protection laws,? said Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey. ?It is also critical that Butte County contractors who provide good jobs and pay their proper taxes and insurance are not put at a competitive disadvantage by these illegal operators.?
The following suspects who received notices to appear are scheduled for arraignment on May 13, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. in Butte County Superior Court in Oroville:
SUSPECT NAMES AND CITY OF RESIDENCE AGE WORK CLASS VIOLATIONS
Robert Charles Forcinio
Oroville 57 Cement Contracting without a license, soliciting excessive down payment
Joey L. Perkins
Oroville 41 Tree Services Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
Phillip Damian Schmidt
Chico 57 Painting Contracting without a license
Jeffrey Alan Woodward
Oroville 42 Painting Contracting without a license
Christian Stephen Kozak
Paradise 25 Tree Services Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
Thomas Christopher Chadwick
Bangor 38 Fencing Contracting without a license (second offense)
Rickey Adam Venard
Magalia 33 Fencing Contracting without a license
Alvaro Barajas Garcia
Chico 45 Landscaping Contracting without a license (second offense), illegal advertising
Ciro Alberto Sanchez
Chico 41 Landscaping Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, soliciting excessive down payment
Roger Glenn Schulte Jr.
Gridley 39 Fencing Contracting without a license
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are they concerned with their civic duties as guardians of the welfare of
the people of the fine state of californicate?
are they trying to shake the bushes to get some more license money?