rap # 48 03/27/12
CONSUMER AFFAIRS STING ISSUES WARNINGS TO FOUR CONTRACTORS
THE OCEAN COUNTY Department of Consumer Affairs issued warnings to four local home improvement contractors after investigators
found they failed to comply with state consumer protection laws.
County officials joined with their counterparts in the state Division of Consumer Affairs recently in a task force investigating
local contractors.
"According to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs the number one consumer complaint in the state for 2011 was related
to home improvements," said Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari.
Vicari, who is liaison to both the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs and the county Office of Senior Services, said
seniors are often the victims of unscrupulous contractors.
Vicari said consumers can protect themselves by ensuring that a contractor is registered with the state.
In order to register, a home improvement contractor must provide proof of liability insurance in the amount of $500,000 and provide
a legitimate business address as well as other information about the business.
"Always look for the contractors registration number," Vicari said. "A Home Improvement Contractor Number begins with ‘13VH’
followed by eight digits and must be displayed on all contracts, advertisements, and commercial vehicles."
The four warnings issued give the contractors 30 days to register without penalty or to provide proof of compliance with the law. If
failure to comply, the contractor will be issued a Notice of Violation, which carries a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for the first
offense.
For more information, contact the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs at 732-929-2105 or visit the department’s
website at www.co.ocean.nj.us/Consumer/index.htm.
