Bergen County Cracks Down on Home Improvement Contractors
By Paramus Post Sunday, July 27, 2008, 06:54 PM EDT
(HACKENSACK) - Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney and the County’s Office of Consumer Affairs today announced that they are keeping a close watch on home improvement contractors doing work in Bergen County and making sure that they are registered with the NJ Department of Consumer Affairs and have the appropriate liability insurance.
“Our Office of Consumer Affairs is committed to protecting Bergen County residents from home improvement contractors that fail to provide proper business identification and lack the necessary documentation needed in a contract,” said McNerney. “Our goal is to make sure that consumers are receiving quality service from reputable business owners.”
The New Jersey Home Improvement Contractor law, which took effect on January 1, 2006, requires all home improvement contractors to register every year with the State Division of Consumer Affairs.
According to the Home Improvement Contractor law, registered home improvement contractors need to have the following items:
• Commercial general liability insurance in a minimum amount of $500,000 per occurrence is required.
• A home improvement contractor registration number needs to be displayed in the place of business, in all advertisements, on commercial vehicles, and business documents including contracts.
• A copy of the certificate of commercial general liability insurance needs to be provided with every contract.
• Consumers should receive a contract for home improvement jobs that exceed $500.00. The contract should list all the terms and conditions of the work being done including the price, materials to be used, description of the work, and the time period it will take to complete the work. Warranties and guarantees need to be documented.
• Contracts should include a three day cancellation clause advising consumers that they have three business days to change their minds from the date the contract was signed.
Under state law, home improvement contractors cannot obtain construction permits from municipal code officers unless they are registered.
“Home improvement contractors have been fined an approximate total of $80,000 between January and July of this year for work done in Bergen County residential homes,” said Frank Benedetto, Bergen County Division of Consumer Affairs Director. “We are serious about taking action against unregistered home improvement contractors, as well as registered contractors who violate the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.”
If you have any concerns or questions regarding home improvement contractors, please contact the Bergen County Office of Consumer Affairs at (201) 336-6400. You can also visit the New Jersey Division Consumer Affairs web site at www.njconsumeraffairs.gov.
“Our Office of Consumer Affairs is committed to protecting Bergen County residents from home improvement contractors that fail to provide proper business identification and lack the necessary documentation needed in a contract,” said McNerney. “Our goal is to make sure that consumers are receiving quality service from reputable business owners.”
The New Jersey Home Improvement Contractor law, which took effect on January 1, 2006, requires all home improvement contractors to register every year with the State Division of Consumer Affairs.
According to the Home Improvement Contractor law, registered home improvement contractors need to have the following items:
• Commercial general liability insurance in a minimum amount of $500,000 per occurrence is required.
• A home improvement contractor registration number needs to be displayed in the place of business, in all advertisements, on commercial vehicles, and business documents including contracts.
• A copy of the certificate of commercial general liability insurance needs to be provided with every contract.
• Consumers should receive a contract for home improvement jobs that exceed $500.00. The contract should list all the terms and conditions of the work being done including the price, materials to be used, description of the work, and the time period it will take to complete the work. Warranties and guarantees need to be documented.
• Contracts should include a three day cancellation clause advising consumers that they have three business days to change their minds from the date the contract was signed.
Under state law, home improvement contractors cannot obtain construction permits from municipal code officers unless they are registered.
“Home improvement contractors have been fined an approximate total of $80,000 between January and July of this year for work done in Bergen County residential homes,” said Frank Benedetto, Bergen County Division of Consumer Affairs Director. “We are serious about taking action against unregistered home improvement contractors, as well as registered contractors who violate the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.”
If you have any concerns or questions regarding home improvement contractors, please contact the Bergen County Office of Consumer Affairs at (201) 336-6400. You can also visit the New Jersey Division Consumer Affairs web site at www.njconsumeraffairs.gov.
