Unlicensed Activity – Don’t Be A Victim Consumer Stories

Pastor signed a contract with an unlicensed contractor to reroof and fix any leaks his church had for $20,500.  The unlicensed contractor performed shoddy work. The unlicensed contractor blames churchgoers and the pastor for the leaks, and the steeple was left in disarray. A licensed contracting company estimates that repairs on the shoddy job will be $13,000. Case Number: 2015-005702

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to perform plumbing services. Contractor was paid $5,100.00 and was terminated because of poor workmanship and unprofessionalism. The homeowner alleged that the contractor caused water damage to the residence and did not repair it. Case Number: 2015-012168

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to perform general construction services. Contractor had been paid the full contracted price of $19,500.00, yet still had not finished the job, and was presumed to have abandoned the job. Homeowner wished that he had not gotten into a verbal agreement with the unlicensed contractor. Case Number: 2015-013473

Homeowner signed two contracts with an unlicensed contractor to repair exterior landscape lights, replace faulty interior lighting sockets with new bulbs, and to do plumbing maintenance.  Homeowner had problems with the repairs that were done.  Contractor promised he would come back, but has not.  Homeowner had to hire three other contractors to do new work and fix the unlicensed contractor’s shoddy work.  $18,836.63 was put into the project by homeowner. Case Number: 2015-010658

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to do lighting work.  Homeowner paid the contractor a total amount of $22,141.00 for the project.  Homeowner said after 60 days the contractor informed her that the material for the job had been delivered to a Jacksonville job.  Homeowner did not hear from the contractor until the fall of 2014.  Homeowner demanded her deposit back.  Homeowner has not heard from the contractor since. Case Number: 2015-008040

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to supervise electrical, plumbing, gas and HVAC contractors.  Homeowner paid the contractor a total amount of $800,000.00 for the project.  Homeowner feels that he was over charged for the work that was done.  Some subcontractors have not been paid and a lien has been put on the property. Case Number: 2015-006128

Homeowner signed with an unlicensed individual to do general contractor work, to paint, and to relocate all AC units.  Homeowner had paid contractor a total of $10,037.50.  Homeowner stayed in Connecticut for the most part, and the unlicensed contractor would send her pictures of the progress.  Homeowner fired contractor when she found that he had actually done very little when she came back.  Homeowner then paid $7,000 towards a new contractor to complete the work, amounting to $17,037.50 for the job. Case Number: 2015-006378

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to roof his house for a total of $11,072.69.  The homeowner paid $6,694.52. The job was abandoned prior to completion, and a police report had been filed against the contractor.  No work has been done to the homeowner’s house, and the contractor has ignored the homeowner’s phone calls. Case Number: 2015-023975

A homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to make renovations on the homeowner’s kitchen for $26,400.  The total amount the homeowner paid was $19,800.  The homeowner said the project was complete but everything from the color to size of the appliances was all wrong. The appliances did not fit properly into the intended spaces. Case Number: 2014-053456

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to remodel the kitchen and bathroom of the house with tiles and cabinets.  Homeowner paid the contractor $18,293.00 in total for the project.  Contractor allegedly did electrical and plumbing services.  Homeowner was scammed and the contractor never performed services in the project, which required a license to do. Case Number: 2014-046998

Homeowner signs with an unlicensed contractor to reroof his home. Homeowner paid $12,189.53 to the unlicensed contractor.  At first, the contractor did perform work but, when he got compensation, he abandoned the job. Case Number:  2014-042249

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to build a new home.  Contractor was paid a total of $1,181,681.00 by the homeowner for the project.  Contractor failed to pay the subcontractors according to the contract and abandoned the job when funds were depleted and no longer available to complete the project. Case Number: 2014-040996

Complainant contracted with an unlicensed contractor to install two 5-ton AC units with air handlers at a local church. He stated that the air handlers were installed improperly and 4-ton units were put in instead of the contracted 5-ton ones, which damaged the ceilings. The contractor refused to correct the problem.  Complainant had to hire another company, and paid $14,658.19 in total for the corrections. Case Number:  2014-037282

Homeowner hired an unlicensed contractor to make repairs to his fire damaged home, which included roofing, electrical, plumbing, and AC work. A total amount of $55,925 was paid towards the employees and no permits were obtained. According to the homeowner, the work performed was shoddy and he had to purchase materials directly totaling $17,783.69. Case Number: 2014-041166

Homeowner signs with an unlicensed contractor to perform marine construction, including building a deck, landings, docks, catwalks, stairs, and handrails for a total amount of $23,480.03, which was paid in full by the homeowner.  No permits or inspections were obtained.  The unlicensed contractor had to pay a $1,500.00 fine. Case Number:  2014-039987

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual. The total price of the project was $10,000.00 of which $7,000.00 was paid to the individual. The job was abandoned, leaving the roof exposed and creating interior damage. A licensed contractor pulled the permits for the work, and the homeowner hired another contractor to finish the job. Case Number: 2014-040861

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to reroof her house. The work was substandard and she paid $14,225.95 in total. Several times she saw them causing further damage to the roof and at one point one of the individuals hurt his ankle while on the job. She was notified by two licensed contractors that the roof had to be completely stripped and replaced;  she did not have the money to have the roof redone. Case Number: 2014-037023

Homeowner was informed by an unlicensed contractor that her roof needed repairs. In total, $7,400.00 was paid to the contractor. His performance was substandard, did not meet building code standards and was unfinished. Her son fired the contractor. Case Number: 2014-039018

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to install an elevator.  Homeowner paid the contractor in the total of $41,850.00 for the project.  Contractor used another contractor’s license to do the homeowner’s project. Case Number: 2014-039685

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to remodel the interior of home.  Homeowner paid the contractor a total of $32,750.00 for the project.  Homeowner says work is not complete and contractor refuses to return. Case Number: 2014-036711

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual for electrical services at his property.  Homeowner paid the contractor a total amount of $5,886.00 for the project.  Contractor manipulated the homeowner’s invoices, and hired unlicensed contractors to do the project. Case Number: 2014-034675

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to remodel his house.  Homeowner paid the contractor a total of $32,980.07 for the project.  Contractor did not pull a permit and did not do the work he was paid for. Case Number: 2014-033794

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to perform general construction and electrical services.  Homeowner paid the contractor a total of $38,313.75 for the project.  The contractor was terminated due to an altercation over poor workmanship and continually requesting additional funds. Case Number: 2014-033682

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to do a number of things including plumbing and electrical work at homeowner’s house.  Homeowner paid the contractor a total of $25,767.22 for the project.  Contractor claimed to be licensed and insured but was not and didn’t pay subcontractors for plumbing and electrical work, so homeowner paid subcontractors a total of $4,167.22 to avoid liens. Case Number: 2014-036673

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to remodel her kitchen.  Homeowner paid the contractor $19,606.00 in total for the project.  The job is still not complete and extensive damage to the property took place.  It will take $10,000.00 to finish and correct the kitchen remodeling. Case Number: 2014-037491

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual for a kitchen remodel, including some electrical work.  Homeowner paid the contractor a total amount of $9,114.00 for the project.  Homeowner had issues with the work and fired the contractor.  Contractor is now threatening homeowner with a lien on the property. Case Number: 2014-032773

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to have electrical repair work conducted at his home after his home suffered electrical damage from a lightning strike.  Homeowner paid the contractor a total amount of $10,485.41 for the project.  Contractor was involved in the diagnostic and repair.  The job was abandoned and the homeowner did not receive credits that were due to him for purchases that the contractor had made. Case Number: 2014-028572

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to make repairs on his house.  Homeowner paid the contractor a total of $15,981for the project.  The job is incomplete, subcontractors were not paid and subject has abandoned the job. Case Number: 2014-031105

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to add a new addition to the existing home.  Homeowner paid the contractor a total of $32,850.00 for the project.  Homeowner terminated the contractor after learning that the contractor had not obtained permits and was not licensed. Contract Number: 2014-032338

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to remodel his house.  Work included general construction and electrical services.  Homeowner paid the contractor a total of $150,116.37 for the project.  Homeowner says the contractor did shoddy work.  Because of this, the homeowner had to fire the contractor and hire another contractor to complete the project and redo portions of the previous contractor’s work. Case Number: 2014-028724

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to do a roofing job that included replacing shingles, soffits, fascia, and gutters. A total of $6,005.00 was paid by the homeowner for the project. The project was never completed and was abandoned. Case Number: 2014-032581

Homeowner signed a contract to have his home re-roofed for $2,700.  The unlicensed individual was paid $2,100 up front and agreed to complete the job in two weeks. After two weeks went by and no work was performed, the homeowner contacted the unlicensed individual and was told that he had no intention of performing the work and no longer had the money.

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed pool contractor to resurface a residential pool that included tile work.  Homeowner paid a total of $7,875.00 leaving a balance of $11,050. Due to a failure of the homeowner to pay the difference owed, the unlicensed pool company filed a lien against the homeowner’s property.

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed individual to install siding, casement windows and picture frame windows for the contract price of $5,306.18. The homeowner paid the unlicensed individual checks totaling $2,653.09.  In this particular case a flooring company falsely represented themselves to the homeowner as being able to perform window installation.

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed contractor to replace a central air-conditioning unit. The contractor disconnected a clogged line, which shot out and struck a fire sprinkler head, pumping out large amounts of water, and flooded six condos in the process. Damage was in excess of $100,000.00. Case Number: 2014-027345

Homeowner signed a contract with an unlicensed AC company to install a 16 seer unit, reroute air ducts, and replace old electrical wiring and piping for $3,769. According to a subsequent contractor, a permit was not pulled and numerous things were wrong with the work performed. The homeowner estimated the cost to correct the faulty work was $1,500.