by Patrick Morissey
Summer provides West Virginians with a great opportunity to complete home improvement projects, but before you can enjoy your renovated space, it’s important to carefully choose the right person or company to avoid getting ripped off.
Most contractors follow the law and deliver on promised work to consumers.
However, bad actors do exist, as everyone doesn’t always play by the rules.
For example, a concrete contractor based in Clarksburg allegedly misled consumers regarding the existence of a warranty to cover the product he sold. Our office secured restitution for the affected consumers and won a court order that permanently blocks the owner or his business from engaging in future contracting work in West Virginia.
Elsewhere, a home improvement contractor accused of violating consumer protection laws in Putnam, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason and other counties sits behind bars on criminal charges related to our office’s investigation and referrals to local prosecutors. In one instance, his shoddy work left a Hurricane home in worse shape than when the project began, forcing the victim to pay tens of thousands of dollars to correct the issues.
Our office also recently won a lawsuit to shut down a Northern Panhandle plumber who accepted thousands of dollars for deficient and unfinished work.
So, what can you do to keep this from happening to you?
First and foremost, know the law.
State rules require contractors to provide a written contract when the total cost of a project reaches or exceeds $250. Once you select a business or individual, make sure you get everything in writing, including estimated costs and completion date for the work.
The contractor is required by state and federal law to provide notice of the consumer’s right to cancel the contract. This may occur without legal or financial penalty within three business days of the agreement.
As of June 15, a change in state law allows residential projects worth up to $10,000 to be completed without a license. The previous benchmark was $2,500.
This means it is even more important to know who you’re dealing with before hiring someone.
Seek recommendations from those you trust and be careful with what you read.
Online reviews can be helpful, although, beware that some websites receive payment for posting information and may lack important details about a contractor’s status or reputability. Some unscrupulous contractors may even post false reviews from nonexistent consumers.
Ask the contractor for local references, after which contact the consumer and visit the site to inspect the contractor’s work.
It is also important to confirm that the contractor is licensed. You can independently check the contractor’s status online through the Division of Labor at https://labor.wv.gov/Licensing/Contractor_License/Pages/contractor-search.aspx.
Keeping a level head is also key to protecting yourself.
Some contractors may claim your house needs work immediately to avoid a major safety issue. Get a second opinion. This may be a scare tactic meant to pressure you into making a quick decision.
Finally, if you believe you’ve been deceived by a home improvement contractor, reach out to our office. Our Consumer Protection Division takes on consumer complaints related to home improvement contractors. Call our hotline at 1-800-368-8808, fill out a consumer complaint online at www.wvago.gov or consult with one of our field representatives at events throughout the state.
Learn your rights as a consumer, do your research and contact our office if something seems amiss.
Patrick Morrisey is the attorney general of West Virginia.
