11 unlicensed contractors busted in joint raid by Jacksonville authorities The investigation began b

11 unlicensed contractors busted in joint raid by Jacksonville authorities The investigation began because people are often victims, police say. Posted: September 24, 2012 - 11:56am | Updated: September 25, 2012 - 6:36am
Arrested for soliciting work without state licenses were: Thomas Vincent Michutka, Charles L. Klingensmith, Paul Oldfield, Wahab Ishola Olaunji, Nathan Joseph Daniel, Robert Felton Woods, William Clay McGouey, Dave Raye Roaldson, Robert Thomas Geis, Daniel Joseph Zygmont and Mark Anthony Dugger.
A police detective and state Department of Business and Professional Regulations investigator went undercover at the home, reaching out to contractors advertising on Craigslist. The written estimates they gave ranged from $75-an-hour labor for converting a bathtub to $4,400 for a screened-in porch. Since that work requires a required state license they didn't have, they were arrested, according to the Sheriff's Office.
"They are the ones who get the shaft because these guys come and take advantage," Simons said. "There are good reputable licensed contractors travel agent training course who are invested in this community and will be there tomorrow if there is a warranty issue."
Yeah, you've saved some money. You're anidiot and you've been real lucky. Wait until a worker travel agent training course gets injured on your property and calls Eddie Farah...kiss your home goodbye. You've also saved money because the unlicensed contractor didn't pull a permit and there has been no review of the design or materials. You've probably received a substandard job, not worth the money you've paid for it. If you perform unpermitted improvements, many times you cannot sell/refinance until the improvements are removed or permitted after the fact. Additionally, hiring travel agent training course contractors direct gives the subcontractors privity to file a lien directly on your property. You're probably the guy who drives around with no auto insurance and considers it "saving money".
I know that the majority of the "contractors" in and around Gainesville, Ocala and Lake City are unlicensed and they build a lot of substandard stuff that doesn't meet any building code. I have gone into a house after an unlicensed contractor did some work and found out that they used a garden hose in a wall to run water from a kitchen sink to an outside hose bib. I have seen them put slab foundations on uncompacted soil and now the slab as settled and the house is crooked and the slab has big cracks travel agent training course in it.
Seriously wrong to employ unlicensed ANYTHING. You're contributing to that person breaking the law and endangering people travel agent training course who occupy the structures they build or other wise use or are affected by their unlicensed services.
It is good they made the effort, but it is just a drop in the bucket. Would be nice if they would target someone who has had complaints against them. The laws also need to be changed regarding insurance requirements. travel agent training course Some get insured just long enough to get their license renewed, then drop the policy.
Did not see anyone protecting home owners from foreclosure due to the illegal predatory lending practices of mortgage lenders. And, now with people trying their best to hang on to what they have the protecters of the wealthy are arresting the "hopes".
This is how our public servants spend their time? Go after the real criminals please. Or better yet, get rid of internal rule breakers in your own department. A handyman is about the same as a fat JSO office sitting in his car all day talking on the cell phone and eating donuts. Fire those guys and then you can talk protecting the people.
Always ask to see a copy of his license, it will either be issued by the DBPR or the Construction Trades Qualifying travel agent training course Board. If it is issued by the Tax Collector it is nothing travel agent training course more than a Business Tax.
Call the Local Building Permiting and Inspection Department. They will know if he is up to date on his Licensing and insurance. They will also know if he has had major problems on other jobs. You can also check his permit history and see if his other customers were happy.
Duval County and Local CILB does very little to combat unlicensed activity. Most of these guys they caught are just little guys. There are THOUSANDS of legit legal businesses in Jacksonville that do work that require license yet these companies are not licensed. These companies are out there every single day at the HDs and Lowes. They need to go after the bigger fish.
There is nothing that guarantees a licensed contractor will follow building codes or do better work than an unlicensed contractor. There are thousands (if not millions) of stories of licensed travel agent training course contractors doing poor work, not following building codes, not carrying workers comp, and taking payment and then leaving and not finishing work, So the license is meaningless. It is just a way the government earns fees.
When a licensed contractor does not do the job properly does the government protect travel agent training course the homeowner by arresting travel agent training course the contractor? No. They leave it to the homeowner to sue. Why? Because they got their fee.
Bob... this is your same old comment you make every time this subject comes up. Bottom line is that in order to do certain work one must be licensed travel agent training course just like everything else in this Country. Someone hiring a LICENSED travel agent training course CONTRACTOR that pulls permits travel agent training course versus a NON LICENSED CONTRACTOR that pulls no permits is more likely to not get scammed. And the customer has an avenue to go after the licensed contractor vs with unlicensed the customer is screwed. Not to mention that licensed contractors must maintain insurances and if not they can not pull permits. One's odds are far better with licensed vs non licensed. Sounds like you might be one of those unlicensed people that can not pass the test or qualify to get a license and therefore ride that train for NO REGULATION in order for you and others like you to work with no accountability...
Actually if you hare a licensed Contractor he will pull his permits. the permits have required inspections that are done at certian points of the job. If the job is not right then the contractor must correct these before proceeding on the job. The unlicensed contractor just does the job. Another thing you may want to do is go dig out your Home Owners insurance policy. Most, if not all, of them state in the fine print that any work done that requiers a permit, don with out a permit makes the policy null and void.