ToUtahNow

Another thing which is interesting in California is an unlicensed contractor cannot be issued a judgement in court here. So if you hire one to do a $10,000 job and you never pay him there are no legal methods for him to collect. However, there are two sides to that. I had a client who was licensed as an individual in California and was owed $200,000 on a job. When he liened the property the owner came back and wanted the $1,300,000 he already paid him saying his Corporation which was licensed in Arizona not California did the job. As I was not part of that part of the case I never heard what happened.

Mark

Protech

Same here. "contracts entered into by unlicensed individuals unenforceable".

Also, we have a multiplier here. If an unlicensed contractor causes the property owner to suffer damages, the contractor is fined for 3 times the amount of damages actually caused.

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Plumber, Repiping, Replumbing, Leak Detection, Solar Water Heater, Drain Cleaner, Pipe Leak, Polk County Plumber, Lakeland Plumber, Winter Haven Plumber, Haines City Plumber, Bartow Plumber

SewerRatz

Here is the link to the PAMCANI http://www.pamcani.org/media/2009/license.html This letter is geared towards people hiring contractors, the Newsletter I have is from the to contractors, and it says the following. :

Legitimate plumbing contractors (particularly in Illinois and other states which a license is required) who adhere to established laws concerning licensing are understandably frustrated to run across a "handyman" or "home services" outfit that proclaims in their ad, flyer or yard sign that they perform a variety of tasks - mainly plumbing. Our friends at the Illinois PHCC took the lead last year by developing a letter that is sent to these "posers" (individuals who pretend to have the ability and right to perform plumbing work but without the burden of acquiring and maintaining a license). The letter notifies the addressee about the law being violated and clearly explains that consequences can include fines, the mandatory disconnecting of their business phones, and an order to cease the performance and advertising of plumbing without a license. PAMCANI applauds the Illinois PHCC in sharing our lack of patience with violators, and taking action to stop this practice. The state of the economy only magnifies the scope of problem.

Consumers and even business professionals more often than not are unaware of the license laws fro plumbing. in fact, many are surprised to learn about the years of training and the continuing education requirements for maintaining the state license. For that reason, PAMCANI has devoted a substantial portion of our marketing/advertising placements to educating the public about the licensing law. For the past two years, our "Know Your Air and Water" articles have run in the Sun Newspapers (a recently have been picked up in the Pioneer Press as well as the Fox Valley Labor News, and more publications (they all can be viewed on our website at www.pamcani.org). As often as possible, we have stressed the importance and value of the plumbing license. Our radio ad campaign (currently on numerous suburban radio stations that "ring" the Northern Illinois area) focuses on the license law, and even states "it is unlawful in Illinois to perform or advertise plumbing work without a license" during a well produced 60 second spot by our marketing firm (JV Murphy & Associates). The radio ad spot can be heard on our website as well.

PAMCANI, and our partner and allied associations, will continue to promote the fact that plumbing professionals are just that: experts who are trained and legally authorized to perform this work, and neither shortcuts nor imitators are to be tolerated. Thanks to the "Freedom of Information Act", PAMCANI has obtained a list from the Illinois Secretary of State's office that lists all licensed plumbing contractors in our state, and all licensed plumbers. The public (through our ads) is being invited to contact our office to verify the legitimacy of those who advertise plumbing work. Our association also continues to ask contractors, their employees and acquaintances to furnish us with ads, flyers and other communications pieces from those claiming to perform plumbing work in the absence of a license. Send them to us and in collaboration with the Illinois PHCC and our list, we will follow up. With a movement underway to possibly create a state registration or potential license for HVAC contractors (and perhaps for technicians), our willingness and ability to be proactive in protecting those who perform plumbing work lawfully is now even more crucial. Any new registration law should be stringent, and thoroughly monitored. The plumbing license law is an excellent model to follow, but enforcement and awareness remains an ongoing goal. We're all in this together, to help us help you.

And here is the form from the Illinois PHHC site to report the unlicensed contractors. http://www.ilphcc.com/images/YourAssistanceNeeded.pdf

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Ron Hasil Lic #058-160417
A-Archer Sewer & Plumbing specializing in:
Tankless Water Heaters | Drain and Sewer Cleaning
Sump and Ejector Pumps | Backflow RPZ Testing

ROCKSTARPLUMBER

In the paper tonight I read. Maybe some more of that good you tube footage in the making.

http://www.tallahassee.com/article/2...nsed-practices

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Tallahassee Tankless Water Heater
Tallahassee Plumbing Services
Tallahassee Trim Carpentry

Christina

OK, now I was going to get defensive over you bashing the word ain't.... but the 'NEWSMAN' using the word ain't? And how many times did he use it? GOOD POINT TM!!

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Bollinger plumber

Sorry what are you guys talking about. I was busy toking on my blunt.

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Only two devining forces have died for you. One is Jesus Christ and the other is the American soldier. One died for your soul the other died for your freedom.

SewerRatz

Is there a time limit when you can go back to your post to edit it? I noticed I had some real poor grammar in one of my posts. Massive typo's like leaving out words and all. But there is no edit button anymore.

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Ron Hasil Lic #058-160417
A-Archer Sewer & Plumbing specializing in:
Tankless Water Heaters | Drain and Sewer Cleaning
Sump and Ejector Pumps | Backflow RPZ Testing

plumb4fun

In California unlicensed Handymen can do work as long as it doesn't total more than $500 material and labor. Of course they can separate the work as different jobs and bill separately making the work look like separate jobs, therefore not exceeding the $500 limit at any one time. Quite a loophole.

ToUtahNow

Not quite:

§ 7048. Contracts aggregating less than specified amount; When exemption not applicableThis chapter does not apply to any work or operation on one undertaking or project by one or more contracts, the aggregate contract price which for labor, materials, and all other items, is less than five hundred dollars ($500), that work or operations being considered of casual, minor, or inconsequential nature.

This exemption does not apply in any case wherein the work of construction is only a part of a larger or major operation, whether undertaken by the same or a different contractor, or in which a division of the operation is made in contracts of amounts less than five hundred dollars ($500) for the purpose of evasion of this chapter or otherwise.

This exemption does not apply to a person who advertises or puts out any sign or card or other device which might indicate to the public that he or she is a contractor or that he or she is qualified to engage in the business of a contractor.

Added Stats 1939 ch 37 § 1. Amended Stats 1945 ch 1361 § 1; Stats 1977 ch 416 § 1; Stats 1986 ch 293 § 1; Stats 1998 ch 633 § 3 (SB 2217); Stats 2004 ch 865 § 8 (SB 1914).

Mark

Protech

Florida has similar laws but enforcement is virtually non-existent and the law is not so clearly written out so that any government goon can understand it.

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Plumber, Repiping, Replumbing, Leak Detection, Solar Water Heater, Drain Cleaner, Pipe Leak, Polk County Plumber, Lakeland Plumber, Winter Haven Plumber, Haines City Plumber, Bartow Plumber