A two-day sting between the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and some state regulatory agencies have put 11 people behind bars they say were unlicensed contractors in the county.
Of those 11 arrested, seven had previous criminal histories with charges that included robbery, vehicle theft, grant theft, forgery and drugs, sheriff’s deputies said. And with some looking to get some quick home construction work done as the holiday season approaches, the sheriff’s office is warning people against using unlicensed contractors.
Some of the problems that might come from using someone without a license, according the deputies, include:
• Poor qualifications — Unlicensed individuals have not demonstrated the education, insurance or qualification required of a licensed contractor. This can leave customers with poor quality work or unfinished projects, which means spending more money to hire another contractor to repair and finish.
• Possible criminal background — Unlicensed individuals often have criminal background that include fraud, theft, violent crimes, sexual offenses and substance abuse.
• Likelihood of being the victim of a scam — Unlicensed individuals often disappear with people’s money, leaving them with very few options to get the money back or the work completed.
• No coverage under homeowner policy — Most homeowner policies require that work be done by a licensed contractor, and provide no coverage for work that is not.
• Noncompliance with building codes — Most projects, even small ones, require permits and inspections that unlicensed contractors ignore, or are unfamiliar with. If a project is not permitted, or it does not comply with building codes, the work may have to be repaired or even removed, and the entire project could be subject to fines.
Customers looking to hire contractors can verify whether or not they are licensed by visiting MyFloridaLicense.com.
