Unmasking Imposters – Ask for a License & Verify it as Active!

There are a number of unsuspecting homeowners who end up hiring imposters because they can be found nearly everywhere, and they can be quite convincing. Their real expertise tends to lie in presenting themselves as construction professionals by using effective marketing and advertising to anchor that fraudulent claim. 

Some of these imposters even have construction experience, making them somewhat more skillful at talking the talk. However, unless they can meet state construction experience requirements, pass the state exam, provide evidence of the requisite construction bond and workers compensation insurance, they remain nothing more than an “imposter” and NOT an actively licensed contractor! 

To protect homeowners from the prevalence of contractor scammers and imposters, the Department of Consumer Affairs Contractors State Licensing Board (CSLB) provides a way to report unlicensed activity through their Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT). For details, or to report an imposter, click here. 

Per the CSLB, “It is illegal for an unlicensed person to perform contracting work on any project which requires a building permit, or employee labor is used or the project is valued at $1,000, or more in combined labor and material costs. Besides being illegal, unlicensed contractors lack accountability and have a high rate of involvement in construction scams. They also are unfair competition for licensed contractors who operate with bonds, insurance, and other responsible business practices.”

According to the Business and Professions Code 7028, acting as a contractor without a license (imposter) is a crime. Those convicted of this crime can risk up to 6 months in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, and administrative fines of up to $15,000. 

And yet, despite these serious legal ramifications, imposters WILL try to win your business to get your money. 

Consequently, if you receive a bid lower than other reputable, actively licensed contractors, spare yourself the aggravation and walk away! The vast majority of licensed contractors will provide bids for your remodeling project that vary only slightly. This is because they share the very same labor, materials, and overhead costs as every other licensed construction professional. Imposters can seldom compete on the basis of construction expertise, so they tend to compete in terms of pricing. Although they offer lower priced bids, the real cost to a homeowner can be considerable!

Be Safe Rather than Sorry – Avoid Imposter Contractors!

For your next home improvement project, engage and contract with only actively licensed contractors verified by the Department of Consumer Affairs Contractors State Licensing Board (CSLB). The CSLB is there to help ensure that any construction services provided to you on your home by a licensed contractor will ensure its continued safety and livability, while also safeguarding your legal protections.

This blog is part 2 of an important 10 part series that encourages homeowners to “Beware of Imposters.” This special blog series is focused on helping California homeowners identify and avoid unlicensed contractors, who we refer to as “imposters.” 
For a reliable, residential construction expert, call actively licensed, bonded, and insured Ed Neir Construction (license #: 928715) at (707) 999-5878 for a free estimate. Ed is happy to discuss your project needs and explore ideas with you for making your home dreams a reality.

Ed Neir, General Contractor
License #: 928715