|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. Todd A. Eachus |
|
Registration deadline for home improvement contractors approaching
Contractors who perform at least $5,000 in home improvements must register by July 1
HARRISBURG, June 25 – State Rep. Todd A. Eachus, D-Luzerne, said home improvement contractors who have not yet registered with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office must do so by July 1 in order to comply with a new state law.
Eachus said the General Assembly passed the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act during the 2008 legislative session. The law requires all home improvement contractors who conduct at least $5,000 in home improvements to register with the state in an effort to reduce and eliminate fraud in the industry.
"Home improvement fraud has increased dramatically over the last few years, bypassing automobile fraud as the number one complaint filed with the state's consumer protection agencies," Eachus said. "This law will allow homeowners to search a complete list of contractors after the July 1 registration deadline, providing an added layer of protection against unscrupulous contractors and helping honest contractors maintain their reputations."
Statistics show that Americans spend more than $118 billion every year on home improvements, and one in five homeowners reports having bad contractor experiences with their improvements and repairs. Studies have shown that older consumers are more likely to fall victim to home improvement scams. Out of 4,567 senior citizen complaints filed with the Bureau of Consumer Protection statewide, 462 involved home improvement contracts.
"It is important that home improvement contractors in our area register with the Attorney General's Office before July 1," Eachus said. "The state has worked to ensure that the registration process is as quick and easy as possible."
Registration may be completed online at www.attorneygeneral.gov/hic.aspx or by mailing an application to the Attorney General's Office. Registrants will receive a registration number and a printable temporary registration certificate.
More information is also available in Eachus' Hazleton office at 570-450-7905.