How do you know if you are being mislead by a NJ Home Improvement Contractor?

In New Jersey all Home Improvement Contractors must be registered, some may even need to be Licensed. What you need to know is that there is a difference between a License and a Registration. 

Think of it like this...

If you have a registered car in New Jersey can you drive it down the street with out having a license?

Of course not, but that is what many NJ Home Improvement Contractors are doing!

Take a good look at the contractors advertising in the local papers, phone book etc... claiming to be "License" to perform some type of home improvement service in New Jersey.

A few things to know...

• NJ Does not have a Home Improvement Contractors License. If you pay a minimal fee to the State of New Jersey and claim to have insurance almost anyone can be registered as a Home Improvement Contractor;
• Contractors who are not registered can not provide you any type of home improvement services;
• Always ask for a registration number and contact the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs  to find out if its valid;

 Here are some tricks that you should know about before hiring a contractor in New Jersey.

Trick 1 - (Using a registration number as a License)

This is probably the most widely used trick. The contractor lures the consumers in by making false statements. The contractor claims to be licensed when they are not.

In NJ certain professions are Licensed such as :

• Plumbers
• Electricians
• Well Pump Installers and Drillers
• Land surveyors, architects, engineers etc...
• Certain Landscapes and some others...

Contractors such as handymen, carpenters, roofers, siders, kitchen and bath remodelers, add a level builders, heating contractors etc... do not have any "License" requirements in NJ. The next time you see contractors claiming to be Licensed use this test:

• If they are using the word Licensed and they are not in one of the categories listed above that contractor may be trying to mislead you;
• If the number they are using as a License looks similar to 00VH00000000, it is most likely a registration number and not a license;
• Licensed professions most likely require the Licensee's name. Companies are generally not licensed, individuals are;

Under any circumstance a contractor who tells you his registration is a license or doen't know the difference or tries to talk in circles is a contractor you may want to think twice about using.

Trick 2 - (Claiming to have a license or to not need one)

This is probably equal to the first as being the most widely used trick. The contractor lures the consumers in by making false statements. The contractor claims to be licensed when they are not, or says that a license is not needed to do what he is doing. 

In New Jersey services such as plumbing, electric, well and pump work etc... require to be performed by Licensed Individuals. However many contractors illegally perform these services and place people at risk of injury or death on a daily bases.

Here are a few jobs that illegal companies do because they rather take your money then make sure you are safe.

All electrical work over 10 volts must be performed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor.

That means...

• The carpenter you hired to remodel you kitchen or bathroom can not install the light or the switch or the GFI;
• The plumber you hired to install your electric water heater can not connect it to the electric;
• The radon removal contractor can not run a 120 volt line for his equipment;
• The boiler contractor you hire can not connect the electric to the boiler;

All plumbing must be performed by a NJ Master Plumber.

That means...

• The carpenter you hired to remodel your kitchen or bathroom can not connect your sink, faucet or dishwasher;
• The boiler contractor you hired to install your new boiler can not connect the water to it or install your water heater, this includes indirect heaters and coils;
• The water treatment company you saw while driving home on the highway can not install or service your water softener unless they are licensed as a NJ Master Plumber;
• Under any circumstance a contractor who tells you his registration is a license or doen't know the difference or tries to talk in circles is a contractor you may want to think twice about using.

Check out your local news paper or phone book knowing this information will enable you to know who the cheats really are.