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Pocono News Section
Law Protecting Homeowners Goes Into Effect
Law Protecting Homeowners Goes Into Effect - Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 5:05PM EST
Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Wednesday, Jul 1, 2009 @ 05:05pm EST
EDWARDSVILLE, LUZERNE COUNTY -- A law created to crack down on crooked contractors goes into effect today. Most contractors have to register with the attorney general's office so it can keep track of them and the work they do -- good and bad.
Vinny Stiaccini is the President of the Building Industry Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania. He says the law is needed.
"A couple years ago, we had an elderly couple swindled for about $7,000," said Stiaccini.
Because of cases like that, contractors who make more than $5,000 a year or complete at least one project worth $500 must register. People who only work on homes of friends and family members as a hobby don't need to register. And the law doesn't cover new home builders.
The new law requires several things. First, all contractors will be assigned a registration number to give their customers. Second, all projects require contracts. Down payment rules have changed, too.
"It has limitations on the down payment," said Stiaccini. "We can take one-third down now, where there wasn't a limit before."
He says, in the past, some people have paid in full and contractors never finished the jobs. The elderly tend to be victims.\
"They had more money, they had cash, and they got swindled," he said.
But he adds the new law has teeth -- crooked contractors can now face criminal charges for the first time in Pennsylvania.
"It could be a misdemeanor and they could do jail time really fast."
Lawmakers say the law will only work if you know your rights. For more information, paste either of the following links in your web browser:
http://www. attorneygeneral. gov/hiccon. aspx
http://www. attorneygeneral. gov/hiccon. aspx?id=4553 | | |
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