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PHOTOS (Lyndhurst) top & right, below: Courtesy N.J. Division of Consumer Affairs
“Like the homes of many desperate New Jerseyans who had their lives thrown into chaos by the extensive flooding, our undercover operation became an attractive target for those contractors willing to flout our consumer protection laws,” said DCA Director Thomas R. Calcagni.
The staging place for the undercover operation was a four-bedroom, three-bathroom Cape Cod that, like many homes in its Lyndhurst neighborhood, sustained severe structural and mold damage from the storm’s floodwaters, said Neal Buccino, a state DCA spokesperson.
Lyndhurst police found a homeowner willing to help out, and private visits were scheduled at his house in early October.
Also participating in the sting was the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, which brought criminal charges against eight of the contractors.
Posing as homeowners, DCA inspectors responded to several home repair ads online, in newspapers and in flyers posted at local stores soon after the floodwaters receded.
They invited 16 contractors in all to visit the undercover house, examine the damage, and provide repair estimates.
A dozen of them weren’t even registered to do the necessary work, according to Buccino. Still, they gave estimates that in some cases exceeded $30,000, he said.
“Some of the allegedly unregistered contractors showed up without bringing a single tape measure, ruler, meter, or any other measuring device,” Calcagni said.
All but three of them came from outside Bergen County, the director said.
One of them, who advertised through flyers posted at a local grocery store, “turned out to have a California driver’s license, a Massachusetts license plate, and a New Jersey post office box,” he said.
The locals charged:
Joseph Dellasala of Hackensack;
Perlat Jera (“Jera Home Improvements”) of Hasbrouck Heights;
John Robbie (“John Robbie’s Carpentry Plus”) of North Arlington
(Others are listed below.)
Of 13,800 consumer complaints filed with the DCA in 2010, a whopping 1,400 involved crooked home contractors, Calcagni noted.
New Jersey law requires anyone advertising or doing home improvement work to register with the DCA. This allows the state to protect consumers by “helping ensure the accountability of those performing residential improvements,” Buccino said.
Besides providing a legitimate business address, contractors in New Jersey must have at least $500,000 in liability insurance. And any contracts they write over $500 also must “contain clear language, including the project’s agreed-upon price, starting and ending dates, and scope of work,” Buccino said.
Those charged not only weren’t registered but also didn’t have any business information whatsoever on file with the state — an offense that carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in state prison and fines of up to $10,000, authorities said.
The four other contractors — none from Bergen — received civil notices from the DCA because they had at least filed their businesses with the state, even though they advertised and solicited home improvement work without being registered, Buccino said.
They face fines of up to $5,000 each.
“Homeowners in Lyndhurst suffered significant damage and real losses due to Tropical Storm Irene. It was essential to protect them against the even greater harm and monetary costs they could face by hiring contractors who choose not to comply with consumer protection laws. ” Lyndhurst Police Chief James O’Connor said.
Those criminally charged also include:
Stan Stanley of Wayne;
Gerard Carrion (“Reliable Handyman Service”) of Sparta;
David Czeizinger (“Mr. D’s Home Improvement”) of Kearny;
Marla Somma (“Chester & Marla”), of Cranford;
Peter Varley (“Reliable Home Improvement”) of Annandale
Notices of violation were filed by the state DCA against:
Niksa Dobre of Totowa;
Jorge Avila of Morristown;
Carlos Guarquila of Belleville;
Ruben Silva of Newark
They must request state administrative hearings if they want to contest the violations.
The DCA actually began an overall statewide sting in March, using an undercover house in Gloucester County. Investigators brought civil charges against 18 contractors there.
A mobile enforcement team then swept the state, picking up 31 more.
Adding in those charged in the Lyndhurst sting, state investigators netted 61 contractors in the 2011 initiative.
As a result, the DCA urged that homeowners to:
Learn whether a contractor is properly registered with the state. Get a state registration number, which should begin with “13VH,” on all contracts. The same number should be displayed on all of the business’ signs and advertisements.
Not hesitate to contact the DCA to determine whether a contractor’s registration is still valid: (800) 242-5846
Or: www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov/LVinfo.htm
The DCA also has a free “New Jersey Professional License Lookup” iPhone app, available at www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov
You should also call the DCA to determine whether a contractor you are considering hiring has been the target of consumer complaints or received notices from the DCA: www.NJConsumerAffairs.com/ocp/filings.htm
Also: Demand a copy of the contractor’s liability insurance policy — then contact to insurer to make sure the policy is still valid.
And remember: It is NOT customary to pay for the entire project in advance. Pay no more than one-third beforehand, a third halfway through and then the rest when it’s done,. DCA officials say.
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