Since April, a rundown house in Waterford saw state officials snare 44 unregistered home improvement contractors looking for work.
"We looked at 217 different advertisements in Rare Reminders and Penny Savers and business cards tacked up on bulletin boards," said William Rubenstein, commissioner of consumer protection. "The percentage of unregistered has actually been declining. Eleven years ago, 60 percent of the contractors we ran into were unregistered. We're down to about 21 percent this year."
Just four summers ago, more than half of the contractors lured to the annual sting failed to produce the proper papers.
Violators face a civil penalty of $250.
"The number's still high but we think our operation and our education program is working," said Rubinstein.
Only if a contractor is registered can a citizen use the home insurance guaranty fund in the event of a problem.
"It's not an assurance of competency and it's not an assurance that the job's gonna get done," Rubinstein said. "Consumers have to be smart about paying as they go and not up front and making sure that the building is properly inspected and the work is done appropriately."
Local
He also warned consumers they're responsible for making sure contractors, licensed or not, have the necessary permits from town halls.
