NJ home-improvement contractors must register.A law to protect consumers from nefarious home improvement contractors is now in effect in New Jersey. The new law signed by Gov. James E. McGreevey last week will require home improvement contractors to register with the state and maintain at least $ 500,000 of liability insurance. "New Jersey homeowners deserve a greater measure of protection when they make a large investment in their homes," said Assemblymen Neil M. Cohen Neil M. Cohen (born February 11, 1951) is an American Democratic Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1994 (and also from 1990-1991), where he represents the 20th legislative district. (D-Union). "Too often, uncrupulous contractors lack insurance to cover job-site accidents or they fail to respect a consumer's rights when entering into a construct." According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the state Division of Consumer Affairs, faulty fault·y adj. fault·i·er, fault·i·est 1. Containing a fault or defect; imperfect or defective. 2. Obsolete Deserving of blame; guilty. home repairs account for the second highest number of consumer complaints after auto repair. Last year alone, approximately 2,000 complaints were fried 1. (hardware) fried - Non-working due to hardware failure; burnt out. Especially used of hardware brought down by a "power glitch" (see glitch), drop-outs, a short, or some other electrical event. against home improvement contractors, compared to the 20 complaints filed against plumbers and electricians already regulated by the state. "When you do the math on these complaints, it is easy to see why some sort of state oversight
Oversight may refer to:
"The time has come for the state to take on the responsibility of regulating home improvement contractors who do business in New Jersey," said Impreveduto. "The stories about fly-by-night contractors are legendary. The state needs to separate the good contractors from the bad." Cohen cohen or kohen (Hebrew: “priest”) Jewish priest descended from Zadok (a descendant of Aaron), priest at the First Temple of Jerusalem. The biblical priesthood was hereditary and male. said he first proposed the legislation in 1990 as a result of a constituent's complaint on behalf of her elderly mother, who paid $8,000 to have her driveway paved pave tr.v. paved, pav·ing, paves 1. To cover with a pavement. 2. To cover uniformly, as if with pavement. 3. To be or compose the pavement of. . The contractor broke up the driveway and then did not return to the elderly women's home to complete the project--at an expensive cost to her. This contractor subsequently was convicted of committing these types of offenses in several other counties. "Undertaking a home improvement project can be a major headache," said Cohen. "Unscrupulous contractors should not be allowed to add to the stress of home repairs or prey upon the homeowners who sign a contract for services." Under the law, contractors will register with the state the Division of Consumer Affairs before engaging in any home-improvement practices. The Director of the Division of Consumers Affairs will have the authority to suspend or revoke To annul or make void by recalling or taking back; to cancel, rescind, repeal, or reverse. revoke v. to annul or cancel an act, particularly a statement, document, or promise, as if it no longer existed. the registration of contractors who violate provisions of the bill. The new law requires the state to set up a ton-free hotline to inform and educate homeowners about the contractors they hire for repairs and renovations. |
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