Hartford Man Charged With Contractor Violation In Stafford

STAFFORD, CT — A Hartford man is facing a criminal charge in connection with a botched tree service job at a Stafford residence, state police said.

Shatavian Nichols, 32, was arrested by state police on a warrant Saturday charging him with violating home improvement contractor requirements. He is due in court June 22, according to judicial system records.

According to the warrant, state police received a complaint about tree work that was never done by Nichols company, EZ Lawn Care & Tree Removal, on Wales Road Stafford.

The homeowner issued a deposit check payable to Nichols for $1,350 on Nov. 2, 2020, according to a warrant. The contract was for gutter cleaning and the removal of four trees for $4,500, the warrant states. After several requests to have EZ begin the work, the homeowner then requested in writing a refund after 30 days had gone by, according to the warrant.

The state Department of Consumer Protection then followed up the request with a letter of its own to EZ, according to the warrant. Nichols was later discovered not to be a registered home improvement contractor in the state, according to the warrant.

By state law, a refund must be issued within 10 days of a request, according to a warrant.