This N.J. Contractor Did 'Shoddy, Damaging' Work In Long Branch, Eatontown Area, State Says

By ANTHONY BELLANO (Patch Staff)

A New Jersey contractor has been accused of performing shoddy work, damaging customers’ homes while performing work, leaving home improvement jobs unfinished and numerous other consumer protection violations in his role as a home improvement contractor on jobs throughout South Jersey.

The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs has filed an action against Robbinsville resident Charles L. Johnston, Jr., and his companies, Basements 4 Less Inc., Choice Home Improvements, LLC, and C.L.J. Home Improvements, Inc., the division announced Friday morning.

Johnston performed work for consumers that included remodeling basements, painting, electrical and masonry work, and installing household fixtures.

Johnston allegedly deceived, misled, and/or defrauded 75 customers throughout South Jersey, including in Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, Middlesex, and Burlington counties, the division said.

The division alleges Johnston and his companies violated the Consumer Fraud Act, the Contractors’ Registration Act, the Contractor Registration Regulations, and the Home Improvement Regulations.

"When consumers spend money on home renovations, they rightfully expect to add value to their homes and gain pleasure from the upgrades,” Acting Attorney General Robert Lougy said. “They don’t expect to have their homes damaged by a contractor who then abandons the project and runs off with their money. We will not tolerate contractors that disregard the rights of homeowners and our consumer protection laws."

Among other things, Johnson allegedly took money for jobs he never finished and damaged some homes during the short time he spent on the jobs, the division said.

He operated multiple companies to hide his prior business practices from potential customers, according to the complaint.

“It’s bad enough when a contractor leaves a trail of unfinished projects and unhappy victims in his wake, but it’s particularly egregious when he deliberately registers and operates under multiple names to continue defrauding customers without detection,” said Steve Lee, Acting Director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. "We are pursuing every legal avenue to make sure that victimized homeowners are made whole and that significant civil penalties are imposed against dishonest contractors that violate the law."

If he’s found guilty, Johnston would be responsible for consumer restitution, reimbursement of attorneys’ fees and costs, and civil penalties for each violation. He would also be permanently enjoined from owning or operating a home improvement business in New Jersey.

The complaint also asks that corporate charters of Basements 4 Less Inc., and C.L.J. Home Improvements, Inc. be vacated, and the certificate of formation for Choice Home Improvements, LLC be canceled.

Other alleged violations include:

• Accepting payments, starting the home improvement projects, and then abandoning those projects.

• Providing consumers with contracts that didn’t represent the true and final cost of the project.

• Doing substandard work and failing to make necessary corrective repairs.

• Performing work that failed to pass inspection.

• Charging consumers for additional work and/or materials not specified in the contract without prior notice.

• Taking money for project permits that were never obtained.