Staten Island Husband-Wife Contractor Business Agrees to Pay $100K to Settle Fraud Allegations

Manalapan, NJ - A husband-wife Staten Island home improvement contractor team has agreed to pay $100,000 after being accused of fraud by homeowners who hired them to repair damage from fires and floods. And this couple has likely done work in your town or near you.

Frank A. Hoffman, Sr. and his wife, Joan Hoffman, owned Harbor View Restoration, LLC, based in Staten Island. They were hired to repair homes after catastrophic events, such as fire, smoke, flood, storm and mold damage. However, after several allegations of fraud by customers, Harbor View has agreed to $100,000 in civil penalties, attorneys’ fees and investigative costs and enter binding arbitration with consumers to settle the allegations. Harbor View has also agreed change its practices, the New Jersey Attorney General said.

Harbor View did work on homes in Manalapan, Englishtown, Old Bridge, Spotswood, Point Pleasant, Bridgewater, Passaic, Irvington, Newark, Orange, Perth Amboy, Union City, Linden and Middlesex, Patch has learned.

“It is unconscionable that a contractor would prey on homeowners struggling to recover from catastrophic events,” said acting New Jersey Attorney General Chris Porrino. “Our action not only penalizes this contractor for his alleged unscrupulous business practices, it provides an opportunity for wronged customers to have their complaints addressed.”

The Hoffmans have agreed to change their business practices, including:

• Not engaging in unfair or deceptive business practices.

• Not beginning home improvement work prior to obtaining the consumers’ approval.

• Not substituting products or materials for those specified in the home improvement contract without the knowledge or consent of the consumer.

• Not including in their home-improvement contracts any language that purports to create a power of attorney in favor of the defendants.

• Not completing or signing a home-improvement contract on behalf of a consumer without the knowledge and consent of consumer.

Consumers who believe they were deceived or misled in doing business with Harbor View can file an online complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website http://www.njconsumeraffairs.g... or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504- 6200.