Contractors Busted in Morris Plains Sting

The Office of the New Jersey Attorney General Paula T. Dow announced Tuesday that a successful sting operation aimed at unlicensed contractors was conducted in Morris Plains during the summer of 2010.

A vacant fixer-upper in the borough was used as a draw for the contractors, who were invited by Consumer Affairs investigators to submit bids on basement renovations, driveway repaving, wood floor installation, bathroom renovations, masonry work, and fencing. 

As a result of the investigation, notices of violations are being issued to 12 home improvement contractors for violations of the State's Contractors' Registration Act (CRA). The CRA, in effect since 2006, requires contractors doing residential work to register each year with the Division of Consumer Affairs. 

"The contractors' registration law took effect nearly five years ago, so ignorance of the law is no excuse," said Dow. "Homeowners can spend thousands of dollars on home repairs and renovations and I am committed to rooting out phony contractors and unregistered contractors who attempt to rip off consumers."

Of the 12 contractors caught in the sting, only eight were actually unregistered. The other four were registered but failed to properly display their registration information. Two additional contractors received warning letters for minor violations of the CRA. 

"Homeowners throughout the state continue to fall prey to home improvement contractors operating outside the law," said Thomas R. Calcagni, Acting Director of the Division of the Consumer Affairs. "Knowing that the company is legitimately registered helps to ensure that it's not a fly-by-night operation, that it's properly insured, and that there's someone accountable should the repair or renovations go wrong."

The 8 unregistered contractors are:

• Costello Sealcoating and Paving, Mine Hill, N.J.
• Decorative Concrete/Wyatt Concrete, Hillsborough, N.J.
• Eurocraft Middlesex, N.J.
• Andrew Realmonte, Pine Brook, N.J.
• Neil's Custom Masonry, (address being verified)
• Handyman Mike Rotolo, Warren, N.J.
• Ted's Home Improvement Services, Park Ridge, N.J.
• Cacciola Iron Works, Paterson, N.J.

Each of the companies will have to pay a $5,000 civil penalty, unless it submits a registration application by Dec. 3, in which case the penalty would be reduced to $1,000.

Consumers are asked to report any suspected unregistered home improvement contractor to the Division via its web site, www.njconsumeraffairs.gov or by calling 1-800-242-5846 or 973-504-6200. To see if a contractor is registered, check the online database at www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/LVinfo.htm or call 973-273-8090.