N.J. Says These 62 Contractors Ripped You Off, Fined More Than $1 Million

The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs has continued its crackdown on noncompliant home improvement contractors, citing 62 contractors and seeking $1,046,077 in consumer restitution and civil penalties.

The notices, issued in the third quarter of 2015, are part of the division’s vigilant efforts to police the home improvement marketplace to protect consumers from disreputable contractors, according to release from the division.

Of the contractors cited during the third quarter, 23 allegedly violated New Jersey law by acting as unregistered contractors. To become registered, a contractor must disclose the physical location of the business and provide proof of a minimum of $500,000 in liability insurance, among other requirements.

All 62 contractors cited were the subject of consumer complaints. The Division has ordered them to pay a total of $803,677.76 in restitution to consumers for alleged slip-shod or uncompleted work. The Division has also ordered them to pay a total of $214,750 in civil penalties ranging from $1,500 to $5,750.

Certain contractors on the list have cooperated with the Division of Consumer Affairs by agreeing to Consent Orders for the payment of penalties and, in the case of several unregistered contractors, by applying for registration.

To date in 2015 – including these third-quarter totals – the Division has issued violation notices to a total of 182 contractors, seeking a total of $2,074,410.78 in restitution and penalties.

Here is the list:

1. Premier Hardwoods, LLC Atco
2. Mitch Kiani t/a Cats Paw Contracting Atlantic Highlands
3. ARSCO LLC d/b/a ARSCO CORP Beleville
4. David A. Maffucci t/a Unique Landscaping Bernardsville
5. Raymond J. Rafferty d/b/a Ray Rafferty’s Landscape Bloomfield
6. Veritas General Contractors Limited Liability Company Boonton
7. Justin Aiello d/b/a Just‐In‐Credible Butler
8. Fredrick E. Holman d/b/a FEH Global Construction, LLC Camden
9. Robert Douglass Crawford d/b/a Crawfords Concrete LLC Camden
10. Aldayna Stone Care & Maintenance Service Corp Cedar Grove,
11. Papaneri & Sons Concrete LLC Cherry Hill
12. David Green Works Inc d/b/a Greenworks, Inc. Chesilhurst
13. Registered David Snyder d/b/a Mt. Laurel Flooring Cinnaminson
14. Unregistered 2B Development Corp East Hanover
15. APC Hardwood Floors LLC Egg Harbor Township
16. Jesse Leo t/a Rite Tech Roofing Elizabeth
17. Wendell General Contractor Limited Liability Company Fairfield
18. Mullin Enterprises LLC d/b/a Mullin Family Enterprise, CO Fairless Hills, Pa.
19. William Rafferty t/a Above All Construction Flanders
20. Robert Johmann d/b/a KDK Handyman Flemington
21. Janice Annunziata t/a Bellamore Bathrooms Freehold
22. Dung D. Nguyen t/a Dan’s Ceramic Tile Galloway
23. Phillip E. Collins Jr. t/a Affordable Repairs & Remodeling, and d/b/a Collins Builders Gibbstown
24. Timothy Cooper Gloucester City
25. RJM Construction Services, Inc. Gloucester
26. Charlie C. Cooper t/a Charlie’s Paving Great Meadows
27. Karrison H. Rimon t/a KMX Remodeling Co. Hackensack
28. Robert H. Rapp & Co. Inc. d/b/a R.H.Rapp Co. Inc. Haskell
29. Mark Esola t/a Esola Construction Hopatcong
30. Water Tight Basement Waterproofing LLC d/b/a Water Tight Waterproofing Kenliworth
31. Nancy Falconetti t/a Falconetti on Call Cleaning Service Landing
32. Robert Heffner t/a Heffner’s Home Improvements Levittown, Pa.
33. Che W. Smith t/a CWS Contracting and Remodeling Little Falls, N.Y.
34. Michael Keenan d/b/a Keenan Paving & Masonry Little Ferry
35. Hue Construction Limited Liability Company Manasquan
36. Mikes Custom Pools Professional Corporation Maple Shade
37. Jaclyn D. Garro t/a Pine Grove Masonry & Concrete Marlton
38. Mike Dascoli Montclair
39. Richard A. Minegar & Son, LLC d/b/a Atlantic Services New Providence
40. Willie B. Hayes t/a Willie and Sons Newark
41. General Construction Limited Liability Company Newark
42. Var Construction, LLC d/b/a VAR Construction Oaklyn
43. CRA Site Lawn & Land Development Inc Ocean
44. The Kitchen Gallery LLC Old Bridge
45. American Affordable Quality Limited Liability Company Orange
46. Everlast Fence 1 Limited Liability Company d/b/a Everlast Fence Paterson
47. Skippy M. Ely d/b/a Able Roofing & Contracting Plainfield
48. SJ Contractors of NJ LLC d/b/a S.J. Contractors, LLC Somerset
49. Dwayne Darryl Wiggins t/a KIJ Contracting Somerset
50. Blue Nile General Contracting LLC Somerset
51. TBS Basement Waterproofing Limited Liability Company South Hampton, Pa.
52. Pro 4 You LLC South Orange
53. Rosselli Roofing & Siding LLC Sussex
54. Accurate Hardscapes LLC Toms River
55. Diser Home Improvement LLC Union
56. Rossetti Roofing, Inc. and Richard J. Rossetti Individually Ventnor City
57. Jose A. Tobar t/a Abraham General Construction West Orange
58. Frank Caruso d/b/a Celtic Whiting
59. Gary Vail t/a Vail Construction Company Williamstown
60. Baby Boy Mann t/a ABC’s Contracting Williamstown
61. R&R Home Repairs, Inc. d/b/a R&R Remodeling Roofing Willimington, Del.
62. Frank Tinger Woodbridge, NJ Unregistered

Year after year, “Home Improvements” has been the largest complaint category that consumers have filed with the Division of Consumer Affairs. The division received 1,253 formal consumer complaints about home improvement contractors in 2014, and has received 1162 formal complaints to date in 2015.

For home improvement projects costing more than $500, the contractor must provide the consumer with a written contract with specific, detailed information including the project’s agreed-upon price; the starting and ending dates; the scope of work; the contractor’s business name, address, and registration number; and other required information.

Each of the contractors receiving a Notice of Violation has the opportunity to contest the assertion that he or she has violated the law, or the opportunity to correct the violation by desisting from any practices in violation of the law, paying a civil penalty and/or consumer restitution where required, and submitting an application for registration, if not registered. Each contractor also may contest the Division’s assessment of consumer restitution.

Violators of the Contractors’ Registration Act are subject to civil penalties of up to $10,000 for the first violation, and up to $20,000 for subsequent violations.

“Complaints about home improvement contracts are consistently among the top grievances of consumers in the state,” Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said. “Disreputable contractors can leave consumers with costs that escalate to the tens of thousands, as well as dangerous conditions that require additional money to repair. The Division of Consumer Affairs continues to ensure that contractors comply with the law and make restitution for shoddy or unfinished work.”