by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
The Internet allows news to travel fast and that speed and availability is causing problems for members of the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) and possible customers of their services.
One of the main topics of discussion at Tuesday’s NEFBA Construction Crime Prevention Committee meeting was the use of Internet networking and classified advertising site Craigslist by unlicensed contractors. Electrical and HVAC contractors attending the meeting expressed frustration with the process of customers calling them for a quote and then searching Craigslist for a cheaper rate.
“If you are dealing with an unlicensed contractor, it’s buyer beware,” said Glen Jones, vice president of Ocean State Air Conditioning and Heating. “We had a customer call us and she needed a new compressor for her air conditioning unit and I told her it would take three days to get a compressor with a warranty. She chose to call someone listed on Craigslist who gave her a cheaper rate and promised her it would be done in two days. He removed the compressor and that was the last time she saw him. She called me after not hearing from him and gave me his number. He ended up dropping off the compressor in her driveway and this elderly woman was without air conditioning during this 90-degree weather. We ended up finding her a place to stay while the unit was being fixed.”
Jones’ license number is listed on the company Web site and can be verified by logging on to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (FDBPR) Web site, http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/. Consumers can also use the site to file a complaint against either a unlicensed or licensed contractor.
Disregard for the law is something Circuit Court Judge David Gooding deals with regularly in the Criminal Division of the Fourth Judicial Circuit and he doesn’t see the trend improving.
“I think we are seeing a deterioration of respect for the law,” said Gooding. “There is a general disregard for the law.”
Those people abiding by the letter of the law have means to report illegal activity if they witness it.
“FDBPR is the place to start when you have a problem with an unlicensed contractor, whether you are a consumer or a licensed contractor,” said Lt. Brian Richardson of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Burglary Division. “The City’s Code Enforcement Division is another place to go with complaints.”
The problem with contacting the City Code Enforcement Office is that the number of unlicensed contractors operating in Jacksonville appears to be growing, but their budget is shrinking.
“You cannot see the bottom of my desk with all of the complaints we are addressing right now,” said Stephen Stiltner, senior building code enforcement inspector for the City. “With the way the economy is now, we are seeing a lot more illegal activity.”
The group of about 20 people was glad to find out about the committee and that they had a way to interact with other builders and law enforcement to find out how they could address illegal activity within the industry.
“We need to get the word out to contractors and customers about this activity,” said Ed Miller, vice president and general manager of Snyder Heating and Air Conditioning. “It hurts the industry and the public.”
The Committee meets quarterly and its next meeting will be Sept. 22 at the NEFBA Office at 103 Century 21 Drive, Suite 100.
356-2466