Special to Realty/Builder Connection
With more than 20 billion page views per month, Craigslist.com is one of the top local classified advertisement forums in the country. Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation is using the Web site to post educational information for consumers and to warn unlicensed individuals.
While many state-licensed professionals use Criagslist.com, some individuals who use the site are not licensed. DBPR’s posts on Craigslist.com encourage consumers to verify licenses online, provide lists of DBPR-licensed professions, direct consumers to licensing laws and warn unlicensed individuals that they may be operating illegally.
Hiring an unlicensed individual can threaten the financial and personal safety of consumers, as well as the livelihood of state-licensed professionals, according to a DBPR spokesman. Unlicensed individuals may not carry workers’ compensation or liability insurance, and consumers may end up paying for injuries on the job. Additionally, unlicensed individuals often underbid licensed professionals, which results in law-abiding professionals losing work to those who do not meet state licensure requirements.
Here are some tips from DBPR to help consumers protect themselves against unlicensed activity:
• Always ask to see the person’s state license. This is NOT a business license; it can only be issued by DBPR.
• Note the license number and verify that the license is current. To check a license, call 850-487-1395 or visit MyFloridaLicense.com.
• Ask for references and check each one.
• Do not pay cash and be cautious of writing checks made payable to individuals, especially when dealing with a company.
• Get everything in writing, including a detailed description of the work to be completed, a completion date and the total cost.
• Report suspected unlicensed activity at MyFloridaLicense.com or by calling 1-866-532-1440.