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Have you considered becoming a Licensed Construction Contractor in Oregon?

The Construction Contractors Board (CCB) is offering the second in a series of free workshops, throughout the state, for individuals wanting to learn how to become licensed construction contractors. This workshop is scheduled for Friday, April 12th from 3-6 pm at the Southern Oregon Spring Home Show at the Jackson County Expo -1 Peninger Road in Central Point, OR 97502.

CCB staff will discuss the process involved in becoming licensed, including choosing a business entity, and endorsement, license and bonding requirements, and pre-licensure education and testing requirements.

If you have considered becoming a licensed construction contractor in Oregon, this workshop is designed for you. Bring your questions and we will do our best to provide you with the answers you need and the resources to get on the fast track to licensure.

Registration is suggested but not required. For more information contact Jenni at 541.773.2872 or visit http://www.hbajc.com/home-shows/spring-home-show.html

Have you considered becoming a Licensed Construction Contractor in Oregon?

The Construction Contractors Board (CCB) is offering the first in a series of free workshops, throughout the state, for individuals wanting to learn how to become licensed construction contractors. The first workshop is scheduled for Friday, March 29th from 2-5 pm in the auditorium at the ODVA building in Salem at 700 Summer St. NE.

CCB Administrator Craig Smith said, “Participants will leave the workshops with the knowledge necessary to accurately complete the CCB application and licensing process, and obtain a CCB license.” CCB staff will discuss the process involved in becoming licensed, including choosing a business entity, and endorsement, license and bonding requirements, and pre-licensure education and testing requirements.

If you have considered becoming a licensed construction contractor in Oregon this workshop is designed for you. Bring your questions and we will do our best to provide you with the answers you need and the resources to get on the fast track to licensure.

Registration is suggested but not required. For more information contact Cathy at 503-934-2185.

Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB), in cooperation with the National Association of Contractor Licensing Agencies (NASCLA) conducted simultaneous undercover construction stings with Arizona, California and Nevada state licensing agencies to alert consumers on the large numbers of illegal construction activities offered through electronic bulletin boards.
On June 14, 2012, CCB set up two undercover sting operations— the Portland metropolitan area and Medford.

“Oregon’s commitment to protecting consumers and level the playing field for legitimate contractors is critical in the agency mission,” says Craig P. Smith CCB Administrator. “Being united with other states helps build public confidence and trust.”
CCB field investigators largely targeted unlicensed contractors offering construction related services through ads posted on craigslist.org. CCB issued field proposed orders (FPO) for bidding and advertising construction work to 10 individuals in southern Oregon and 6 in in the Portland metro area. Several of the individuals contacted had prior CCB enforcement violations.

(Click here to see Unlicensed contractors busted in sting, by Shellie Bailey-Shah KATU Problem Solver).

Portland area:

• Jeramie Allen Armstrong. Two FPO’s issued for advertising without a license and for submitting a bid while unlicensed.
• Gary MacDonald. Two FPO’s issued for advertising without a license and for submitting a bid while unlicensed.
• Joshua Kane Martin. Two FPO’s issued for advertising without a license and for submitting a bid while unlicensed.
• Donald Casey Ross. Two FPO’s issued for advertising without a license and for submitting a bid while unlicensed.
• Arnold Nunez Chavez. One FPO issued for submitting a bid while unlicensed.
• Sitalingi O. Tovo. Two FPO’s issued for advertising without a license and for submitting a bid while unlicensed.

Medford area

• Timothy Joseph Weidrich. Two FPO’s issued for advertising without a license and for submitting a bid while unlicensed.
• James Leroy Halstead. Two FPO’s issued for advertising without a license and for submitting a bid while unlicensed.
• Donald Calvin Brown. Two FPO’s issued for advertising without a license and for submitting a bid while unlicensed.
• Christopher Paul Stanley. Two FPO’s issued for advertising without a license and for submitting a bid while unlicensed.
• Rickey James Rosenthal. Two FPO’s issued for advertising without a license and for submitting a bid while unlicensed.
• Richard Bert Cowan. Two FPO’s issued for advertising without a license and for submitting a bid while unlicensed.
• James Marty Miller. Two FPO’s issued for advertising without a license and for submitting a bid while unlicensed.
• Gerald Arthur Hugley. Two FPO’s issued for advertising without a license and for submitting a bid while unlicensed.
• Robert Jay Conrad. Two FPO’s issued for advertising without a license and for submitting a bid while unlicensed.
• Ray Boyd Qualls, Two FPO’s issued for advertising without a license and for submitting a bid while unlicensed.

Additionally, the multi-state undercover sting led to 100 arrests in California, 23 citations in Nevada and 15 investigations in Arizona.

The Arizona sting led to 15 unlicensed contractor investigations. The ROC routinely refers unlicensed contracting cases to the Maricopa County Attorney’s office for prosecution.

Arizona Registrar Bill Mundell said, “Joining with three other western states in conducting this unlicensed contractor sting was a historic event. This combined effort demonstrates our shared commitment to protecting honest people from the harm caused by unlicensed contractors. In order to protect Arizonans we have and will vigorously enforce the unlicensed contractor laws.”

The California sting led to the arrest of 100 suspects. Three-quarters were identified from craigslist ads. One suspect is a convicted murderer; two others are registered sex offenders. All suspects now face a variety of misdemeanor charges, including contracting without a license and illegal advertising.

California Registrar Steve Sands said, “Craigslist serves as a valuable tool to legitimately licensed and insured contractors,offering them a free advertising vehicle to connect with consumers. Unfortunately,hundreds if not thousands of unlicensed or unscrupulous contractors are breaking the law every day by posting deceptive or illegal ads and craigslist has done little to address the issue.”

The Nevada sting led to issuing 23 citations to craigslist users for advertising without the appropriate contractor’s license. Nevada Executive Officer Margi A. Grein said, “Contracting without a contractor’s license is a serious offense, which ultimately increases a homeowner’s risk and liability when having work performed on their home. The opportunity to team up with other states to educate consumers on ways to protect themselves and demonstrate a unified zero-tolerance stance on the issue is invaluable and one that we hope to initiate again in the future.”

The NASCLA goal of the national sting operation was to bring the western states together through a united partnership to combat illegal construction activities and bring consumer awareness to the forefront. Along with showing the positive impact that the contractor state licensing boards are displaying and the efforts they are taking to protect the public. NASCLA President, Craig Smith, stated that “Non- licensed contractors are a danger to consumers and give the construction industry a black eye. NASCLA congratulates the fine work of the state investigators that participated in this enforcement effort.”

Protecting Oregonians
The CCB strongly encourages consumers to verify a contractor is actively licensed. Consumers can easily check the license and complaint history at CCB’s consumer friendly website: www.hirealicensedcontractor.com; the CCB agency site www.oregon.gov/CCB or by calling 503-378-4621.

Licensed contractors in Oregon have a bond and insurance which offer some financial protections if something were to go wrong. Homeowners can get help resolving construction-related disputes within a year from the time the work was substantially completed or the work stopped. These protections are only available if the contractor is licensed with the CCB.

“It’s important to take the steps available to protect ourselves,” says Gina Fox, CCB Public Information Officer. “Whether consumers shop for a contractor on the internet or someone shows up on their doorstep, verify the license first.”

Other important tips include:

• Get more than one bid. Getting more than one bid can help you “get a feel” for what your project should cost. The old saying “you get what you pay for” generally applies here. A higher bid may be worth the price in better materials, workmanship and reliability.
• Get it in writing. One of the best ways to avoid construction disputes is negotiate and follow a well-written construction contract. Most construction disputes can be traced back to the parties’ failure to write, understand, and follow a well-written contract.

Consumers can find more tips on having a successful construction project at either website.

The CCB is a state agency licensing more than 38,000 contractors. Anyone who is paid to repair, improve or build a home must be licensed by the CCB. Consumers can verify a contractor’s license and find information for successful projects. Information is also available by calling 503-378-4621.

Other state contact information:

Arizona: Tyler Palmer
(602) 771-6710
tyler.palmer@azroc.gov
www.azroc.gov

California: Rick Lopes
(916) 255-4161
Rick.Lopes@cslb.ca.gov
www.clsb,ca.gov

Nevada: Jennifer Turner
(702) 486-1139
jturner@nscb.state.nv.us
www.nscb.nv.gov

NASCLA: Angie Whitaker, Executive Director
National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA)
(623) 587-9354
www.nascla.org

The Construction Contractors Board (CCB) issued five field proposed orders during a Portland area sting operation on May 3, 2012. Three of those arriving at the sting house were individuals that the CCB previously issued civil penalties for advertising while unlicensed.

“Unlicensed activity is detrimental to homeowners and properly licensed contractors,” says Robert Rambo, CCB Field Investigations Manager. “Stings are one of the tools used by the agency to protect consumers and level the playing field for legitimate contractors.”

CCB shows outstanding civil penalties for Jesse James Starns, last known address in Portland, and Martin Allen Turner, last known address in Molalla. Starns’ penalties total nearly $3000 and Turner’s outstanding penalties total over $1900. Each received field proposed orders during the sting in the amount of $700.

Larry Berkley, last known address in Portland, was issued a civil penalty for advertising while unlicensed and reduced if the individual agrees to not violate the Oregon Licensing Laws. The CCB is reviewing violations of this agreement. The field proposed order issued during the sting is $600.

Two other individuals also received proposed field orders for $600 each.
• George Raymond Natwick Jr. (last known address Portland)
• Joseph Steven Ozmer (last known address Portland)

Oregon Contractor Licensing law provides for individuals receiving CCB proposed orders the opportunity for a hearing. A proposed order may become a final order by default after 21 days from the issuance of the proposed order.

The CCB is a state agency licensing more than 36,000 contractors. Anyone who is paid to repair, improve or build a home must be licensed by the CCB. Consumers can verify a contractor’s license and find information for successful projects by visiting www.oregon.gov/CCB . Information is also available by calling 503-378-4621.

Salem, OR– Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) will soon sport a new website look.

By the end of May 2012, the CCB will make the change using the familiar look that the State of Oregon, the Governor’s website and many other state agencies use.

The CCB’s website address remains the same, though if customers bookmark pages they use frequently, some of those links may change.

“Navigating the CCB website easily remains a high priority,” say Gina Fox, CCB Public Information Officer. “We will continually look for ways to improve using our customer’s feedback.”

The new look is a result of the State of Oregon’s recent contract for many of its e-government services.

The CCB is a state agency licensing more than 39,000 contractors. Anyone who is paid to repair, improve or build a home must be licensed by the CCB. Consumers can verify a contractor’s license and find information for successful projects at www.oregon.gov/CCB . Information is also available by calling 503-378-4621.