cslb-wildfire-warning

							News Release
CONTRACTORS STATE LICENSE BOARD                                       Get Information To Build On!
9821 Business Park Drive, Sacramento, California 95827                                800-321-CSLB
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 26000, Sacramento, CA 95826                               www.cslb.ca.gov



CONTACT:         Tracey Weatherby (916) 255-4161               DATE:       October 29, 2003
                 Jonathan Parsley (916) 255-2798
                 Lynette Blumhardt (916) 255-3915
                                                               CSLB #:     03-15



    Contractors Board Warns Southern California Wildfire
       Victims Against Hiring Unlicensed Contractors

       SACRAMENTO – The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) warns Southern
California wildfire victims to use caution when hiring a contractor to repair or rebuild their
homes. Unscrupulous, unlicensed contractors often prey on victims of natural disasters. The
CSLB has found that some unscrupulous or unlicensed contractors take advantage of
homeowners who are anxious to rebuild.

       It is a felony to contract without a license in a declared disaster area. Consumers can
protect themselves by using CSLB’s resources to check a contractor’s license status and
history.

      “Don’t let a natural disaster result in a man-made one by hiring the first contractor who
comes along. Take your time and protect yourself against con artists who will take your money
and run – or incompetent contractors who will perform shoddy work. Hire only licensed
contractors and check them out with the Board,” said CSLB Registrar Steve Sands.

       The CSLB is issuing this warning and providing disaster response kits to fire victims at
evacuation and disaster relief centers throughout Southern California. Consumers can verify a
contractor’s license status and order publications, free of charge, 24 hours a day using the
CSLB’s Web site at www.cslb.ca.gov or toll-free automated telephone system at
(800) 321-CSLB. The CSLB has also activated its disaster hotline at (800) 962-1125, which is
set up to answer questions from disaster victims only. CSLB Call Center hours are 8:00 am to
3:00 pm Monday through Friday.

       Contractors working on any job – from debris removal to rebuilding – totaling $500 or
more for labor and materials must be licensed by the CSLB. To become licensed, a contractor
must pass a licensing examination, verify at least four years of journey-level experience, and
carry a license bond.


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News Release
CONTRACTORS STATE LICENSE BOARD                                Get Information To Build On!
9821 Business Park Drive, Sacramento, California 95827                         800-321-CSLB
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 26000, Sacramento, CA 95826                        www.cslb.ca.gov

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    The CSLB urges consumers to follow these tips when dealing with a building contractor:
           Hire only licensed contractors and ask to see the license
           Don’t hire the first contractor who comes along
           Don’t rush into repairs, no matter how badly they’re needed
           Verify the contractor’s license at www.cslb.ca.gov or (800) 321-CSLB
           Don’t pay more than 10 percent or $1,000, whichever is less, as a down payment
           Don’t pay cash, and don’t let the payments get ahead of the work
           Get three bids, check references, and get a written contract

      The CSLB, which operates under the umbrella of the California Department of
Consumer Affairs, licenses 278,000 contractors in California and investigates 25,000
complaints against licensed and unlicensed contractors every year.

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