State officials release the list of contractors who paid fines in the fourth quarter of last year for violations, including shoddy work.
Acting Attorney General John Hoffman (Star-Ledger file photo) TRENTON -- Forty home improvement contractors were issued violations for allegedly cheating customers in the fourth quarter of last year, the state Division of Consumer Affairs said this week.
The enforcement efforts netted $481,477 in consumer restitution and civil penalties during the quarter, the division said. In all of 2015, a state crackdown led to violations against 223 contractors and more than $2.56 million in restitution and penalties.
"Through our year-long enforcement efforts we have been able to return significant amounts of restitution to consumers allegedly cheated by contractors who took money for jobs that were left undone, or completed unsatisfactorily," Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said in a statement.
The 40 contractors were ordered to pay a total of $321,477 in restitution, ranging from $360 to $50,000, officials said. The alleged violations included performing shoddy work, not finishing work that was already paid for and failing to give refunds.
Consumer affairs authorities also directed the contractors to pay a total of $160,000 in civil penalties, according to officials. Those ranged from $1,250 to $7,000.
Officials said the contractors were cited for alleged violations of the state Contractor's Registration Act, which included failure to provide customers with "detailed, written contracts for home improvement projects costing more than $500."
See the list of contractors along with the amount of penalties and restitution. According to the state, the registration status is listed based on the time of alleged violation.