Salem - A new Construction Contractors Board (CCB) web page
warns consumers about phony or predatory contractors who take money and produce
little or no work or who violate state contracting laws.
The people who make this list owe money to homeowners or to
the State of Oregon in unpaid fines. None has a license in good standing yet
they continue to prey on the public.
"We hope the page deters homeowners from using these
particular bad actors and reminds them to report any unlicensed contractors to
the CCB," Enforcement Manager Stan Jessup said.
“Also, consumers should always make sure they are doing
business with a licensed contractor, and check references before signing any
contract or making any payments,” Jessup added.
Who made the list?
At the top of the Buyer Beware list is Jose Francisco
Alvarez-Guerrero. He racked up more than $100,000 in CCB fines for working on
Portland area home projects – typically involving brick pavers - without a
license. Many of his victims are senior citizens.
Victims told the CCB that he started jobs but then wouldn’t
show up or made excuses about why he couldn’t finish the work. He currently is in Columbia County Jail on a
theft charge involving a Rainier man who paid more than $9,000 up front for a
project involving a retaining wall and path. The project was never started. In
another case, a Beaverton woman lost several thousand dollars after hiring him
to put in a ramp walkway for her disabled son. He never showed up for that job.
A husband and wife couple also made the list. Aaron and
Claudia McCormick repeatedly installed flooring without a license. The CCB
received multiple complaints about substandard work or unfinished jobs.
Verify licenses
The CCB licenses construction contracting businesses. Most any
business seeking work on a new home or home improvement project needs a license.
Contractors must include their CCB license number on any advertising so you can
verify their license. To do so, visit www.oregon.gov/ccb
and enter a license number or name in the orange “Search” feature.
Verify that the license is “active” and that the name on the
license matches the contractor in question. Call 503-378-4621 for help searching
or understanding the results.
Contractors and consumers can report unlicensed contractors
and other illegal activity on the CCB’s website or by calling 503-934-2246.
In looking for contractors, the CCB advises consumers to get
references from friends and neighbors, or others in the construction industry,
such as supply stores. Licensed contractors carry bonds and insurance and can
be held accountable if something goes wrong. Only licensed contractors can get
required building permits.
About the CCB
The CCB is the state agency licensing more than 36,000 contractors.
Anyone who is paid to repair, improve, inspect or build a home must be
licensed. Learn more about how to have a successful project at www.oregon.gov/ccb.