When looking for contractors, be suspicious of suspiciously low prices

California’s CSLB warns after arresting 121 unlicensed contractors over three days

The best way to avoid hiring an unlicensed worker is to check for a valid license before signing any contracts. (Korea Times file)

By the Korea Times Los Angeles staff

Korean homeowners looking for contractors should watch out for suspiciously low prices, experts say.

On March 28, California’s Contractors State License Board announced that it had arrested 121 unlicensed contractors through an undercover sting from March 25 to 27.

The problem still persists, with about 60,000 unlicensed contractors currently active in California state, said Steve Breen, a spokesman for CSLB in an email to The Korea Times.

Breen said the board had recently received complaints from a few Koreans living in the Los Angeles area. He said 199 fake contractors had been arrested up to April this year and that 64 of those arrests were made in Southern California.

Han Tae-ho, a commercial law attorney, said Koreans hiring unlicensed contractors after being convinced by lower-than-market-price costs have become a frequent occurrence.

The best way to avoid hiring an unlicensed worker is to check for a valid license before signing any contracts, Breen said.

He said dealing with damages made by unlicensed contractors is one of the biggest issues for homeowners, as they rarely have reliable phone numbers or addresses.

“It’s best to prevent being conned by an unlicensed contractor, as otherwise it gets turned over to the police,” Han said. “From experience, these contractors run away before completing projects.”

“By law, you’re not obligated to pay for anything, including materials, during the duration of repairs,” Han said. “While you’re signing the contract, check the license number, insurance and bonds carefully, because if the contractor runs away during construction, you can get a refund through the bond company.”