Daily Archives: June 27, 2012

South Carolina Cracking Down On Unlicensed Workers

I know that we all need to work and make a living and support our families that is why we all put up with what we do to make ends meet.
But we have laws in this state and many others to protect the trades and help ensure that people get a good job when they hire someone.

 

South Carolina started a long time ago when I was just a young man South Carolina started doing just that.

As I recall it was somewhere around the early 90’s they started out by requiring you to get a specialty card. This was just a first stage in the years to come.

I had one for years before they required you to have a license. So everyone lost their specialty cards since they were no longer doing that (with many of the jobs out there that is).

Many people were required then to get an actual license it was hard on many I am sure but it was for the best for all of us.

Now they are going and cracking down even further. The law has always read that you had to be registered with the SC LLR to engage in many trades.

But now they are going and cracking down on the workers out there that have no license and are engaging in the trades anyway.

Our family was doing some work for a assistant to the 13th Solicitor and they got around to talking about work and licensing.

The assistant let him know that not only were they aware, but had actually recently sent several people to prison for violating the laws of the state of South Carolina.

I feel sorry for the people that they ended up in prison, but at the same time everyone has had equal opportunity to get ready and get legally able to engage in whatever field they wished to do.

We spend lots of money abiding by the laws to engage in our trades and it is not fair to legit trades people to have to compete with those that do not care to follow the laws and regulations of our industry or our State.

I hope that as a home owner you will ensure that you choose licensed contractors to do your work; and I hope that the people out there that wish to engage in whatever trade will get the license and engage in good professional practices.

Whatever money you save by trying to get around the law will not be worth it when you end up in prison.

Spotting an unlicensed contractor

How to verify a licensed contractor

 Avoid Unlicensed Contractor

Original publish date by America’s Service Repair  Saturday, 04 June 2011

Many people on Craigslist are saying they are licensed contractors in fact they are actually an Unlicensed Contractor.
Sad to say almost all of them are lying about it.
As a licensed contractor in the state of South Carolina
I will attempt to help you learn to spot the Unlicensed Contractor.

The easiest way first is that most of them list no license information at all.
As a licensed contractor I am proud of my license and don’t mind boasting about it.
I run a great business and am proud of it. So why would they hide it?
Easy enough answer is they really are not licensed.
The next thing to look for is; those that say they are licensed but only hold a EPA license
for freon. This is in no way at all a valid license to practice in the field of HVAC in this state.
This is a card that anyone must hold to handle freon that is it, IT IS NOT certification
that they know how to install or repair HVAC equipment.
They know this but, they are preying on the fact that you don’t know this. Shame on them.

There is only one true way to check to see if you have a REAL licensed contractor or a fraud:
https://verify.llronline.com/LicLookup/LookupMain.aspx

This works not just for checking HVAC and other professionals but Electricians, Plumbers
and many other professions as well. Be fair with the contractors they might be listed with either
the Residential Builders board or the Commercial Contractors board.
Here is the South Carolina Laws regarding the right to practice in any field that is regulated by the LLR

SECTION 40-1-30. Authorization to practice. It is unlawful for a person to engage in a profession or occupation regulated by a board or commission administered by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation without holding a valid authorization to practice as required by statute or regulation. An authorization to practice issued pursuant to this title is valid for up to two years and is renewable on renewal dates as established by the Director of Labor, Licensing and Regulation with the consent of each applicable regulatory board.

SECTION 40-1-200. Unlawful practice. A person who practices or offers to practice a regulated profession or occupation in this State in violation of this article or who knowingly submits false information for the purpose of obtaining a license is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than one year or fined not more than fifty thousand dollars.

Don’t hire an Unlicensed Contractor not only is it illegal, it is also what is killing the trade. Every time you hire an Unlicensed Contractor you are taking away work from someone that does deserve it, and you are creating a situation where the honest, and good contractors won’t be around due to not having enough work to stay in business. Be honest, and do the right thing, and make sure you hire only State Licensed Contractors.