How Palm Beach County is cracking down on unlicensed contractors
WPTV News - FL Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast
[{'start': '0.640', 'end': '4.799', 'text': 'Unlicensed contracting jobs are on the'}, {'start': '2.720', 'end': '7.279', 'text': 'rise in Palm Beach County, costing many'}, {'start': '4.799', 'end': '8.960', 'text': "of you a lot of money. I'm Joel Lopez,"}, {'start': '7.279', 'end': '10.639', 'text': "digging into what's being done to"}, {'start': '8.960', 'end': '12.719', 'text': "protect you so you don't become a"}, {'start': '10.639', 'end': '15.920', 'text': 'victim.'}, {'start': '12.719', 'end': '18.480', 'text': "Living at Governor's Point in North Palm"}, {'start': '15.920', 'end': '21.199', 'text': 'Beach. Yes, this is uh my home. Jean'}, {'start': '18.480', 'end': '23.600', 'text': "Guyger's condo trying to renovate is a"}, {'start': '21.199', 'end': '25.439', 'text': 'construction zone. This is the kitchen.'}, {'start': '23.600', 'end': '27.359', 'text': 'after a contractor she found through'}, {'start': '25.439', 'end': '29.840', 'text': 'word of mouth. He said that he was'}, {'start': '27.359', 'end': '32.239', 'text': 'licensed and certified. Turned out not'}, {'start': '29.840', 'end': '34.640', 'text': 'to be. And you trusted him? I I believed'}, {'start': '32.239', 'end': '36.880', 'text': 'him. Leaving her at a loss, she says, is'}, {'start': '34.640', 'end': '40.320', 'text': 'over $200,000.'}, {'start': '36.880', 'end': '42.399', 'text': "It's very overwhelming emotionally."}, {'start': '40.320', 'end': '44.879', 'text': 'After having to pay for a new licensed'}, {'start': '42.399', 'end': '47.440', 'text': 'contractor to take over and repair the'}, {'start': '44.879', 'end': '49.760', 'text': "work already done, it's been a"}, {'start': '47.440', 'end': '52.239', 'text': 'nightmare. A lot of sleepless nights, I'}, {'start': '49.760', 'end': '53.440', 'text': 'turn to Rick Torrance. Contractor fraud.'}, {'start': '52.239', 'end': '54.960', 'text': 'How prevalent is it in Palm Beach'}, {'start': '53.440', 'end': '56.559', 'text': "County? Very prevalent. He's the"}, {'start': '54.960', 'end': '58.000', 'text': 'director of contract regulations with'}, {'start': '56.559', 'end': '60.079', 'text': "Palm Beach County. There's so many"}, {'start': '58.000', 'end': '62.000', 'text': "unlicensed contractors here, we we don't"}, {'start': '60.079', 'end': '64.239', 'text': 'know where to start. He said so far this'}, {'start': '62.000', 'end': '67.840', 'text': "year, they've gotten nearly 300"}, {'start': '64.239', 'end': '70.479', 'text': 'complaints, issuing 148 citations to'}, {'start': '67.840', 'end': '72.880', 'text': 'unlicensed contractors. We require a'}, {'start': '70.479', 'end': '74.240', 'text': 'background check. We do a credit check.'}, {'start': '72.880', 'end': '76.159', 'text': "We don't want criminals in people's"}, {'start': '74.240', 'end': '79.240', 'text': "houses. He's urging people to check the"}, {'start': '76.159', 'end': '82.000', 'text': 'county website before they hire a'}, {'start': '79.240', 'end': '85.200', 'text': 'contractor, which will verify whose'}, {'start': '82.000', 'end': '87.680', 'text': 'license is active, expired, and if the'}, {'start': '85.200', 'end': '89.040', 'text': 'contractor is insured. If you invite'}, {'start': '87.680', 'end': '90.880', 'text': "someone on your property and they're"}, {'start': '89.040', 'end': '92.000', 'text': "injured while they're on your property,"}, {'start': '90.880', 'end': '93.759', 'text': "they could sue your homeowners's"}, {'start': '92.000', 'end': '96.079', 'text': 'insurance. If you have been a victim,'}, {'start': '93.759', 'end': '97.759', 'text': 'homeowners do have some rights to try to'}, {'start': '96.079', 'end': '99.759', 'text': 'get their money back through the Florida'}, {'start': '97.759', 'end': '101.200', 'text': 'Homeowners Construction Recovery Fund.'}, {'start': '99.759', 'end': '103.040', 'text': "We'll have that information posted on"}, {'start': '101.200', 'end': '106.720', 'text': 'our website. Reporting in Palm Beach'}, {'start': '103.040', 'end': '106.720', 'text': "County, I'm Joel Lopez."}]