[Pairadocs]

[QUOTE=jparsoneau@aol.com;2251260]First, you should always check for references. Second never pay upfront. Third be careful of legal advice on social media.[/

All great suggestions. Also, I've found very few people know they can access the state website and check licenses and insurance status of contractors, and that people at the state department office seem to welcome inquires and are helpful and polite. Here's a tip for what it is worth: when we first began to hire various services, we would not consider anyone without checking the numbers we were given (on business cards). What totally shocked us (should not have, but did) was the number of contractors who do have legitimate state numbers printed on their cards and vehicles.

When we checked with state, THREE different times (tree service, landscape company, and one drive way contractor), all of whom seemed very "upfront", proper state numbers for insurance and vehicles, but we were stunned when we checked with state and found out the numbers are legitimate state issued numbers.... but since the year of issue, the business had NEVER renewed either one ! Just printed them on all paper work and on vehicles, paid ONE year only. The state told us that is common, but "unfortunately we have no way of going out and tracking down every vehicle and business card with numbers that were legitimate at one time, but never again renewed." They went on to say " we send out warning letters that failure to renew could result in being denied a future license, and we keep a record of those who default after getting the initial license, but we just don't have the man power to track down every misleading business card and every vehicle displaying non current insurance numbers." They continue to urge residents to CHECK with the state, not just make the assumption that if it's on a card, or painted on a vehicle, it is current ! Hope this will help convince a few people to go the extra step and actually check with the state to see if all is CURRENT. Those who are having problems (such as this landscape contractor example ?) might want to look into IF the numbers on their contract are even currently in force... or if they expired long ago ? Worth a toll free phone call and a few minutes !