So You Don't Need A License....

scottstef

hey folks,

i have seen a lot of the posts from people talking about being able to do work without a license when your state requires a license. Most of the time the "contractor" gives some crazy story for not getting a license- such as its only a part time gig, or something like that.

i am still in the process of getting my license, this state takes FOREVER to get the license paper work out after you take the test. ANyway, trying to drum up some business, i mentioned to a few people that i was getting my license and would be available for work soon. One guy begged me to do a job for him, saying it was ok if i didn't get my license until after.

Well you guessed it, now he doesn't want to pay for it, his response was- what are you gonna do- you aren't licensed so you can't file a lein against my house.

fortunately it was a very small job, so i am chalking it up to the school of hard knocks.

ProWallGuy

Time for some ghetto collections.

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AAPaint

What are you gonna do? Standing eye to eye he would have his answer already. If he said it over the phone, I would have delivered his answer personally.

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RobertCDF

Buy this tool and knock on his door with it.

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jensenconstruction

You might want to try small claims court. I dont know what state your in but here in California you dont need a license for jobs under $500 your state might have a similar law. Also with small claims you really have nothing to lose except the filing fee and some time to go to court.

747

I find the Illinois department of Professional Regulation to be interesting. They don't show a GC's licence but they do show a Roofing Contractors license. Also on there website you can pull up action taken against people who hold license in the state. If you fail to report any arrest suspension of license if you report like a dui arrest fine and probation. Finally they show people licenses being suspended for failer to pay child support and failer to pay student loans back.

Big Dave

Scottstef, you need to go to your local building code office and tell them you know of some work that was done without a permit. They will catch up with him.

Dave.

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Kristina

Yup. A little "neighborhood" justice.

You do need a license in CT, sadly you don't need to DO anything to get it but send in your $$.

Of course some states, like Virginia, require that your business is making a certain amount of money in order to get a certain license. I think that's ridiculous.

I'm in full support of licensing with an exam to pass. It's knowledge about the trade that matters, not how much you've already made.

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A+Carpenter

Hey man I am going to do one of thos today SERIOUSLY like in 10 mins down the road. I will get back in 20 mins and let you know.

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copusbuilder

Don't get me going on this one Kristina. Most of the licensing is nothing more than a tax in the eyes of the state.
The cost of doing business can force a semi retired person out of business or a parent from making a living....Just look at the first post (forever is a long time)
I will leave it at that till one of the sheep enter and tell us how we need the government to protect us all from ourselves

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RYANINMICHIGAN

Depends on how you want your reputation to be when it is all over with.. You could go collect with a baseball bat and 5 gallons of gas. Or you could just tell yourself not to do that again and get your license. In Michigan you have no legal recourse because by taking the work over $500 you have committed a crime. I have gone the first route when I was younger and had nothing to lose. Not the case anymore.

Teetorbilt

In this county working without a license is a felony. It keeps most people honest.

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slickshift

In CT the license means you registered with the Dept. Of Consumer Protection
It's to make sure you haven't been ripping off people in that or other states

Also in CT, and scottstef might want to look into this as it could be other states too, you can put a mechanics lien on a house w/o a license if it was less than...ah it's either $500 or $1000 (no license needed) or you were working for the homeowner

As in, the H/O was acting as the CG, you were just working for them
That'd have to be if the bid was an estimate and the H/O bought the materials

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fastg60

A+, how'd it go???

copusbuilder

Which is more than what can be said of the agency(s) collecting the funds

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snapper21

Does he have a beautiful garden?????

A+Carpenter

I have 2 of these. Great for adjusting joist.

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A+Carpenter

He never opened the door and the phone has not rung.

He was the first in 5 years. Last one defore that was 5 years

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A+Carpenter

I have a fulltime collections firm for General Contractors that are late on the bills. Anything over $500.00 and I use them.

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slickshift

copusbuilder was referring to the government agencies collecting the license fees

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Originally Posted by ModernStyle I have never used this crap before and I pray to the paint gods that I never have to use it again, I would rather use Behr