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Oregon Contractors Board Conducts Sting Operation

by | Sep 28, 2010

OnlineEd

PORTLAND, OR (OnlineEd) – On August 24, 2010, uncertified locksmiths and unlicensed contractors in the Eugene area had a surprise waiting for them.

In a statement released by Gina Fox, Oregon Construction Contractors Board, the Construction Contractors Board (CCB) conducted a sting operation designed to curb uncertified locksmith and unlicensed contractor activity in the area. The CCB issued five proposed orders for unlicensed construction activity and three proposed orders for uncertified locksmith activity. The CCB partnered with the Lane County Home Builders Association to locate a sting house.
“Illegal activity doesn’t just hurt the consumer,” says Robert Rambo, Manager of CCB’s Field Investigations. “It hurts the legitimate contractors that work hard to stay in compliance only to get undercut by those who don’t. The CCB is committed to finding and penalizing those working illegally.”
Though licensing of construction contractors have been part of Oregon law since the 1970’s, laws requiring locksmith certification and licensing became effective July 1, 2010. Locksmiths in Oregon are required to be certified and the business licensed by the CCB unless exempted by law.
Prior to the sting, the CCB obtained leads from advertisements, Craig’s list, public bulletin boards, and other unnamed sources.
The CCB has stepped up enforcement efforts throughout the state with more stings planned as well as jobsite checks happening at any given time on any day of the week.
Contractors and consumers can report illegal activity on the CCB website or by calling the agency at 503-378-4621.
The CCB strongly encourages consumers to verify a contractor is actively licensed. Consumers can easily check the license and complaint history at www.oregon.gov/CCB or by calling 503-378-4621.
Licensed contractors have a bond and insurance which offer some financial protections if something were to go wrong. Homeowners can get help resolving construction-related disputes within a year from the time the work was substantially completed or the work stopped. These protections are only available if the contractor is licensed with the CCB.
Unlicensed contractors can get licensed by completing the Oregon approved online contractor licensing course at www.OnlineEd.com, passing a state licensing examination and meeting other requirements. To view a complete list of licensing requirements, please visit our blog article, Do You Need an Oregon Contractor License?

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