Dear Home Improvement Contractors:
In 2008, the Pennsylvania
Legislature passed the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act. The law
requires that all contractors who perform at least $5,000 worth of home
improvements per year register with the Attorney General's Office.
We have worked to ensure that the
registration process is as quick and easy as possible. Registration may be
completed online or by mailing an application to our office. We encourage
you to complete your registration online, as you will receive your registration
number and a printable temporary registration certificate instantaneously.
As of July 1, 2009, consumers in
Pennsylvania will be able to verify your registration with our office by
visiting our website or by calling our toll-free hotline. In the coming
months, our office will encourage consumers to use registered contractors when
deciding to invest in home improvements.
When do contractors need to register?
The Office of Attorney General is registering home improvement contractors right now. Any contractor that is not registered by July 1, 2009 will be prohibited from offering or performing home improvements until they become registered. Offering or performing home improvements without being registered is a violation of the act and may subject the contractor to an enforcement action and possible civil penalties.
Don't delay - register today!
Tom Corbett,
Attorney General
http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/hic.aspx
Do contractors need to display their registration number on
their vehicles?
The law requires registration
numbers in any advertisements used by contractors. If a contractor has an
ad for their business on their vehicle, the ad must include their registration
number. If the vehicle does not have advertising promoting the business,
then the contractor is not required to display their registration number on the
vehicle.
http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/hic.aspx?id=4339
The law says that registration
numbers must be included in all advertisements, contracts, estimates and
proposals - how do I display my number?.
You must include the abbreviation "PA" and the number assigned
to you (example: PA123456). You do not need to include extra zeroes which
come before your number but you must have these letters and your actual
registration number. For instance, if you were assigned PA000372, you may
list your number that way, or simply use PA372.
Although it is not required by the
law, you can more fully explain the meaning of the number to consumers in your
advertisements and in contracts, by displaying the number as: Pennsylvania Home
Improvement Contractor Registration Number: PA123456.
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Get your PA Registration
Number Decals
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