Home Improvement Complaints Increase In 2005

HARTFORD — Home improvement issues continue to generate concern and complaints from Connecticut consumers, the Department of Consumer Protection announced this week.

“With lower-rate mortgages tempting homeowners to trade up to a bigger house, or to refinance and expand or repair their existing home, we’re finding that construction and home improvement activity is way up, and with it is the number of complaints in those areas,” Consumer Protection Commissioner Edwin R. Rodriguez said on January 17.

The commissioner said that in the agency’s investigative review of the received complaints for 2004 and 2005, the total of actual home improvement and new home construction complaints in 2005 was 1,356, an eight percent increase over 2004, when the department confirmed 1,253 complaints on home improvement issues.

“We screen each complaint after it comes into the agency to determine that it is indeed a bona fide issue that can be remedied through application of the various regulations and statutes we administer,” Mr Rodriguez said.

“Of the 1,552 complaints originally labeled as 2005 home improvement issues, only 1,356 were validated as such based on home improvement violations,” he continued. “That translates to an eight percent increase over the previous period. The remaining complaints were for unfair trade practices.”

“An eight percent increase in the number of home improvement complaints is sizable, but not unusual given the sheer volume of home improvement work being done,” Mr Rodriguez said. “In 2004, approximately 24,000 home improvement contractors were registered with us; that rose to 25,500 in 2005 and to 27,500 this year. Complaints seem to be closely tracking the increase in the number of registrants.”

Meanwhile, Connecticut consumers are aware more than ever of the department’s ongoing enforcement efforts against nonregistered contractors, and are less willing to put up with unfair or irresponsible business practices from persons claiming to be home improvement contractors. The state’s Home Improvement Guaranty Fund consistently provides restitution of approximately $2 million annually to consumers.

“I’m very gratified to see that our citizens are contacting us to report suspicious activity and to inquire about their rights,” Mr Rodriguez said. “We hope that our outreach and public awareness efforts continue to raise consumer awareness, and that homeowners will turn to our website, our materials, and our knowledgeable staff for assistance.”

Mr Rodriguez continues to urge consumers to continue to report suspicious activity and file complaints against contractors with the Department of Consumer Protection. Consumers with questions and complaints can call DCP Home Improvement at 860-713-6110.