PA Contractors Law

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Pennsylvania's+Home+Improvement+Consumer+Protection+Act.-a0188970162

http://www.pacontractorslicense.com/ simplified version

Here is a link to the new PA Contractors Law and some of the specs for it.

Seems to me that they are opening up a whole new way for the consumer that did not have their second cup of coffee to have a go at us.

While we already follow most of what is set forth in their guidelines, we will still have to have a new contract drawn up that complies with the new Act.

I have not had much of a chance to pick this apart but I am sure I am not going to like it!>>>

I think this could be a good thing. I have to pay for a license anually in 2 small cities in my area alone. Now its going to be just 25.00 a year to the state and the local cities are dropping theirs. I am going to have to pitch the old contracts though :( New contracts are going as thick as a magazine from what I read.>>>

Terry His name is Bryan W. Shook Esquire form Camp Hill PA. (717) 975-9446>>>

The Legislature is so darn busy writing new laws, why don t they have the guts to repeal some of the onerous statutes that the contractor has to face; namely the "Waiver of Liens" obimination. I think that only 2 states have this regulation, which essentially deprives the contractor of his inalienable right to file a lien on a property for work he has done and has not been paid.>>>

Copperman, which attorney is it?>>>

If you go to the link I posted it has all the details. Emergency's are excluded from the three day wait. Suddenly all roof jobs are emergency's :laugh: Got an email from a lawyer today, Cost for a compliant contract template with all the bells and whistles is $175.00>>>

I am very interested in hearing about your conversation with him Copperman.

Ed - I was wondering the same thing about the furnace, or how about a tree through the roof, or even busted pipes. I can hear it now "What do you mean you have to wait 3 days to fix this?" "Well, gee ma'am, ask Gov. Rendell."

Onarooftop, this is designed to protect the consumer. I am sure that the contractors who register are going to be cross-checked to make sure they do have WC ins.>>>

http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/hic.aspx?id=4340>>>

I am from Erie,PA.

Have worker's comp. employees etc. I heard about this. I don't see anywhere that shows you have to have worker's comp insurance, or provide a w.c. proof of insurance. 9 out of 10 do the 1099 deal here. How is this going to help. Doesn't look like it will????>>>

So, if someones furnace goes out in the middle of winter, the contractor will be legally obligated to wait beyond the 3 day cooling off period to provide the installation service.

There must be exceptions to the rule, which take place in the event of an emergency.

Ed>>>

The way i changed my contract was to get $50.00 down with a signed contract, aprox half when materials are ordered and balance upon completion of work. i am just a small fry and i need all the money for materials up front to get the job started. not going to spend my money on materials. going to get my license tonigh on the web site-they are finally ready to do this.>>>

went to that web site and called the lawyer. He was busy, said he would call back latter. I wonder what he charges to write up a complaint proposal/contract?>>>

The only problem that I have in that little scenario is, if I am a repair contractor....and a service magic member, and I accept a lead, and sell the repair over the phone....without a signed contract, I show up to immediately perform the service, maybe with a work order in my hand...like Sears appliance guys , etc. I can hears the wheels spinning about getting around the under $5000.00 per year exclusions.>>>

That's pretty much the way it is here in Ohio. The deposit amount isn't mandated by law, but everything else is the same.

If you're operating in a reasonable manner(and I'm sure you are) you really don't have anything to worry about.

The problem is that the contractors with bad intent know how to dance around the laws.>>>