Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

KING TV's report about an 82-year-old woman who paid an unregistered contractor $579 for a furnace repair is good example of why you must check out businesses you hire for emergency fixes.

Had the consumer (or a family member) searched the Labor and Industries Web site they would have found a string of violations, discovered that the company she hired was not registered, as required by law, and that the owner lacked the necessary electrician’s license.

As it turned out, the consumer had to pay another company to do the work because the first guy didn’t fix the problem. The second bill came to just $100.

Even in an emergency, you should give some serious thought to who you hire to help with home repairs. Find a reliable electrician and plumber before you need them. Then tape their phone numbers to your water tank and electrical panel where they’ll be handy in a pinch.

Talk about it: What resources help you determine which professionals to hire?

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