Spring Time Means Contractor Fraud Time In Alberta

Western Canada has been blessed with a large "Chinook", or a blast of unseasonably pleasant weather in recent weeks.

As spring time emerges in Alberta, homeowners tend to start thinking of those home renovations. However, southern Alberta has a critical shortage of licensed tradesman, and construction contractors. The net result of this is that unlicensed and unqualified "contractors" tend to go door to door to take advantage of this situation. The net result of this is poor and unfinished renovation projects. In some cases, such contractors simply take off, and abandon projects.

In Rainbow Investigations business, our para-legal small claims business is our fastest growing area. Most of these cases are a result of where unqualified, and unlicensed contractors have made crucial errors in the construction. The net result is that the homeowner has to remove all the work the poor contractor did, and start all over, at a cost of anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000.

Always remember, any contractor who takes pre-paid deposits, must have a license from the Alberta Government Services.

Alberta Government Services has developed a news release to help avoid construction fraud. Click here for the news release.

If you have been a victim of construction fraud, a civil action may be the only way you may get the appropriate remedy from the unqualified contractor. We are one of the most effective small claim agents in Alberta - for many cases we can get the process started for $400 or less (not including court filing fees).

Date of Story: Monday, February 28, 2005
Story Posted By: Ron Reinhold
Source: Ron Reinhold

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