Ditchmen • NUCA of Florida Ditchmen • December 2016 | Page 12

UNLICENSED ACTIVITY via The Department of Business & Professional Regulation No one likes to leave a job unfinished, whether it’s the final touches on that work project or the last landscaping detail in your backyard. It’s especially true when you hire someone to work for you. You worked hard for your money, and you expect the same when you spend it. That’s just one reason it’s important to know if you are hiring a licensed contractor, and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) is committed to getting you the tools 12 DITCHMEN • DECEMBER 2016 you need. Unlicensed contractors can leave you with substandard or unfinished work -- and unsafe conditions for any home or business. During the past five months alone, DBPR has conducted 208 unlicensed activity outreach events, 10 stings and 165 sweeps. To help combat this problem, DBPR has come up with a checklist of things to look for when hiring a contractor, including verifying a state-issued license, asking for references and receiving a written work estimate. There are now more ways than ever to prevent unlicensed activity. If you suspect unlicensed activity is taking place, report it to the department by calling the Unlicensed Activity Hotline at (866) 532-1440, emailing ULA@myfloridalicense. com or using the free DBPR Mobile app available in the iTunes and Google Play app stores. Unlicensed activity can leave you with more problems than when you started, and DBPR is here to ensure you protect what you value most. • • •