10 POWERFUL REASONS
WHY YOU SHOULD HIRE ART STONE HOME IMPROVEMENTS LLC.
MEMBER #108256 MHIC
Consumer Advice - Home Improvement Commission
of Maryland (MHIC)
SERVICES TO CONSUMERS;
•
Make sure the contractor you choose is licensed. It is a criminal offense to do home improvements without
a license, and there is no protection from the Guaranty Fund for the homeowner
who uses an unlicensed contractor.
Many times a
contractor is willing to fix items in an effort to resolve a homeowner's
complaint. The Commission's authority is limited to issuing a fine to a
contractor, suspending or revoking a contractor's license (following a
hearing), and in cases where the homeowner has filed a claim against the
Guaranty Fund, awarding a homeowner money from the Guaranty Fund.
The complaint
triggers a regulatory investigation, which may have no direct benefit to the
homeowner. The purpose of the investigation is for MHIC to determine if the
contractor has violated the Home Improvement Law. The homeowner does not
directly benefit from this investigation, which is aimed at protecting the
public by upholding the professional standards of the home improvement industry
in Maryland. However, in some cases, MHIC will work with the homeowner and the
contractor to settle a complaint whereby MHIC agrees to not pursue regulatory
charges against the contractor if the contractor agrees to reimburse the
homeowner for some or all the contract price.
Yes, unless
the contractor resolves a complaint within 30 days, each complaint is typically
part of the public record. MHIC does not publish complaints in which the
contractor agrees to participate in mediation or complaints that lacks factual
or legal merit. Complaints remain part of the contractor's public record for
three fiscal years.
If MHIC files
regulatory charges against the contractor, then the contractor receives a copy
of the Statement of Charges and a hearing notice. Hearings are held at the
Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) before an Administrative Law Judge
(ALJ). Based upon the number and severity of the charges, if the ALJ finds that
the contractor violated the Home Improvement Law or regulations, the contractor
may be fined up to $5,000 per violation. In addition, the contractor's license
may be suspended or revoked. In some cases, the contractor may enter into a
consent agreement and agree to pay a fine or to reimburse money to the
homeowner in order to avoid a formal hearing.
Most likely,
an investigator will not come to your house. Instead, MHIC relies upon the
homeowner providing photographs and other evidence to support the complaint. In
certain cases that are the highest priority for MHIC, such as complaint
involving elderly homeowners and allegations of fraud, MHIC does attempt to
send an investigator to conduct a site visit.
Once the
contractor responds in writing to the complaint, then an MHIC investigator
begins an investigation. The purpose of the investigation is to determine
whether there is enough evidence to support a charge that the contractor
violated the Home Improvement Law or regulations. The investigator may also
attempt to have the parties resolve the dispute either informally or by
participating in MHIC's formal mediation program.
The
Commission's goal is to complete each investigation within 60 days of receiving
the contractor's response. Some investigations take additional time, especially
when one side does not provide all the necessary information.
If the
contractor does not respond to the Notice of Complaint, the Commission may
schedule a show cause hearing before a Hearing Board. At a show cause hearing,
the contractor must appear and explain to the Commission the failure to
respond. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Board may take disciplinary
action against the contractor, such as suspending the contractor's MHIC license
or fining the contractor up to $5,000, if it finds that the contractor violated
the Home Improvement Law by failing to respond in writing to the complaint. The
homeowner is not required to appear at the show cause hearing. However, the
hearing is public so the homeowner has a right to attend. Homeowners who do
attend the show cause hearing do not have an opportunity to speak to the
Hearing Board. Show cause hearings are held before a Hearing Board of the
Commission on the first Thursday of every other month.
The first
step in the complaint process is to complete and sign a written complaint form.
Complaint forms are available online, or by
visiting the Commission. You may also call the Commission at 410-230-6309 or
1-888-218-5925 to request that a complaint form - be mailed to you.
Anyone may check a contractor's complaint history by calling the
Home Improvement Commission, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., at the
following telephone numbers: 1-888-218-5925 (toll free) or 410-230-6309
(Baltimore area), or by sending an e-mail to DLOPLMHIC-DLLR@maryland.gov. Complaints filed
within the last three fiscal years are reportable to the public within 30 days
of being filed. Certain complaints that are determined to lack merit are not
reportable to the public
Visit Art Stone Home Improvements Website for more details or information
Visit Art Stone Home Improvements Website for more details or information
