10 Unlicensed Contractors Cited by Investigators in Glendale Sting

Augustin Renteria’s ad seemed to be working. He got a call asking him to bid on a house-painting job in Glendale.

On Tuesday morning, he walked around the outside of the vacant house at 800 E. Elk St. and jotted down his bid of $1,100 on a scrap of paper and handed it to the man.

That’s when his trouble began. He was handcuffed and brought into a makeshift booking area in the house’s detached garage. Renteria was cited for not having a contractor’s license.

He was one of 10 unlicensed workers swept up in the Contractors State License Board sting Tuesday. State law requires anyone who performs such home repairs as painting and roofing estimated to cost $500 or more, including both labor and material costs, to have a contractor’s license.

Six were issued notices to appear in court because they were unlicensed and placed bids of $500 or more; four others will be cited for lesser violations, including advertising without a listed license number or failing to state that the contractor is unlicensed, said Ralph Hollier, supervising investigator for the Contractors State License Board. Fines range from $500 to $15,000.

“Our laws are very simple,” Hollier said. “Either you have a license or not.”

To crack down on unlicensed contractors, license board investigators have conducted two or three sting operations a month throughout California since 1989, Hollier said.

In preparation for Tuesday’s sting, investigators located 15 unlicensed contractors through newspaper advertisements and called them to bid on an array of home repairs, Hollier said. The contractors were invited to the vacant house to survey and make a bid for the work. Those who placed bids of $500 or more and did not have a license were cited for violating state law, he said.

Each alleged violator was handcuffed by Glendale police officers and searched. Their names were run through police computers to check for warrants and other violations. If there were none, they were issued a notice to appear in court and released from custody.

With each citation, the men also were offered an application for a contractor’s license and encouraged to use it. “We want you to become licensed contractors,” an investigator told one of the men.

Renteria, 39, of Temple City, said he lost his job after being convicted of driving under the influence and began painting houses for money. He never bothered to get licensed, he said, because he thought it was too expensive.

But a license costs less than the fine for not having one. It costs $250 to take the contractor test and $150 for a two-year license, Hollier said. The minimum fine is $500.

Ramon Arechiga got caught by license board authorities for the second time Tuesday. He said he paid a $750 fine for landscaping after the Northridge earthquake and began attending contractors’ school. But the 50-year-old Reseda resident hasn’t graduated yet, and still has no license.

“Do whatever you have to do,” he told investigators. “I know it is against the law.”

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Despite this latest setback, Arechiga, who advertises his handyman services under the name Ramon A. Estrada, was in good spirits. “Do you have a license to operate that camera?” he jokingly asked a news photographer taking his picture.

Besides Renteria and Arechiga, the other unlicensed contractors cited Tuesday were Nikola Radic, 50, of Los Angeles; Howard F. Lancaster, 53, of La Puente; Patrick Gunn, 55, of West Covina; and Juzenteino B. Jimenez, 43, of Los Angeles.

Another unlicensed contractor, one of the four who will be cited for minor violations, got away after he unexpectedly walked into the garage to inspect the roof and was greeted by a Glendale police officer assisting in the sting.

He left the property without writing a bid for the work. But Hollier said the man will be mailed a citation for advertising without stating that he is unlicensed, a lesser offense.

Tuesday’s sting was staged in connection with a seminar being held today to help senior citizens learn to protect themselves against scam artists.

The Senior Scam Stoppers Seminar will be from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the city’s Adult Recreation Center, 201 E. Colorado St.

Besides home repairs, the seminar will provide seniors with information about auto repair scams, dealing with medical issues and personal protection.

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Hiring Tips

The Contractors State License Board recommends these tips for anyone hiring a contractor:

* Hire only licensed contractors.

* Call only contractors who list their license numbers in advertisements.

* Check the contractor’s license number by calling (800) 321-CSLB.

* Get three references and review past work.

* Get at least three bids.

* Get a written contract and do not sign anything until you completely understand the terms.

* Pay 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less.

* Don’t let payments get ahead of work. Keep records of payments.

* Don’t make final payment until you’re satisfied with the job.

* Don’t pay cash.

* Keep a file of all papers relating to your project.

Source: Contractors State License Board Web site