A Quincy man faces an unregistered contractor charge after he reportedly bilked a Kent homeowner out of $850.
King County prosecutors charged Raymond Ersie Jensen, 37, with one count of unregistered contracting, according to the state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I).
Jensen, doing business as Complete Construction Inc., signed a contract to replace a roof on a Kent home for $2,700 in May. He cashed an $850 check intended for roofing materials, but never bought them and never showed up for work, according to charging documents. The homeowner contacted Kent Police. A L&I investigation resulted in the charge.
L&I records dating to 1980 show Jensen has never been registered under his name as a contractor. L&I has cited Jensen four times — twice in 2008 and twice in 2013 — for unregistered contractor violations.
Unregistered contracting is a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.
L&I reminds consumers to never pay large deposits, don’t pay in full until the job is done, and always make sure that construction contractors are registered in Washington.
State law requires construction contractors to register with L&I. To register, contractors must have liability insurance, a business license and a bond to allow for some financial recourse if the project goes awry.
Consumers can check whether a contractor is registered by going to Verify.Lni.wa.gov or calling 1-888-811-5974.
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