Wall of Shame! DCWP ‘Nails It’ To Unlicensed Home Improvement Contractors | City of New York

Consumer and Worker Protection


Wall of Shame! Department of Consumer and Worker Protection ‘Nails It’ To Unlicensed Home Improvement Contractors

September 4, 2024

NEW YORK, NY – Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga today unveiled DCWP’s new Home Improvement Contractor Wall of Shame, a list of home improvement contractors that have received a violation within the past year for operating without a license and that New Yorkers should avoid when hiring a contractor. DCWP recently won a battle in New York State Supreme Court against Big John’s Roofing, one of the most complained-about unlicensed contractors on the list, and secured a court order seeking to stop the company from illegally operating. DCWP urges New Yorkers to only use licensed home improvement contractors, which ensures that the contractor had a background check, and may provide consumers with access to DCWP’s Home Improvement Contractor Trust Fund for potential restitution if something goes wrong. In the last year, DCWP has put more than $1.2 million back in consumers’ pockets through the Trust Fund. Additionally, DCWP released updated, multilingual tips to help guide homeowners when hiring an individual or business to do home improvement work.

“We have been clear: unscrupulous actors who try to take advantage of New Yorkers and their hard-earned income will face consequences,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “With the ‘Home Improvement Contractor Wall of Shame,’ we are making it even easier for consumers to have the information they need to make informed decisions about who to trust when renovating their homes. In the last year alone, we put more than $1.2 million back into consumers’ pockets through the ‘Home Improvement Contractor Trust Fund,’ and we urge New Yorkers to contact the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to pursue restitution if you were a victim.”

“Our homes are our sanctuaries, and making improvements to them should not come with fear that we might lose money if the job isn’t completed or completed poorly,” said DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “We strive to build a culture of compliance with the city’s laws, but we don’t hesitate to protect our neighbors. Visit our website to see which contractors you should avoid, get our helpful tips before you hire a contractor, and to check a business’s license status before you enter into a contract. Making sure that the contractor you hire is licensed with DCWP is important – when they’re licensed, you’re protected!”

In New York City, individuals and businesses must have a DCWP-issued Home Improvement Contractor license to do construction, repair, remodeling or other home improvement work that costs more than $200 to any residential building. The license does not cover new home construction, plumbing, or purely electrical work. New Yorkers should check DCWP’s Wall of Shame and also use DCWP’s License Lookup Tool to make sure a business is licensed with DCWP before entering into a contract with them. If a DCWP-licensed home improvement contractor owes a consumer money, the consumer may be eligible for reimbursement through the Home Improvement Contractor Trust Fund if DCWP cannot successfully mediate the complaint. Consumers are not eligible for Trust Fund repayment options if they use an unlicensed home improvement contractor.

In October 2023, DCWP made changes to the Home Improvement Contractor Trust Fund, creating a new claims process to help more consumers get more financial relief. DCWP has secured more than $1 million in restitution for 123 consumers who qualified for financial relief through the Trust Fund’s new claims process. DCWP licenses more than 13,000 home improvement contractors

DCWP provides licensed home improvement contractors with a checklist (available in multiple languages) of legal requirements in order to help them avoid violations. In May, DCWP held a Home Improvement Contractor DCWP 101 educational webinar to help applicants and current licensees navigate the Home Improvement Contractor licensing process and understand some of the laws and rules contractors must comply with in NYC. DCWP urges consumers who believe that their contractor failed to perform work as agreed to, who owe them money or who engaged in unlicensed activity to file a complaint at nyc.gov/dcwp or by calling 311.

In addition to educational efforts, complaint mediation and changes to the Trust Fund, DCWP takes enforcement action against unlicensed home improvement contractor activity. Last month, DCWP won a preliminary injunction in state court against Big John’s Roofing, an unlicensed home improvement contractor, ordering the company to stop operating without a license in NYC. Big John’s Roofing routinely deceives consumers about their ability to operate legally in NYC. The company also regularly performs substandard work – causing additional problems in the consumers’ homes resulting in unsafe conditions – refuses to return deposits for incomplete work, and fails to honor warrantees offered and agreed to in the contract. The court ordered the company to cease selling or providing services in NYC without a license. Any consumer who has been affected by Big John’s Roofing, or any home improvement contractor, should call 311 or visit nyc.gov/dcwp to file a complaint or learn more about the case.

The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)—formerly the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)—protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCWP licenses more than 45,000 businesses in more than 40 industries and enforces key consumer protection, licensing, and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses through equitable enforcement and access to resources and, by helping to resolve complaints, DCWP protects the marketplace from predatory practices and strives to create a culture of compliance. Through its community outreach and the work of its offices of Financial Empowerment and Labor Policy & Standards, DCWP empowers consumers and working families by providing the tools and resources they need to be educated consumers and to achieve financial health and work-life balance. DCWP also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City’s communities. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp or on its social media sites, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Media Contacts:
Michael Lanza / Stephany Vasquez Sanchez
Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
(212) 436-0042
press@dcwp.nyc.gov