Unlicensed Storm Chasers

Some pretty big outfits have appeared in New Orleans with no licenses for this hail storm signs on trucks and in front of houses,guess they think they dont need to be licensed?I expect they will paying some big fines soon as the law is they can be fined 5% of every quote given and thier even marking the way for the state to track them.I expect to see the licensing board in these neighborhoods soon.

TomB: I just took the IL commercial test last week and it was rather difficult, but I only do light commercial work. The residential was a rather tough exam, too. Apparently IL is one of the few that doesn't have a study guide. I kept hearing all the other test takers saying "third time's a charm"

NOW saying that, I have to add that they don't enforce licensing like they should. I borrowed the NRCA books from a buddy of mine who wanted his license but couldn't pass the test. He just doesn't do any roofing inside of city limits of the two larger towns around here instead of worrying about some silly license.

Yea, it's that time of the year for you midwesterners on down thru Texas and the southeast. Whether they be licensed or not.

I'm not aware of any "viable" licensing, (other than Florida), east of the continental divide......By "viable", I mean, something other than simply paying a fee and providing insurance & bonds....

Paid for by taxes,fines, fees,etc!!!!!!!!!!!

You mean paid for by taxes??????? Exactly B) :) :) B) Deep Down In Florida Where The Sun Shines Damn Near Every Day

Just got off the phone with the head of residential enforcement in Baton Rouge,he told me they started an investigation on the west bank last week out thier Harrahan office due to complaints from contractors about unlicensed storm chasers who have set up shop here.From my previous experience with this board they will respond as the fines are part of thier funding and thier very serious about enforcement.The hail storm two years ago i watched first hand as they responded,they document everything with pictures.Trucks,signs,crews on roofs,material.He also stated they are turning them over to states attorney general for prosecution.

The insurance issue comes up again to legitimatize the company at the same time it is demonized . :dry: Enforcement ,Code enforcement show up on job sites unannounced shutting jobs down residential and commercial. The message " you will be caught"to those who circumvent the law. B) :) :) B) Deep Down In Florida Where The Sun Shines Damn Near Every Day

If you guys notice it's the two states that suffered the most severe hurricane damage and were just flat out swamped by storm chasers that changed their laws for the better. Hurricane Andrew in Florida and Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana. So much shoddy activity occured in these two states after those storms that the powers that be finally realized they had to do something about it.

BULLETIN: 12-07

July 13, 2012

Home Improvement Registration

Effective August 1, 2012, Act 193 of the 2012 Regular Legislative Session

provides for significant changes to Home Improvement Contracting under the

statutory authority of the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors

(LSLB).

Pursuant to Act 193, every agreement to perform home improvement services in

excess of $1,500 (formerly $7,500) must be in writing . In accordance with this

Act, the LSLBC will now require that all home improvement contractors be

registered with the Board in order to perform services in excess of $1,500, but not

to exceed $75,000. Further, home improvement contractors will be required to

furnish proof of general liability insurance in a minimum amount of $100,000 to

the LSLBC. This is in addition to the current requirement for worker’s

compensation insurance. The Act also requires home improvement contractors to

obtain any insurance required by federal law.

Additional requirements of this Act provide that, if the contract is to repair a roof

paid with insurance proceeds, there are specific requirements regarding the right

to cancel the contract, notice of cancellation, and return of deposit. The

Act prohibits home improvement contractors from advertising to pay an

applicable insurance deductible on a roof repair. This prohibition is not only

The board is very serious and by dropping the number to $1,500.00 it cut out the loophole unlicensed contractors were using to circumvent them! Believe me when i say the local licensed contractors are watching these guys waiting for the board to start shutting them down i suspect a few will be ran out of state as they have trucks everywhere and no licenses,and if they applied for a license and are contracting before it is issued they will more then likely be denied.

www.lslbc.louisiana.gov/pdf/bulletins/bulletin_September_2012.pdf

As of aug 2012 any home improvement contractor working in Louisiana has to have workmens comp and liabilty insurance on file with the board, registered with secretary of state and have a home improvement registration number or state license number out of state companys will have to wait 90 days to be licensed.All estimates written are subject to a fine!!! Ita against the law to write estimates these fools are roofing houses they will get busted and Louisiana State Licensing Board for contractors will be dragging them into court.

Last week a guy calls me for a legitimate non insurance roof estimate on his double wide. I only bid it for the part he wanted replaced. I also tell him that he has a minor case of hail damage and I'd replaced two roofs near him last year from it.

He calls insurance they replace said part, addition, and carport.

I update bid, add other roofs, upgrade to 30yr and RV.

After getting him over $8000 out of thin air, he asks can you do any better on the bid of $9,500 even though he was just prepared to pay over $5000 for partial replacement!

Twill, Robert is talking about unlicensed storm chasers. I took that to mean the type that covers the deductible by saying we will "pay you" to leave our sign in the yard. The charge for the sign ends up being the exact amount of the deductible. Here, the insurance is only paying $175 per sq. for a 1-layer walker. Plus $200 for debris removal. The average roof is 30 sq. So that's $5,450 minus the $1,000 deductible which leaves $4,450. Or just under $150 per sq. Counting the shingles, nails, felt, etc.. materials are at least $85 per sq. and that's for 3-tabs. So now were at a measley $65 per sq. Deduct 10% overhead 65 x 30= 1,950. So 200 bucks overhead. lol Leaving $1,750. The door knocker gets half of that or $875. So these storm chasers are making $875 off the average job? I get that to replace a friggin valley dude!

As in the common practice of contingency agreements have "ACV" on price tag.