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A new law takes effect July 1, 2009 that will affect Pennsylvania landscapers who provide certain home improvements.
Businesses affected by the law will be required to register with the
State Attorney General's office in Harrisburg, and the $50 license
fee will cover the first two year period. The law was enacted in the name of
consumer protection and affects things like the maximum allowed for
down payments, the language used in contracts, plus it outlines stiff
penalties for violations. Some opponents say a Felony will be too easy to come by.
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Integrity has
no need of rules.
Albert Camus |
Landscape companies primarily affected by the law will be those
involved in the hardscape end of the landscaping business.... those
companies providing installation or renovation of driveways, patios,
sidewalks, swimming pools, lighting, retaining walls, fountains,
drainage systems and certain types of fencing.
Yes sir, that covers most landscaping companies!
Other than finding a
PDF version of Senate Bill 100 online, many of the other details
are extremely difficult to locate at this point in time (Feb. 1,
2009) including
how to register "early," five months before the law takes effect.
The Hotline number for Consumer
Protection at the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office is:
1-800-441-2555 if you care to do some early homework. (
More information should be coming soon for those home improvement
companies and landscapers affected by the new law.
The good news in this blog you ask? Winter is almost over.
Bob
FOOTNOTE: I phoned
the Attorney General's office in early March to obtain the
registration paperwork and the receptionist said it would probably
not be available until the end of March 2009.
4/1/09 UPDATE: The Attorney General's office now has a website that
provides online registration for those contractors with a credit
card:
Home Improvement
Consumer Protection Act online registration
After contractors complete their registration, a number will be
assigned to them that must be displayed with all forms of
advertising and in most business documents. The registration number
starts with "PAOAGHIC" and is followed by a six-digit number, but
any zeroes at the beginning of the six-digit number do not have to
be displayed.
PDF
file -
Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act
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