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Illegal Contractors Target Drought Resistant Landscaping

  •  Steve Milne 
Friday, January 24, 2014 | Sacramento, CA
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Courtesy of the Contractors State License Board

Photo of CSLB sting operation conducted in Rancho Murieta on January 16th.

Courtesy of the Contractors State License Board

The drought provides a new angle for illegal contractors to fleece the unwary.

“We’re starting to find unlicensed contractors out there kind of preying on people’s hopes to be able to have a nice yard but also being able to save water at the same time," says Rick Lopes, with California’s Contractors State License Board or CSLB, one of the state’s leading consumer protection agencies.

Earlier this month, the board conducted a sting operation in the Sacramento area and caught 11 people engaged in illegal contracting.

Lopes says hiring an unlicensed contractor is just a bad idea.

“There’s a good chance that they’re going to try to come in and lowball a bid to try to get the job and to get you to make a big down payment," he says.

Lopes says unlicensed contractors are also typically not covered by worker’s compensation insurance. That means if a worker gets hurt on your job, you may get stuck with the medical bills.

Lopes says before you hire a contractor make sure the business has a current state-issued license and check with the CSLB's website first.

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    More about drought

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    Reservoir levels are at historic lows, municipalities are ordering mandatory conservation and farmers are bracing for water shortages. CapRadio is following how Californians are being impacted by the drought.

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Steve Milne

Morning Edition Anchor & Reporter

Steve is the Morning Edition anchor for Capital Public Radio. He covers stories on a wide range of topics including: business, education, real estate, agriculture and music.  Read Full Bio 

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