How to Protect Your Association from Unlicensed Activity

Unlicensed activity is when an individual or corporation performs or offers to perform a job or service that requires a state license.  Unlicensed activity can occur in every profession and business that is licensed by DBPR.  There are measures you can take to protect your association from the practice of unlicensed activity.

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation has a new website that will help anyone to check who should have a license, who has a current license and finally, if you are a victim and there is an unfortunate incident, through their website the ability to report a complaint. 

Prior to engaging a professional, always check licenses by clicking on the DBPR UNLICENSED ACTIVITY PROGRAM  or by calling the Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395. The following is a review of why you want to hire a licensed professional and steps you can take to protect yourself and your association from unlicensed activity:

Why should an association hire a licensed person or company? 

1. Licensed individuals have the education, experience, required insurance and other qualifications to obtain a license. 
2. Licensed individuals have been screened for prior criminal history. 
3. Licensed individuals are required to carry the appropriate insurance and workers’ compensation to ensure that you are not held liable if someone is hurt on the job. 
4. Today, there is little recourse for consumers who are harmed by unlicensed individuals in the state of Florida.

When associations are in the process of hiring a professional they should:

1. Always ask to see their license.
2. Note the license number and verify that the license is current.
3. Review complaint history available online. 
4. Ask for references and check each one.
5. Beware of scams when professionals ask for all the money up front or will only accept cash.
6. Beware of professionals who arrive in unmarked vehicles, possibly from out-of-state.
7. Be cautious of writing checks made payable to individuals, especially when dealing with a company. 
8. Get everything in writing, including a detailed description of the work to be completed, a completion date and the total cost. 
9. Don’t sign the certificate of completion until you are satisfied with the work done.

Due to the downturn in Florida’s economy, there has been a huge increase in unlicensed activity.  The problem has been growing rapidly but there are things that associations and individuals can do to guard against and prevent this from happening.  Review these steps with your Board of Directors to protect your association.

Tagged as: contractor, Contracts, Fraud, Laws, Maintenance, Service Company, Unlicensed