Seventeen Ocean- and Monmouth-based home contractors are among 89 cited by the New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) for violations in the past three months. See the full list here.

iStock/Townsquare Digital
iStock/Townsquare Digital
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Officials seek restitution and civil penalties totalling $630,556.42 statewide, in connection with consumer complaints and for infractions including failing to register with DCA. Some have already agreed to pay restitution and some have taken steps to register, officials said.

Companies in Toms River, Jackson, Forked River, Tuckerton, Long Branch, Freehold and Ocean Township are among 40 cited for operating without registration.

Contractors are required to establish a brick-and-mortar location and maintain at least $500,000 in liability insurance.

Fifty-six companies were ordered to pay $369,236.42 in customer restitution to clear allegations of shoddy and unfinished work. All 89 were ordered to pay civil penalties totalling $261,320.

Since the start of 2015, DCA has cited120 contractors and sought restitution and penalties amounting to $1,028.333.02, officials said.

"With New Jersey well into peak home improvement season, we are actively protecting consumers by responding to complaints and identifying contractors who violate our registration and advertising laws," Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said.

"For their part, consumers can protect themselves by learning as much as possible about any contractor - including whether the business is registered to conduct home improvement work in New Jersey - before signing a contract."

Most of the unregistered firms were on the receiving end of consumer complaints, and were ordered to pay restitution amounts between $200 and $35,905, authorities said. Twenty-three registered companies were dunned between $2,500 and $25,900 for consumer complaints.

Twenty-six registered companies were cited for omitting registration numbers and other required data in their ads and related documents.

Contractors arranging projects exceeding $500 in cost are required to supply written contracts that clearly state the work, the agreed price, projected start and end dates, business name, address, and registration number.

Each company is given the chance to contest or correct violation assertions, and to contest restitution amounts. Registration violators can be hit with civil penalties up to $10,000 for first offenses, up to $20,000 for each succeeding instance.

A separate section of the Consumer Affairs web page contains resource material for contractors.

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