CRIME ALERTS

Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act

What is the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act?

The Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act ("HICPA") was adopted by Pennsylvania's General Assembly in October, 2008, and signed by the Governor as Act 132 of 2008. The law establishes a mandatory registration program for contractors who offer or perform home improvements in Pennsylvania. The statute also establishes minimum insurance requirements for contractors; requires contractors to provide their registration number in their ads and contracts; establishes required contract terms for home improvement contracts; prohibits unfair business practices; and creates a criminal penalty for home improvement fraud.

Anyone who owns or operates a home improvement business or who offers, performs, or agrees to perform home improvements in Pennsylvania must register with the Office of Attorney General unless they fall within two exceptions: small contractors (less than $5,000 of work in a calendar year) and large retailers (net worth or more than $50 million). All contractors, including self-employed contractors and sole proprietorships, subcontractors and independent contractors, and corporations, partnerships and all other types of business entities must be registered, unless they fall into the two exemptions above.

For more information please visit http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/ and click on the link for the “Home Improvement Consumer Information”
 

Avoiding internet Credit Card Fraud

►Don't give out your credit card number's) online unless the site is a secure and reputable site. Sometimes a tiny icon of a padlock appears to symbolize a higher level of security to transmit data. This icon is not a guarantee of a secure site, but might provide you some assurance.

►Don't trust a site just because it claims to be secure.

►Before using the site, check out the security/encryption software it uses.

►Make sure you are purchasing merchandise from a reputable source.

►Do your homework on the individual or company to ensure that they are legitimate.

►Try to obtain a physical address rather than merely a post office box and a phone number, call the seller to see if the number is correct and working.

►Send them e-mail to see if they have an active e-mail address and be wary of sellers who use free e-mail services where a credit card wasn’t required to open the account.

►Consider not purchasing from sellers who won't provide you with this type of information.

►Check with the Better Business Bureau from the seller’s area.

►Check out other web sites regarding this person/company.

►Don’t judge a person/company by their web site.

►Be cautious when responding to special offers (especially through unsolicited e-mail).

►Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country.

►The safest way to purchase items via the Internet is by credit card because you can often dispute the charges if something is wrong.

►Make sure the transaction is secure when you electronically send your credit card numbers.

►You should also keep a list of all your credit cards and account information along with the card issuer’s contact information. If anything looks suspicious or you lose your credit card's) you should contact the card issuer immediately.

Visit FBI.GOV for more information.

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