Contractor Registration Program

​​​​The Office of the Attorney General has joined officials from the City of Mayfield and Graves County,  the City of Princeton and Caldwell County, and the City of Dawson Springs and Hopkins County to launch emergency contractor registration programs to register contractors looking to assist storm victims.

The program aims to prevent “fly by night" contractors that often enter areas affected by natural disasters in an attempt to take advantage of consumers. The program requires contractors to register prior to doing business. Registered contractors are issued placards, which must be displayed on their job sites and in the contractor's vehicle. 

For questions about each of these programs, call (502) 871-2424.  If your community is interested in launching a contractor registration program, please reach out to Jonathan Farmer with the Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection at Jonathan.Farmer@ky.gov.

Consumers hiring a contractor should follow these tips:

• Research contractors or repair companies and get more than one estimate. Search for contractors on BBB.org, or search for a local Home Builders Association in your county by visiting www.hbak.com>About>Local​.
• ​​​Get a reference from friends or family, and check with the contractor registration office if you have questions about the registration status of a contractor.
• Reputable contractors will have the proper insurance (Workers Compensation, if they have employees, and General Liability). They will provide proof of coverage when asked.  By possessing the proper insurance coverage, the contractor protects you, the customer.
• Resist high-pressure sales tactics. Scammers often offer “special pricing" if you hire them on the spot. Do not feel forced to make a hasty decision to hire an unknown contractor.
• Be proactive in researching and selecting a contractor instead of reacting to sales calls or door-to-door pitches. Reputable contractors will not go door-to-door to solicit business.
• Do not pay a contractor or business upfront for their services.
• Do not sign insurance checks over to a contractor. Be sure to get an invoice from your contractor and pay them directly, preferably with a credit card, so that charges may be disputed, if necessary.
• Reputable contractors will provide the customer with a written contract detailing the scope of work, the general time frame of when the work will be done, and the cost of the project. Do not sign documents that give a contractor rights to your insurance claims.
• ​Ask for proof of insurance.  Reputable Contractors will have the proper ins​urance (Workers Compensation, if they have employees, and General Liability). They will provide proof of coverage when asked.  By possessing the proper insurance coverage, the contractor protects you, the customer.​

To learn more about avoiding natural disaster scams click here. ​
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