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Gary RVRoamer · 09-30-2015, 07:46 PM

Quote:

I think the Threat of turning the guy into the state has a lot of weight. If the state gets ahold of him it will cost him a whole lot more than $7K

I don't think practicing electricity without a license is a felony in any state,so not much threat of jail time. About the biggest threat the state has is to pull the guys license, but he doesn't have one anyway. He doesn't have a business to lose.

Timon · 09-30-2015, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

I don't think practicing electricity without a license is a felony in any state,so not much threat of jail time. About the biggest threat the state has is to pull the guys license, but he doesn't have one anyway. He doesn't have a business to lose.

Actually some states will come down hard on this. California is one of the hardest with very very large fines especially when major damage or injury is done. The damage or injury is the big factor. In addition there can be jail time, see below.

Quote:

Those who are caught contracting without a license likely will have to appear before a Superior Court judge to answer to misdemeanor charges that can carry a potential sentence of up to six months in jail and/or a $5,000 fine, as well as an administrative fine of $200 to $15,000. If illegal contracting continues, the penalties become more severe. A second offense results in a mandatory 90-day jail sentence and a fine of 20 percent of the contract price or $5,000.

Felony charges are filed against anyone who illegally uses another person’s contractor license or who tries to mislead consumers into believing that he or she is a licensed contractor.

In this case his actions caused $7,000 in damages so the state will likely make an example of him. At the very least he'd be required to pay restitution and likely treble damages directly to the plaintiff plus what the state would hit him with.

Don't know what state the OP is in but it's easy to fine out what their state might do.

timetogo · 10-01-2015, 10:24 AM

If I had a friend do some wiring that went south, I sure wouldn't send him to jail.

Different story if its someone passing themselves off as a licensed electrician, and charging accordingly.

At least no one was hurt.

Note to self, if the in-laws want electricity...........

JMonroe · 10-01-2015, 02:51 PM

With decades of auto claim department experience behind me, this should definitely be covered. It was caused by accident (accidently feeding 240 volts where there should only have been 110). This would be considered a "comprehensive" loss, as opposed to a collision.

An outright mechanical failure would not be covered, but one caused by an accidental intervening event would be. Another example would be if a vandal were to poor sand into your crankcase. This would cause a mechanical failure, but it was caused by a covered event - vandalism.

You spoke to a poorly trained or informed individual. Call back and ask to speak to a supervisor. If that fails, file a complaint with your state's insurance commissioner's office.