Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Does Your Contractor Really Have A Maryland Home Improvement License?


"A fellow working for Charles Dickens retired Baltimore Police Major.

Thomas James Hennasey (dob 3/1970)
6374 Grant Champman Drive
Laplata, Maryland 20646

Driver's License # H250792367189 also showing up in some cases as # H520792367189 and now driving a Ford Pickup 957M105

Working here in Ocean City without a Home Improvement License, although he may be pulling permits under a Daniel Bunyea MHIC 6624 (Mr. Bunyea would not return my phone call to confirm or deny same)

Mr. Hennasey was in court with Mr. Dickens at his side this past spring for 2 separate charges. (1) DUI where he plea was guilty and Judge Mumford slapped his hand (2) the second charge was a DUI committed a couple days after the prior one. This time he ran into a house with his vehicle fled the scene and drugs were in the vehicle... Mr. Hennasey plea was guilty and Judge Mumford immediate slapped his other hand....

The priors for Mr. Hennasey range from gun violations, DUI's, 1ST degree burglary, bad checks and etc. and this is a guy that is doing work for a retired police major who owns a real estate company in Ocean City."

Folks, this happens all the time. Don't just ask for their license, confirm it with the State. Hopefully Officials in Ocean City are reading this Post as well as the State to make sure everything is in legal order.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

We had a contractor do some extensive remodeling to our home 4 yrs ago. We noticed after about 2 months into it that some things were not finished once he started. I did some background checks, he had a MHIC number so I checked that and it was not current. I reported him and ended up taking him to court. Now I have a lein on his home to the tune of 37000.00. It was alot of work on my part but worth it.

Anonymous said...

This is happening all over the place around here. Its been going on for years. I have four state licenses to perform work and they are all a joke. Watch out for Joe Smith,(the old mid-eastern hvac).

Anonymous said...

Joe, this is not just in home improvement areas. There was recently a sign advertising a new "licensed and insured" tree company along the Pemberton Dr. area. Out of curiosity and being a business owner in insurance myself, I called. The gentleman was actually very nice but after further investigation it was determined that his license was in home improvements! He was not licensed by the MD DNR to perform tree work. Don't know about you, but I want someone with a little bit more knowledge than that! If you look in the classifieds in the DT, there are several other lawn/tree care companies that represent themselves as "licensed and insured." According to the MD DNR website, no person shall remove a tree larger than 20 feet in existance unless licensed an insured by the state. The tree company that I use is more than willing to provide documentation on licenses and insurance. I would assume that with the premiums they pay, it's nice to have someone ask... Consumer beware!

Anonymous said...

This license is pure Maryland bs -- why should somebody who does odd jobs as a handyman need to be licensed???

Anonymous said...

To prove they have insurance.

Anonymous said...

Joe, I am sure that this guy will get caught committing another crime before long, so keep us posted... A retired police Major puts him in our community under the cover of a home improvement mechanic and a judge lets him walk on 2 DUI's... SAD

Anonymous said...

11:41
odd jobs are different than home improvement.

Anonymous said...

12:55 you had better think again. You need an MHIC license to cut grass, clean gutters, paint a garage, change a doorknob, or anything like it. It does not apply to a multi family with more than 4 units or any commercial property. It also does not apply to new construction.

Anonymous said...

Now you can understand how Baltimore City is in the shape it is in today.

Anonymous said...

Who cares, its just another way to tax people every way they can. I could care less if they have a license or not, you all are ridiculous....a license to cut grass, whats next....

Anonymous said...

A license means nothing more than that you are registered with government so they can steal their cut of your hard earned money. They don't care if you are competent enough to do the job right or not-it's all about nobody making a dollar without them getting thirty-five cents of it.

Anonymous said...

I see that Mr. Hennasey only made it to 6/21/2009 before the police nabbed him here in Laplata, MD for a series of charges. Maybe, he can get a change of venue back up to Ocean City, MD

Anonymous said...

There are many regulations in the state of MD, you don't need a licenced contractor to cut the grass on your yard.
This is complicated... there is a big difference between comercial and residential construction.
If you build your new house , (this is not home improvement) because your not fixing it or doing alterations. ..