Sandy victims say contractor left them hanging

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ (WABC) -- Some New Jersey homeowners say their house lifted literally in limbo when the contractor and the customer got in a dispute which left the homeowner hanging.

Since last spring, Mary and Nick Ditta's home and their lives have been suspended in mid-air.

"We gutted everything. We lost everything," laments homeowner Mary Ditta, as she walks around the shell of her home. After Sandy the Dittas had to raise and renovate, so they hired Thomas Carlevale Construction.

"How much did you pay him?" 7 On Your Side's Nina Pineda asked.

"So far, $22,000," Nick Ditta said.

That's on a $26,500 contract, nearly a full payment up front. An expensive mistake. That's because the town building official found the work so shoddy, a stop work order was slapped on the property, stalling the project just days after starting. The town hit Thomas Carlevale with $6,000 in fines stating he hadn't properly capped the gas, water or sewer lines, and even failed to disconnect the structure before raising the house.

Homeowner Nick Ditta, points out the damage, "If you look at it the doors aren't straight, the walls are cracking."

Even after the town shut him down, the contractor sent the Dittas an invoice, for almost double the money, $41,400 more to finish the original job.

"Truthfully, I don't trust him. I wouldn't give him another nickel," Nick Ditta said.

7 On Your Side checked with New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. A rep found Thomas Carlevale Construction wasn't registered with the state when he did the Ditta's job, a violation of the state's consumer fraud act. Initially when we contacted him, he promised us he'd refund the Dittas $19,000 of the $22,000 they paid. But when he didn't come through, we went to his residence. Over the phone he blamed the customer.

"You're saying they had problems with the foundation, they're in breach of contract?" Pineda asked on the phone.

Tired of being in limbo, the Dittas hired a new registered contractor. His team went to work, got thee stop work order lifted, and gave a warning.

"There are a lot of contractors not licensed, not insured, and they're taking the money and running," said Randy Cabral, a contractor.

7 On Your Side helped get this case before Ocean County Consumer Affairs. A representative said it will go before a municipal judge, Thomas Carlevale Construction could get hit with up to $10,000 in fines.

Now, the big takeaway, before you hire a contractor check whether he's registered with the state. You can do it online. Next, don't give the bulk of the money up front. It's best to pay in quarters. 1st quarter would be a down payment. Then establish milestones where you give another quarter payment, and hold back the last payment until you're 100% satisfied.