https://wgme.com/news/i-team/maine-veteran-says-contractor-took-his-money-never-finished-work
by Dan Lampariello,CBS13I-TeamThu, January 30, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Updated Fri, January 31, 2025 at 10:20 AM
MECHANIC FALLS (WGME) — A 76-year-old Maine veteran says he is out thousands of dollars after hiring a contractor who he says never completed the work.
His story is part of a growing trend of alleged contractor fraud in the state, where consumer protections remain limited due to a lack of industry regulations.
Trust Broken
Thomas Nile of Mechanic Falls tells the CBS13 I-Team he hired a contractor six months ago to put a new metal roof on his barn. He said the contractor, who we’re not identifying because they haven’t been charged with a crime, cashed a $2,200 check for materials two days after he wrote it. While the contractor initially showed up to prepare the barn roof and replace a window, Nile claims that was the last time he saw them.
“I’ve shown you the texts where he says, ‘I’ll be over tomorrow,’” Nile said. “I always hear him say tomorrow, or something came up and he’ll be here next week and he never shows.”
Nile says he trusted the contractor, having hired him in the past.
“I’ve known him now for about six years, he’s worked on three different houses for me and he’s always done an excellent job,” Nile said. “A lot of people in my age range are getting taken advantage of and I feel, now, I’ve been taken advantage of, especially after I’ve used him so much and paid him so much money.”
Tom Nile claims a contractor he hired to put a metal roof on his barn took his money and hasn’t been seen since (WGME){ }
Limited Recourse for Victims
Maine is one of the few states that does not regulate general contractors, leaving consumers with little recourse when they fall victim to fraud.
“Every time I scroll the news or turn on the local news, it’s ‘here we go again,’ there’s another one,” Rep. Tiffany Roberts (D-South Berwick) said.
According to new data from the Maine Attorney General’s Office, contractor fraud complaints rose nearly 16 percent last year, increasing from 558 in 2023 to 646 in 2024. The most common complaints involve contractors failing to complete work or providing subpar workmanship.
“What are the tools for being made whole?” Roberts said. “There aren’t any because there’s no enforcement.”
Rep. Tiffany Roberts (D-South Berwick) is once again sponsoring legislation in Augusta that would license general contractors (WGME){ }
Legislative Push to Regulate Contractors
Roberts sponsored legislation last year that would have required home contractors to be licensed, similar to electricians, plumbers, certain technicians that work on HVAC and a long list of other professions.
It would have required home general contractors to be licensed to do work valued at more than $15,000.
While the bill passed both chambers, it ultimately died on the appropriations tables after not being funding. She has since reintroduced the legislation, with some changes, for debate in the current session.
“We’ve got a housing crisis,” Roberts said. “We need people to have trust in who’s going to build their house.”auto640x360, 1164kbps854x480, 1714kbps1280x720, 3364kbps0.25×0.5xnormal1.5x2x
A Maine veteran is out thousands of dollars after he claims a local contractor took his money and ran. There are dozens of cases of suspected contractor fraud as Maine remains one of the only states to not regulate the industry. (WGME)
For Nile, any potential policy changes will come too late. But he hopes sharing his story will help others avoid similar situations.
“There should be laws to stop this,” Nile said. “You should license them, definitely. There are too many cases of this going around.”
Nile says he still has not heard from the contractor he paid. Multiple attempts by the I-Team to contact the contractor have also been unsuccessful.
Holes can be seen in the roof of Tom Nile’s barn. (WGME){ }
What to Do If You’re a Victim
If you believe you are a victim of contractor fraud, be sure to report.
You can do that by lodging a complaint with the Maine Office of the Attorney General or by filing a report with your local police or sheriff’s office.
You can also contact your local lawmakers to make them aware of the issue. Search for your State Representative HERE or State Senator HERE.
What to Know Before Hiring a Contractor
Maine does have the Home Construction Contract Act, which does offer some protections for consumers.
It requires:
- Written contracts are required for any projects over $3,000
- Contractors can’t ask for more than 1/3 of the full project price upfront as a deposit or down payment
- Any changes to the original contract must also be in writing
- You can find a sample contract and more about the law HERE
Also, keep these tips in mind to avoid a home improvement scam:
- Do your research. A quick online search of a business or contractor can usually bring up potential red flags.
- Read reviews with a critical eye. Read customer reviews to find out more about the contractor and use online rating websites you trust to see what others are saying about the contractor.
- Get contractor recommendations from people you know and trust.
- Get multiple estimates. A written estimate should include a description of the work to be done, materials, completion date, and the price. Don’t automatically choose the lowest bidder and ask for an explanation if there’s a big difference among the estimates.
- Read the contract carefully.
- Don’t pay the full amount for the project up front. Maine law limits deposits & down payments to no more than 1/3 of the total price.
