Contractors and Repair Shops in Vermont

Residential contractors must register with the Secretary of State's Office of Professional Regulation when performing residential construction with an estimated value of $10,000 or more (labor and materials), and must carry insurance and use a written contract. Complaints against registered residential contractors go to the Office of Professional Regulation; other home improvement complaints can go to the Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Program. The Attorney General also keeps a Home and Land Improvement Fraud Registry of contractors convicted of home improvement fraud, and recommends a deposit of no more than 10-30% and a written contract or estimate.

The Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Program states that a repair quote is not a guarantee and that no Vermont law requires a servicer to stick to a quote that is not a signed contract. It advises stating in writing which services you authorize and asking about parts, labor rates and timing, and notes that a mechanic may be able to keep the vehicle until the bill is paid. Disputes over unsatisfactory work or charges beyond what was requested can be brought to the Consumer Assistance Program, a credit card dispute, or small claims court.