How to Deal With Bad Contractors in Alaska
There are many ways to deal with a bad contractor in Alaska -- including filing a complaint with the various government departments including the Alaskan attorney general's office and the Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing department --CBPL -- or by filing a suit in small claims court if seeking judgment of $10,000 or less. Before taking action, write down contractor's full name, business name and license number. To look up a contractor's license numbers, use the Alaskan Department of Commerce online license search tool at commerce.state.ak.us.
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Instructions
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Attorney General's Office
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Request a "Consumer Complaint" form from the Consumer Protection Unit of the Alaskan Attorney General's Office. The form is available at law.alaska.gov.
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Complete the complaint packet. The forms included in the packet require your full name, the full name of the contractor, his business name, business address and nature of the complaint.
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Send the complaint packet back to the Consumer Protection Unit. It will investigate the complaint and may attempt to mediate and settle the issue between the contractor and you. The unit could also file legal actions on behalf of the State of Alaska to stop fraudulent business practices.
Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
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Call the CBPL's complaint team at 907-269-8437.
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Request a complaint packet be sent to you in the mail.
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Complete the complaint packet. The packet will require the full name of the contractor, his business name, the business address, the nature of the complaint and your name and contact information.
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Send the complaint packet back to the CBPL. It will investigate the complaint and keep the complaint on record.
Small Claims Court
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Go to the Small Claims Court Clerk's office located in the county where the contractor's business is located.
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File a complaint form with the court. When filing the form, you are notifying the court of your intent and desire to sue the contractor. Enter your and the contractor's full name and contact information. Enter in all detail surrounding your complaint, and the amount of the monetary judgment you are seeking.
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Complete a summons form. This document is required to force the contractor to show up in court. The summons will either be served to the contractor in person by a process server, a local sheriff or police officer or by certified mail. Fees vary per service. You can't serve the contractor with the summons yourself.
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Pay all applicable fees. Fees vary per type of case and county. Once served, the contractor will have a chance to answer the summons; the answer must be received by the court within 20 days of being served. Based on his answer, the court may elect to mediate the issue between the two of you or send the case to trial. A trial date will be set up once the answer is received from the contractor.
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Show up in court on the specified trial date. Bring all proof -- photos, receipts and contracts -- to court and explain the details of the suit and why the contractor is negligent and liable. The judge will rule based on the evidence provided, and enter a judgment for you or the contractor, if applicable.
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