Plumbers broke through this foundation to add pipes, compromising the structural support of the home.

[u/DMAS1638]

[u/LadyIsabelle_]

Is it possible to track down the plumbers and hold them accountable?

[u/No_Translator2218 → u/LadyIsabelle_]

This is why "licensed and bonded" is important. Not only for them to claim that, but for you to go online and google theirs.

Otherwise, you're basically just capable of suing them, unless they are actively breaking the law, you could be shit out of luck for hiring them. But hopefully your insurance would cover it...

Bonded means they have put up money to cover this sort of event. (usually its insurance they've pre-paid afaik)

[u/somepeoplehateme → u/No_Translator2218]

This is only helpful with legit businesses that are trying to stay in business.

We had "bad" plumbing done from a licensed/bonded company and it didnt help us at all.

[u/SoulWager → u/somepeoplehateme]

Bonded means there's money to go after if you sue them, even if they go out of business.

[u/nmpls → u/SoulWager]

The bond is almost always a pretty comically low amount of money. The bond in CA is $25k. And that just got raised in 2023. And if you know anything about the cost of construction here 25k isn't fixing much.

[u/SoulWager → u/nmpls]

That's the minimum required by law. If they're asking for more than that much money to do the work, you can reasonably ask them to increase the bond to cover it. You can also require them to have liability insurance.

[u/No_Translator2218 → u/nmpls]

I wouldn't hire a contractor on a 120k job if his bond is 25k unless he has some serious stake in the area with their reputation. Sometimes they can post a higher bond to win a contract that demands a higher bond.

In california, you can see that info on cslb

[u/Interesting_Tea5715 → u/nmpls]

I mean, I'll take $25k over no money.

[u/renok_archnmy → u/SoulWager]

Who you gonna sue? Doubt this crew even has an llc let alone a phone number listed anywhere. Suing only works if you can actually find the other party and show they actually caused the damages.

[u/Clueless_Otter → u/renok_archnmy]

Then they probably weren't licensed and bonded if you can't track down a single person connected to them.

[u/SoulWager → u/renok_archnmy]

The third party that issued the bond. That's the whole point, it's a lot like insurance. You can verify it before you give the contractor money.