March 23, 2006

Operation Chimney “S-W-E-E-P”

Mineola, NY
The chimney service industry, at times, is wrought with fraud.  Dishonest vendors take advantage of unsuspecting consumers.  “Today, the Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) in a joint operation with the Nassau County Police Department, seized five vehicles from Complete Chimney, Inc., one of the worst transgressors we have seen in the chimney service business,” declared Roger C. Bogsted, Commissioner of OCA. 

Complete Chimney’s renewal application to continue doing business in Nassau County was denied in November, 2005, due to numerous violations, and yet, they continued to operate illegally following that denial.  They used circuitous and creative routes to get to their destinations in what we believe was an effort to disguise their operations and to confuse our investigators.  Obviously, this did not work.

Homeowners seeking information about whether a contractor is licensed or not, may call the Consumer Affairs Hotline, 516-571-2600.  Not only can you find out whether the contractor is licensed, but staff members can give you a six-year history of complaints and resolutions as well.

“We are here to help and protect our homeowners in Nassau County and those contractors that skirt the law will receive the appropriate penalties available to us under the law,” Bogsted related.

 

Contact: James Reed
County of Nassau, Office of Consumer Affairs
Voice 516-571-3284
Fax 516-571-5446
Email jreed@nassaucountyny.gov