CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION ORDERS UNLICENSED HOME BUILDER TO PAY MORE THAN $123,000

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has issued a final order requiring an unlicensed builder to refund payments of $23,500 he collected from a consumer in Prince George’s County and pay penalties of $100,000. The Division found that Kevin Robinson, dba Robinson & Associates of Temple Hills, violated Maryland’s Custom Home Protection Act by failing to place monies paid by consumers into an escrow account or having a surety bond to cover the deposits; violated the Home Builder Registration Act by acting as a home builder without being registered with the Division’s Home Builder Registration Unit; and violated the Consumer Protection Act by failing to build the home as promised.

The order bars Robinson from acting as a home builder in the State of Maryland until he is registered as a home builder under Maryland’s Home Builder Registration Act, requires payment of restitution for all monies that he has received as a home builder since January 1, 2001, and requires payment of a civil penalty in the amount of $100,000.

“ Consumers need to protect the biggest investment of their lifetime by ensuring that their home is being built by a registered home builder and that any deposits they make are protected by an escrow account, bond or letter of credit,” said Attorney General Curran.

Consumers can check whether their builder is registered and how the builder protects deposit money by contacting the Home Builder Registration Unit at (410) 576-6573 in Baltimore or toll free at (877) 259-4525, or by checking on the Attorney General’s website: www.oag.state.md.us/homebuilder. Consumers who have paid money to Kevin Robinson dba Robinson & Associates in connection with a new home should also contact the Home Builder Registration Unit.

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