{"ok":true,"generated_at":"2026-05-24T21:47:25.955Z","license":"CC-BY-4.0","count":19,"entries":[{"id":"plumber-lucas-repeat-unbonded-llc","trade":"plumber","status_change":"suspended","pattern":"Repeat unbonded plumber filed for a new LLC under a different trade name after unresolved permit-closeout complaints.","reason_category":"complaints","date_of_change":"2026-05-14","county":"lucas","homeowner_action":"Confirm the plumbing license is active in eLicense, ask for bond/insurance from the broker, and call the permit office before paying a deposit."},{"id":"hvac-franklin-load-calculation-misrepresentation","trade":"hvac","status_change":"revoked","pattern":"HVAC installer repeatedly represented Manual J sizing and equipment registration as complete when homeowners later found no matching documentation.","reason_category":"fraud","date_of_change":"2026-05-09","county":"franklin","homeowner_action":"Ask for the license number, AHRI certificate, permit number, and commissioning checklist before final payment."},{"id":"electrician-cuyahoga-unsafe-panel-work","trade":"electrician","status_change":"suspended","pattern":"Electrical contractor was flagged after repeat panel replacements failed inspection for grounding and service-clearance defects.","reason_category":"safety","date_of_change":"2026-04-29","county":"cuyahoga","homeowner_action":"Verify the electrical license, require permit inspection signoff, and do not energize altered panels until the authority having jurisdiction approves."},{"id":"appliance-repair-hamilton-expired-registration","trade":"appliance-repair","status_change":"expired-no-renewal","pattern":"Appliance-repair operator let a local registration lapse while continuing to advertise warranty-authorized service.","reason_category":"non-renewal","date_of_change":"2026-04-21","county":"hamilton","homeowner_action":"Confirm manufacturer authorization directly with the manufacturer and avoid paying diagnostic fees that are presented as warranty-covered without proof."},{"id":"gas-tech-stark-combustion-safety","trade":"gas-tech","status_change":"suspended","pattern":"Gas-appliance work was paused after repeated combustion-safety paperwork gaps and missing pressure-test documentation.","reason_category":"safety","date_of_change":"2026-04-16","county":"stark","homeowner_action":"Ask for combustion-analyzer readings, pressure-test documentation, and the OCILB-connected credential before any gas appliance is restarted."},{"id":"concrete-montgomery-bond-expired-renewed","trade":"concrete","status_change":"expired-then-renewed","pattern":"Concrete contractor's local registration expired after bond-payment delay, then renewed after the municipality requested updated insurance.","reason_category":"non-payment","date_of_change":"2026-04-04","county":"montgomery","homeowner_action":"Check local registration and bond dates, then hold final payment until driveway, sidewalk, or apron inspections are closed."},{"id":"roofing-summit-storm-claim-deposit","trade":"roofing","status_change":"revoked","pattern":"Storm-claim roofer was flagged for collecting large deposits, delaying tear-off work, and switching entity names between insurance seasons.","reason_category":"fraud","date_of_change":"2026-03-28","county":"summit","homeowner_action":"Verify the entity filing date, require proof of insurance from the carrier, compare permit history, and never sign over the whole insurance check."},{"id":"tree-service-lake-workers-comp-lapse","trade":"tree-service","status_change":"expired-no-renewal","pattern":"Tree-service registration lapsed after insurance and workers' compensation documents were not updated during storm-cleanup season.","reason_category":"non-renewal","date_of_change":"2026-03-19","county":"lake","homeowner_action":"Require a current certificate of insurance sent by the broker and confirm public-right-of-way permits before removal near streets or utilities."},{"id":"restoration-hancock-drying-log-complaints","trade":"restoration","status_change":"suspended","pattern":"Water-damage restoration operator drew repeat complaints for equipment rental charges without drying logs or written moisture targets.","reason_category":"complaints","date_of_change":"2026-03-11","county":"hancock","homeowner_action":"Ask for IICRC-aligned drying logs, daily moisture readings, and a written scope that separates emergency mitigation from rebuild work."},{"id":"lead-abatement-cuyahoga-containment-failure","trade":"lead-abatement","status_change":"revoked","pattern":"Lead-abatement credential was revoked after repeated containment, clearance-testing, and waste-handling failures on pre-1978 homes.","reason_category":"safety","date_of_change":"2026-03-05","county":"cuyahoga","homeowner_action":"Verify the ODH lead credential, require clearance results, and keep children out of the work area until clearance documentation is complete."},{"id":"fire-protection-franklin-inspection-tags","trade":"fire-protection","status_change":"suspended","pattern":"Fire-protection contractor was flagged for inspection tags and deficiency reports that did not match actual sprinkler or extinguisher service dates.","reason_category":"fraud","date_of_change":"2026-02-24","county":"franklin","homeowner_action":"Confirm State Fire Marshal credentials, retain deficiency reports, and ask the local fire official which inspections are required for the property type."},{"id":"water-well-holmes-renewal-gap","trade":"water-well","status_change":"expired-no-renewal","pattern":"Private-water-system contractor missed renewal and continued quoting pump and pressure-tank work under an expired credential.","reason_category":"non-renewal","date_of_change":"2026-02-18","county":"holmes","homeowner_action":"Verify the ODH private-water-system credential and request a water test plan before authorizing well or pump work."},{"id":"septic-system-delaware-soil-report-gap","trade":"septic-system","status_change":"suspended","pattern":"Septic installer was suspended after repeated installs relied on incomplete soil documentation and missing county health-department approvals.","reason_category":"safety","date_of_change":"2026-02-07","county":"delaware","homeowner_action":"Call the county Board of Health, ask for soil evaluation records, and require installation approval before excavation starts."},{"id":"tech-repair-wood-low-voltage-registration","trade":"tech-repair","status_change":"expired-then-renewed","pattern":"Smart-home and low-voltage installer renewed a local registration only after an expired-registration notice appeared during a permit review.","reason_category":"non-renewal","date_of_change":"2026-01-31","county":"wood","homeowner_action":"Clarify whether the project crosses into electrical scope, then verify the proper low-voltage or electrical credential before wiring work begins."},{"id":"pest-control-butler-application-records","trade":"pest-control","status_change":"suspended","pattern":"Pest-control applicator was suspended after pesticide application records, category coverage, and customer safety notices did not match the work sold.","reason_category":"safety","date_of_change":"2026-01-23","county":"butler","homeowner_action":"Verify the ODA pesticide category, ask for the EPA registration number on each chemical, and keep treatment records with the contract."},{"id":"landscaping-medina-fertilizer-renewal","trade":"landscaping","status_change":"expired-no-renewal","pattern":"Landscape operator's fertilizer or pesticide-related credential lapsed while the company kept selling chemical lawn-treatment packages.","reason_category":"non-renewal","date_of_change":"2026-01-16","county":"medina","homeowner_action":"Separate ordinary mowing from chemical treatment and verify the applicator credential for any fertilizer, weed, or insect-control service."},{"id":"painting-mahoning-rrp-renewal-gap","trade":"painting","status_change":"expired-then-renewed","pattern":"Painter working on older housing renewed lead-safe paperwork after a pre-1978 project raised questions about containment and cleanup.","reason_category":"non-renewal","date_of_change":"2026-01-08","county":"mahoning","homeowner_action":"For pre-1978 homes, ask for lead-safe certification, containment details, and dust-cleanup procedures before sanding or demolition starts."},{"id":"foundation-repair-licking-engineering-claims","trade":"foundation-repair","status_change":"revoked","pattern":"Foundation-repair seller was flagged for representing engineer-reviewed pier designs when no independent engineering letter was produced.","reason_category":"fraud","date_of_change":"2025-12-18","county":"licking","homeowner_action":"Ask for an independent engineer's letter, permit status, transferable warranty terms, and a second bid before signing structural work."},{"id":"garage-door-lorain-spring-safety-complaints","trade":"garage-door","status_change":"suspended","pattern":"Garage-door company was suspended from a local vendor list after complaints about spring upsells, incomplete safety-reverse testing, and missing invoices.","reason_category":"complaints","date_of_change":"2025-12-05","county":"lorain","homeowner_action":"Require a written diagnosis, confirm spring-cycle rating, test photo-eye and pressure reverse before payment, and keep the itemized invoice."}]}