Unlicensed contractor ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution and penalties

An unlicensed contract authorities say collected payment and failed to finish the work he was hired to do was ordered to $111,000 in restitution, the state Attorney General's office said.

Kyle Buckminster of South Grafton was also ordered to pay $35,000 in civil penalties, and $12,600 in fees.

“Unlicensed home contracting work takes away business from honest contractors and puts homeowners at risk,” Attorney General Martha Coakley said.

Her office filed a complaint against Buckminster in November. He has done business under the following names, Coakley's office said: Buckminster Construction, Kyle Buckminster Fine Custom Carpentry and Finishing, Mid-Cape Construction and Fine Custom Carpentry, Blue Ocean Builders, and First Commonwealth Builders.

His home improvement contractor's license was revoked 13 years ago, Coakley's office said. The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation investigated four complaints against Buckminster from South Grafton residents about failing to honor his contracts to do work, which led to the litigation.

Even after being penalized by Consumer Affairs, Coakley's office said Buckminster continued to seek more jobs and claimed he was licensed. They said he collected more than $40,000 for a West Yarmouth construction project and never paid any of the nearly $10,000 in penalties assessed by Consumer Affairs.

The state has a database of registered contractors, who must abide by a set of rules intended to protect consumers. In order to qualify for certain consumer projections in Massachusetts, homeowners must use a contractor that is registered.