Thread: The Subcontract game

The government needs to implement a way to track subcontractors. Like the only way to claim the guy working for you, is really another business subcontracting from you, is to have a DBA and a Tax Payer ID instead of just a SS #

Far too many play the subcontract game, and the illegals get lost in that messed up misclassification to cheat the government and insurance requirements. Allowing them to come in with bids and quotes way under a legally run business.

Wal-Mart got caught a few years ago with some janitorial sub with only illegals to clean and restock their stores. They didn't know who the sub was hiring.
And so many businesses (construction, that I know of) immediately make all employees on their payroll independent subcontractors, which saves on the cost to the employer of those employees.
And even if the contractor has people on their payroll, they will usually be listed as laborers, even though they may be masters at their trade. Saves a lot on workmen's comp. Better yet, pay illegals under the table, label legit workers as low skilled, and under-bid everyone.
This was very popular in FL during the real estate boom.

In the residential construction industry it is most always the subcontractors who run the illegal alien crews; the actual builder then claims no responsibility for illegals on his job site.

Thats ok because most of them are out of work now .

Now we just have to put the other illegal promoting ones out of work, like all the leaders .

Originally Posted by Floorguy

The government needs to implement a way to track subcontractors. Like the only way to claim the guy working for you, is really another business subcontracting from you, is to have a DBA and a Tax Payer ID instead of just a SS #

Far too many play the subcontract game, and the illegals get lost in that messed up misclassification to cheat the government and insurance requirements. Allowing them to come in with bids and quotes way under a legally run business.

That's basically the way they put you out of business. The illegals will even start a business (without filing proper papers with the state and county) by printing up a few business cards, then undercut you by giving bids that the customer pays in cash only, but there's no receipt. That's how they got me.

Originally Posted by NOamNASTY

Thats ok because most of them are out of work now .

Now we just have to put the other illegal promoting ones out of work, like all the leaders .

No, I'm out of work, and they are still going strong.
They are still building homes left & right, here in Austin.

Illegals have take over flooring installation. The going rate" has been stagnant for 20 years now, because of illegals in the flooring installation fields, starting in carpet.
When that happened I started focusing on wood flooring because of the illegals not dabbling in those, you could actually get enough to keep the business running and banking a little for retirement. Not anymore! Wood installation prices have fallen to what they were in the 1960's.
I cannot afford to start my truck for those prices. I'd lose money at the turn of the key.
But the illegals are slamming that stuff in as fast as possible.
They have a job, I don't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The only way to compete with them, is to do jobs for cash only. No receipt, no nothin'. Drop your insurance, and if anything goes awry, use the illegal form of insurance. "RUN"!

Only trouble is, is how long before the government catches on to you.

Originally Posted by Hylander_1314

The only way to compete with them, is to do jobs for cash only. No receipt, no nothin'. Drop your insurance, and if anything goes awry, use the illegal form of insurance. "RUN"!

Only trouble is, is how long before the government catches on to you.

NO, I have a name and reputation, that is very valuable to me.

I cannot compete, because I refuse to be the guy running several illegal crews, running around behind them doing repairs and putting out fires, for upset customers.

I can no longer be just me, selling my services. I come in 4 times higher in price.

My angle is going to be the flooring failure inspector! I already have my certifications, for carpet, tile, wood, cork, rubber, and all resilient.
They can't possibly be training and educating the illegals to be the inspectors for the manufacture, installation, and site related failures.
Or could they?

Not if the jobs are "off the books".

I ran into the same problem. My prices were 60 to 70% more than the illegals, and the shops worked in. I tried to involve the EPA Rep, by getting shop names and asking him to see if they had registered with the State because the law required it when doing Auotmotive HVAC. Eventually he told me not to waste my time as he was the only guy in the office dealing with the Clean Air Division, and with a state population of 4 million, and the size of the state, there was no way he could cover it all, and keep the office side covered too. So it was the old spittin' in the wind for me.

But I do understand your point about a name. I preferred closing up shop than to stoop that low.

They're still building, doing home additions, apartment remodels, etc. all over NC, too. American subcontractors with illegal alien crews are now being outbid for jobs by illegal aliens running their own businesses with other illegal alien employees.