Money was paid to home remodeling and repair contractors for work that was never done.

Jobs were started but not finished.

Work was substandard.

All of that and more prompted the state attorney general's office to go after four contractors in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties for violating state consumer laws.

In a series of legal agreements announced yesterday, Attorney General Tom Corbett said the contractors have agreed to pay more than $80,000 in restitution to their victims. He also said three contractors have been permanently barred from owning or operating a home remodeling or repair business in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Corbett identified them as:

• Darrell Defalco of Premier Contracting, Premier Inc., Premier Walls & Patios and Tri-State Patios & Walls, 322 Mall Blvd., Monroeville.

• Marcus R. Geiser of Four Star General Remodeling and Roba Decorative Concrete at 77 Universal Road, Suite 2, Penn Hills.

• Ronald J. Day of Ameritech Home Services, 533 Green Haven Court, Pittsburgh.

• Mark Bechler of Marcus Remodeling, 402 Stanton Court, Export.

"Every year, thousands of Pennsylvania residents hire contractors for home repair and home improvement projects, and every year the attorney general's office handles hundreds of complaints about incomplete or shoddy work," Mr. Corbett said in a statement.

He said his office received more than 2,000 complaints during the past year about home improvement projects, ranging from general repairs and remodeling to roofing, paving, plumbing and other specialized tasks.

According to an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance the contractors signed, they admitted they failed to perform work despite accepting payment from consumers, failed to complete home improvement services, performed services in an unworkmanlike manner and failed to provide the required notice of cancellation to consumers.

Each contractor also acknowledged other violations of the state consumer law.

Mr. Defalco, who will pay $30,450 in restitution, also implied or misrepresented that his businesses were incorporated in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Corbett said that Mr. Defalco is permanently prohibited from owning, operating or managing any home improvement business in Pennsylvania and also will pay a total of $2,500 in costs and penalties to the state.

Mr. Geiser, who will pay $29,850 in restitution, also implied or misrepresented that his businesses were incorporated in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Corbett said Mr. Geiser is permanently prohibited from owning, operating or managing any home improvement business in Pennsylvania and also will pay a total of $2,500 in costs and penalties.

Mr. Day, who will pay $6,700 in restitution, falsely represented that Ameritech was affiliated with a company that had previously completed work at consumers' residences.

Mr. Corbett said the settlement agreement permanently prohibits Mr. Day from owning, operating or managing any home improvement business in Pennsylvania and requires payment of $2,500 in costs and penalties to the state.

Mr. Bechler, who will pay $16,627.50 in restitution, stated in his contracts that he was insured, but later included a statement that "the contractor shall not be liable for any damage to the interior or exterior of the building" and failed to provide promised discounts for consumers who paid in full before work began.

He also admitted that he failed to provide contracts for work that was substantially different from initial contracts or estimates; provided confusing estimates for work; failed to provide the required notice of cancellation to consumers; and failed to register a fictitious business name with the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Mr. Corbett said the settlement agreement requires Mr. Bechler to make changes to his contracts and bidding forms to prevent consumer confusion, prevents him from doing business in Pennsylvania with anyone over the age of 65, and includes $5,250 in costs and penalties for the state.

Mr. Corbett urged consumers with questions or problems to contact the consumer protection hot line at 1-800-441-2555 or file an online consumer complaint at www.attorneygeneral.gov.

For more information on how consumers can protect themselves from unscrupulous contractors and what to insist upon in a written contract, go to www.attorneygeneral.gov.