Does the Plumbing Company advertise itself as "bonded and insured"? If so, the chances are good that the bonding is good ONLY if the plumber is found guilty in court. Sorry to say that, but that's how most bonding agencies (at least in this state) work. If it wasn't advertised as such, then file criminal charges against the company, too.

The BBB is as good as nothing. Consider how many times you've called the BBB prior to buying something - usually very seldom. Call them if you'd like, but there's a ton of forms that you'll have to fill out.

Hopefully, the Plumbing Company has filed a police report on their employee for the truck & tools, because police are more likely to look for vehicles than jewelry. Bottom line is, try the pawn shops as has been said - the cash you gave him and the cash he got from the jewelry has long been smoked or shot up. (((((((((((((((((KR)))))))))))))))))))

Sorry about the loss of your rings:(. My mother had her purse stolen last year and it had my grandmother's engagement ring in it-worth much more than the lousy 1000$ the insurance co. gave us (we did look at pawn shops initially but in San Antonio there are 100's of them). I am having all of my jewelry appraised and getting separate insurance for it so if anything were to happen I will at least recover what the jewelry is worth. Of course no one can pay for the sentimental value. Good luck-personally I would show up at the plumbing company and insist on talking with the owner (would also have a witness with me). If he/she isn't present then I would camp out.

This depends on the state; so it's not "clear sailing".

Yikes. I have the refrigerator magnet that I got from the plumber before he stole my rings in front of me and it doesn't mention that it's bonded and insured, but there is a state licensing number written on there.

I wonder if I could contact the Maryland Board of Plumbers (lol, or whatever the hell it is) and give them the licensing number. Maybe they'd have the insurance info?

In most states, in order to be licensed, you have to have insurence. Not all, so I would call.

It's so important to keep a watchful eye on anyone coming in to do service. A guy from a vent cleaning company had done a few houses in my brother's neighborhood. Apparently he was checking out possible ways to break in while he was working, because he attempted to break into my brother's house and a few others.

KR... good luck with all that. Hopefully you can find your jewelry or at least get the money for it.

This is why I wrestle my very big dog out the back door in front of them while they usually ask "Does he/she bite?" and I reply "You never know with a big dog like this" PM me with that vent cleaning company, ok? (Don't want to use that one!)

KR: I hope you get some compensation in all this.

KR, I'm so sorry this happened to you. I don't have any advice to add, just a {{{ hug }}}. I hope you recover your rings.

Sorry to disagree with You.

You had better check the laws.

No, you better check the laws.

Only 38 states allow one-party consent. Maryland, where I believe KR lives, is not one of them and requires the consent of all parties to the phone call.

Md. Code Ann., Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 10-402: It is a felony to intercept a wire, oral or electronic communication unless all parties to the communication have consented.

Hm, that is interesting. Try looking up a supreme court ruling.


No, I will not post a link. Look it up law student if you do not mind.

Then post what you find!

I would be gratified to hear what your find?:)

What year was it decided and if it was over turned via a Federal Mandate.


Here is Md ruilng:


Maryland
[Back to state index]

Md. Code Ann., Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 10-402: It is a felony to intercept a wire, oral or electronic communication unless all parties to the communication have consented. But all-party consent will not make the recording legal if there is a criminal or tortious purpose behind it.

Disclosing the contents of intercepted communications with reason to know they were obtained unlawfully is a crime as well.

Violations of the law are felonies punishable by imprisonment for not more than five years and a fine of not more than $10,000. Civil liability for violations can include the greater of actual damages, $100 a day for each day of violation or $1,000, along with punitive damages, attorney fees and litigation costs. To recover civil damages, however, a plaintiff must prove that the defendant knew it was illegal to tape the communication without consent from all participants. Md. Code Ann., Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 10-410.

State courts have interpreted the laws to protect communications only when the parties have a reasonable expectation of privacy, and thus, where a person in a private apartment was speaking so loudly that residents of an adjoining apartment could hear without any sound enhancing device, recording without the speaker's consent did not violate the wiretapping law. Malpas v. Maryland, 695 A.2d 588 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 1997); see also Benford v. American Broadcasting Co., 649 F. Supp. 9 (D. Md. 1986) (salesman's presentation in stranger's home not assumed to carry expectation of privacy).

It is a misdemeanor to use a hidden camera in a bathroom or dressing room. It is also a misdemeanor to use a hidden camera on private property "for purposes of conducting deliberate, surreptitious observation of a person inside the private residence," or in a private place with "prurient intent." Md. Crim. Law §§ 3-901, -902, -903. A person who is viewed in violation of these statutes has a civil cause of action.

If there is a crimainal intent!

In this case. I do not think there is applied here.

KR, Tom Earp is not an expert on Maryland law (and neither am I.) If you're going to record it, ask for consent to cover your ass.

Tom, you quoted the same statute that I quoted, so I'm not really sure what you think you are proving. It says it's a felony unless all parties have consented. It then says that EVEN IF all parties consented, it's still a felony if it's being used with a criminal intent.

Tom, I may only be a 1L, but I believe that the bolded line is the key one here. Regardless of any disagreements about interpretation of the statute, I'd be extremely careful about taping any phone conversations.

KR, that's awful that it happened. Stuff like this makes me angry - my dad is a contractor, and it's hacks like these that give the profession a bad name.

I am so sorry that this horrible thing happened to you. I hope that you get your rings back.

I'll ask my brother tomorrow. BTW... when is your daughter selling girl scout cookies? We never saw anyone to buy from. Topic that came up with my mom today. PM me back. Lol I'm too lazy to PM right now.

Sorry for hijacking!