Paperwork!

Just when I think my work is "done" for the most part, I get another set of paperwork to fill out, with accompanying documents...

Jeff and I had figured out that the certified letter from the Contractors Board must be a request for a liability insurance certificate, since we paid so late on this installment that they had sent us a notice of cancellation. (We paid in time and it's all good. But that's another story.) When I picked up the letter at the post office this morning the envelope was WAY too fat to be a request for insurance. I ripped it open in the parking lot and read it in the car.

It was a six-page application to activate our inactive electrical contractor's license and a request for a financial statement, bank verification of funds, AND a certificate of insurance. I HATE paperwork, but that is the story of (one part of) my life!

About eight years ago Jeff decided he'd like to have an electrical license in addition to our general engineering license so we could actually pull the wire through the electrical conduit we (occasionally) install should we ever want to do so. We filled out the application, gathered the required paperwork, and he took the test. It was HARD and took him two or three times to pass the sample tests before he took the real one.

We had the license for three years and never used it, so we put it on inactive status, which requires a substantially less fee each year. Apparently that was five years ago. If you haven't used a license in five years, you must reapply and resupply documentation of financial stability and insurance. Bummer. I'm trying to convince Jeff that if we haven't pulled wire in eight years we probably never will...But...I agree he wouldn't want to have to take that test again. Oh, the joys of contracting and self-employment.

At least no one's trying to sue us or complaining about us to the Board...

I'm taking the rest of the day off.