AG: Settlement prohibits Cd'A contractor from working in state

Attorney General Lawrence Wasden on Thursday announced a settlement with Coeur d’Alene contractor Alexander Welstad and his company NAA Partners. The settlement revokes Welstad’s Idaho contractor registration and permanently prohibits him from advertising or providing construction services in the state.

“Within a four month period, my office received 17 complaints regarding Mr. Welstad’s business practices,” Wasden said in a press release.

The complaints allege over $790,000 in consumer losses.

Welstad is the sole owner and operator of NAA Partners, which advertised as Mammoth Pole Builders in Idaho, Washington and Montana, the release said.

"According to Welstad’s advertising, he built quality pole barns and other buildings," the release said. "Customers reported to the attorney general that Welstad accepted customers’ payments for construction services he never provided or provided only in part. Customers who received partially constructed buildings complained the buildings had material defects."

The settlement requires Welstad to pay restitution to affected consumers. Welstad, however, has informed the office that he plans to file bankruptcy. If he does, Welstad’s financial obligations under the settlement are subject to the bankruptcy court’s jurisdiction, the release said.

The settlement imposes $55,000 in civil penalties and $2,000 in attorney’s fees if Welstad violates the settlement’s terms. Consumers who incurred losses because of Welstad’s construction practices may file consumer complaints with the Consumer Protection Division. A complaint form is available by calling 208-334-2424.

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division has received an increasing number of complaints about contractors accepting large deposits for projects they never complete.

Wasden recommends that consumers do ample research before signing construction contracts or paying contractors money.