PHOENIX -- Arizona Registrar of Contractors Director William Mundell says there has been a 47 percent increase in complaints against unlicensed contractors in 2009.

Mundell said he blames the economy.

"You're seeing people laid off by major employers; homebuilders and just going out and contracting without a license,” he said.

Between January and August of 2009, the ROC received 1,892 complaints against unlicensed contractors.

During the same time period in 2009, the ROC received 1,290 complaints.

Mundell said he has made it priority to catch unlicensed contractors.

Once convicted, they can face jail time and be forced to pay restitution to their clients.

However, due to state budget cuts, Mundell said his department has lost three investigators and is now under a hiring freeze.

“We're doing the best we can with what we have,” he said. “I would certainly want to have more investigators to enforce the law.”

Mundell said most of the complaints against unlicensed contractors involve contractors who fail perform poor roofing work or who fail to complete work at all.

The latter happened to Phoenix couple Manuel and Felicidad Abrenica.

“I wish I could tell to people, 'You have to do your homework,'” Manuel said.

The couple said they hired John Monticalvo to help them construct a Christian mission in the mountains of Maricopa County.

He took their $60,000 and fled, the couple said.

“That people would do that to you. I can't understand. I really can't understand,” Felicidad said. “We had a noble purpose of doing this.”

Investigators caught Monticalvo earlier this year. He has been ordered to pay back the Abrenicas. However, Monticalvo is out on bond.

The couple has little hope of seeing him or the money again.

“I guess I just have to accept that I lost the money,” Felicidad said.

Mundell said it is important to make sure a contractor has a license before you let them work on your home.

A licensed contractor has passed a state test.

If a licensed contractor botches the job, homeowners are eligible for state funds to help them fix the contractor’s mistake.

If an unlicensed contractor fails to complete the job or does poor work, victims are not able to apply for state money.

Check out the state’s database of licensed contractors.

To avoid being scammed, Mundell said homeowners should also make sure agreements with a contractor are in writing and only pay the full amount owed to a contractor when the project is complete.