Ripped off by drywaller... lesson for all.

[Red Herring]

I should have known better.

Let this be a lesson for all. NO CASH UP FRONT! Thats $1680.00 out the window.


I got a bunch of bids to drywall and mud my basement, and went with what looked like the best guy. He talked the talk, gave a very professional appraisal, and offered two prices, cash job and not. He was ball park with the other contractors I had in, so I opted for the ash deal figuring no skin off my back, why not save some $$.

Catch... he wanted 30% up front for materials. Reasonable I figured, so I gave it to him. Poof. Heard from him once, when he phoned to say he had to postpone the job for a week, and would call me to set a new time for material delivery. When he didn't call, I called him only to find both his phones disconnected...dohhh

I'm a dolt. Trusted the guy.

Lesson to all... NO CASH UP FROMT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jman]

What, no references? Always get references, especially if advancing some money. It's not unusual for contractors to ask for cash up front to buy materials.

Of course, he might not even be a con artist, he might just be a bad contractor. He might have money troubles, his phones might have been disconnected, he might have every intention of finishing your job. Stranger things have happened.

If you don't have enough in terms of references, you can always order the materials yourself and have them delivered to the job site--some contractors won't want to do that, but some would be willing to work with you if that's the way you wanted to do it.

Good luck getting your $$$$ back or your job done.

 

[beaufort-fj60]

he'll show up some day.

 

[wob]

he'll show up some day.

bwaaaa hahahaha. Why do you want to do that to him?

I'd put my money on him having money troubles, not being a straight up con artist. You could (in the US anyways) get a judgement placed against him. H'ever, most s***ty contractors already have several judgements against them that never get paid.

I think the warning sign was a cash price vs a "regular" price. It makes it harder to prove. Plus, what are you gonna do? Go to the judge and say "I was paying him cash so we wouldn't have to pay taxes."

 

[Red Herring]

bwaaaa hahahaha. Why do you want to do that to him?

I'd put my money on him having money troubles, not being a straight up con artist. "

Thats what I'm thinking too. He's obviously is a drywaller, he knew too much, and spent too much time talking about the job. I think it was more crime of opportunity than premeditated. I think I'll just bite it. Too much to do to get a judgement against him, which he won't likely pay anyway. Jman is an optomistic fella... I like that, and he might still show... really not too much time has gone by... but odds are, him, and my cash are knee deep in hookers and booze right now.

 

[tcb]

Did you file a police report?

 

[Red Herring]

Did you file a police report?

I spoke to the cops... they say it's a civil mater because there was a contract. They are only interested in it if the fellow mis-represented himself...ie. fraud.

I just picked a s***ty contractor.

I phoned another of the quoters today, and he is delivering supplies tomorrow... off to a better re-start already.

 

[Capt. Jim]

I spoke to the cops... they say it's a civil mater because there was a contract. They are only interested in it if the fellow mis-represented himself...ie. fraud.

Could be fraud if he represented himself as a contractor. In most states, that requires a license of some sort.

No license equates into no insurance. That means if he or one of his workers hurts themself on your job/property, you can be held liable for all expenses incurred.

When I was general contractor, I required Certificates of Insurance for any sub on my job. As a consultant, many of my clients require a CI from me today.

 

[Capt. Jim]

Also try contacting the agency that issues the contractor's licenses in your state. Here in Florida, they aggressively go after this type of behavior, regardless if he has a license or not.

 

[ken_79-fj40]

My loser brother in law is a plumber and has done this a few times to people. Somehow, he hasn't been taken to court by anyone yet, and we're talking about a few grand here, a few more here, etc. One of these jobs actually wound up being done by a different company, who two of his brothers work for, after he was paid 6 grand to do the job. Fortunately they don't look anything like him, or there could have been trouble.

 

[bkfj40]

Also try contacting the agency that issues the contractor's licenses in your state. Here in Florida, they aggressively go after this type of behavior, regardless if he has a license or not.

Capt. Jim has the best line here.....assuming that he is a licensed contractor...he is licensed, right? if not - then there is a reason he isn't

as a licensed professional, the contracting agency has some pull when it comes to contractors...

hope the karma thing is true -
bk

 

[wob]

but odds are, him, and my cash are knee deep in hookers and booze right now.

I'd say odds are he is out working another job with your money. I'd be willing to bet he needs your cash to complete his present job. He is probably just backwards on his working capital situation right now, and up to his arse in bills. Now that you have hired someone else, your money is definitely gone.

 

[beaufort-fj60]

subs can get local licenses around here. just pay $50 and whamoo you are a licensed sub. The home and commercial builders license is through the state.

 

[yooper]

...I phoned another of the quoters today, and he is delivering supplies tomorrow... off to a better re-start already.

You just wrote off your money forever with that move. The first guy's load of supplies will show up the day after tomorrow...







































Just kidding! IH8BADCONTRACTORS! Good luck!

 

[srplus]

And it is a Felony.

Also try contacting the agency that issues the contractor's licenses in your state. Here in Florida, they aggressively go after this type of behavior, regardless if he has a license or not.

At least in Florida and many of the other states it is illegal to offer to do contracting work if you are not a contractor. If he represented himself as a contractor and is not - it can be a felony. Also, if he is a registered contractor and he did not do the job, you may be eligible to recover some or all of your money from a fund that is set up for this very purpose. Contact the agency that issues the licenses to find out what your options are. At least you will find out more about the guy and where you really stand.

 

[White Shark]

You can nail him for fraud with the State Contractor's Licensing Board if he is not a Contractor and a contract was written. If he is a Contractor, you can contact the State and try to recover payment through his bonding agency.

I don't know where you are, but in California, I have to hold a minimum $10k bond and by contract, I'm not allowed to ask for more than 10% upfront.

If you buy materials in the future, tell him that you'll need a list so you can call and order the materials and put them on your Visa. At least that way you still have all of your materials.

I hope it works out for you. BTW, where is "Global Village"?

 

[crushers]

in Alberta (and i thought across Canada) it is illegal for any contractor to ask for money up front. this is one of the reasons i got out of the trades. once the items are in the house then the owner of the house owns them and this can lead to a very expensive leason should the customer refuse to pay...

i would hope he has money issues and comes good for the problem...

 

[Red Herring]

Now that you have hired someone else, your money is definitely gone.

I need this job done. So lesson learned. The other guy has his material here already, and wants payment only after the job is done, and approved by yours truly.

As for payment in advance..... DON'T DO IT. Use someone who can float the materials.

 

[honk]

If you signed a contract with the guy and then hired someone else to do the job you could find yourself having to pay the first guy as well as the second one.

I'm not sure, but on the face it would look to me that the first contract still exists. He has been slow to perform his part of your bargain for sure, but was anything done to negate your contract with him?

 

[Red Herring]

If you signed a contract with the guy and then hired someone else to do the job you could find yourself having to pay the first guy as well as the second one.

I'm not sure, but on the face it would look to me that the first contract still exists. He has been slow to perform his part of your bargain for sure, but was anything done to negate your contract with him?

Interesting, but I don't think thats going to be an issue. Even if it came up, it was a contract for a cash job, how keen is he to have that aired?