Home Improvement Contractor - Licensed Contractors
what can i do if california contractor does not finish remodeling job?
contractor finished only 90 of the work and received 99% of pay and then walked away. What legal action can I take and what can i expect to happen?
Public Comments
- Contact him in writing to finish. Keep copies and send registered mail or return receipt. If he doesn't respond, tell him in writing you plan to contact the BBB and state attorney general for contractor fraud. If he still does not come to finish it, contact them and file your complaints. To recoupe your money, you will have to take him to small claims court, but will have all the documentation to represent yourself. Odds are he won't let it get that far, and will come finish it rather than face potential legal action with the AG. Check out the state contractor license (CSLB) site for more info. You can call them for initiating complaints. http://www.hoovers.com/california-cslb/--ID__152945--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml?cm_ven=PAID&cm_cat=INK&cm_pla=CO1&cm_ite=california-cslb
- You can take him to small claims court if it's less than $5,000. Or you can hire a lawyer if it's over that amount. Good luck. Our neighbors are going thru the same thing and they have found 3 other families that he did the same thing to. They are all joining together to sue him.
- Contact the CSLB (California State Licensing Board). This would work best if you had his license number. Explain the situation to them and if they agree he has more work they will take it from there. They have the power to void his license and to assess fines. Another thing you could do is contact his bonding company. From the CSLB website you can determine who that is. If they agree with you they will hire someone else to complete the work and will back charge the contractor.
