What State are you in? Some states have consumer fraud laws that allow you
to collect triple damages plus your attorney fees. If you are in one of
those States, and your case has merit, many Consumer Law attorneys will take
the case on a contingency fee basis -- PLUS you get to get MORE than just
your money back and your legal fees won't be deducted from what you recover
from the contractor. Look in the Yellow Pages under Lawyers, then see the
"Lawyers Guide" in the middle of that section, then pick one or more
Consumer Law attorneys and start there.

In most areas, you can contact your local Bar Association (also listed in
that same Yellow Pages section) and ask for a referral to a Consumer Law
attorney in your area. The way it usually works is they give the name of
one attorney and, as part of the referral program, that attorney agrees to
provide a 1/2-hour in-person consultation for something like $25 or $30.
Take all your stuff to that attorney. If you don't like the attorney, you
don't have to use him/her. You can always call back to the referral service
and get another name.

If you do either of the above, you will know exactly what you can and cannot
do in your specific situation. If you don't do either of the above, I think
you will spend your time going around and around playing silly games with
this fool.

Good luck.

wrote in message
...
OK, so, some of you may have seen my earlier post entitled "I want OUT
with my builder", where I explained that my home improvement job went
awry due to the builder's incompetence and poor service level.

Anyhow, I've had no luck "playing it nice" with the builder in trying
to get back the up-front money I gave him before I had to fire him.
So, I'm ready to get stern with him.

I have some friends in the industry (building/demo, etc.), and they
advised that I mention the following things to the builder as
"consequences" for him not refunding the money he owes me:

1) File a complaint with the Board of Registration of Contractors in
my state (try to get his license revoked)
2) File a consumer protection complaint with the Attorney General
3) Give an account of my ordeal to the local inspector (that he has
to work with all the time)
4) Write negative reviews about him on online message boards, such as
Angie's List
5) File an OSHA complaint that his workmen weren't wearing goggles/
respirators, etc. when they were performing demo involving potentially
hazardous materials
6) File a complaint with the local Better Business Bureau
7) Have an attorney draft a "legal letter" alleging breach of
contract and fraud
7) File a civil lawsuit alleging breach of contract and fraud
8) File for mediation (as has been stipulated to in the contract)

So, which of the above do you think are valid, and are there any other
avenues I can pursue? I would prefer to have to actually **do** none
of the above, but I will definitely go all the way if I have to. I'm
hoping that just the mention of certain things will help to get at
least a partial refund.

Thanks again!