"benick" wrote in message
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"SteveB" wrote in message
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"benick" wrote in message
. ..

"SteveB" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
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I had a one-man company do repair work on my house. We have a contract
saying what he will do and for how much. When his workers said they
finished, he and I looked and agreed orally that they didn't finish.
We also agreed orally that they broke something. He said he would
finish and fix everything. I paid him all but $350. I didn't hear
back for two weeks. I called once a week for the next three weeks and
left voice mails. I still didn't hear back. The contract does not
have a time limit. I can finish the work and fix the broken thing
myself for a tenth of $350.
What do you think I should do?

Finish the work yourself. If he calls, tell him you had to hire
someone else to finish his work, paid the man the $350, and if he has a
question with it, you would be happy to accompany him to the
Contractor's board and discuss the issue (and the money due to you from
his surety bond) with them. I guarantee if you don't call him, you'll
never hear from him again, and if you do, and tell him you will do
whatever the Contractor's Board tells you to do, you will never hear
from him again.

He IS licensed, isn't he? In some states, contracting without a
license is a FELONY, and even offering to do work and no work being
done or no money changing hands constitutes contracting. (Nevada for
one.)

Good luck. You've waited a "reasonable" amount of time, and made
"reasonable" efforts to contact him.

Steve


" I can finish the work and fix the broken thing myself for a tenth of
$350."

So I guess we are talking about a 35 dollar fix....What exactly are you
talking about ??? Touching up paint ?? What got broke ??? I doubt he
would walk away from 350 bucks for such an easy fix without a
reason...Perhaps you could enlighten us with just a few more details....

If the OP is satisfied with saving the $350 and doing the work himself,
what's the difference? Lots of contractors walk away from as much as 10%
retention held as final payment because there is just too much work left
to be done, they're busy, they're idiots, lots of reasons. At that time,
the person has several options. Finish the work themself. Pay someone
to finish the work. Or pay someone to finish the work, and file a claim
on the contractor's surety bond. Or, in the case the person is
unlicensed and unbonded, sue them in small claims court, which sets low
limits on the amount that can be sued for. Or send over a couple of
friends to tune the guy up.

BTW, one tenth of $350 is $35, and if the OP is happy with that, why do
you require a detailed explanation?

Sheesh.

Steve


BTW I already said it was 35 bucks but we will still try to act amazed at
your math skills....The reason I asked for a FEW more details is because
he seemed intentially vague , for whatever reason... But since he hasn't
bothered to post back it doesn't really matter anyway.......

Not to me. I know this will keep me from falling asleep tonight for about
five seconds.

Steve