Who do I call for help about a contractor and unfinished job?....please read?
Question:I live in the North Boston area. I hired a contractor that said he could do the job in 6 days, well he started the job three weeks ago and has worked 5 days. He hasn't been here in two weeks now...I gave him 1/2 of the money to begin with then 4 days later he asked for $2000.00 more. Since he got that $$$ he hasn't been back. He isn't using composite like I insisted on, he is using vinyl. He wont answer my calls or return my messages. Please help.
Oh yeah, I am disabled and can't make it down the stairs w/o a railing..guess what ..there isn't a railing. So I have to go down my back stairs and walk around the house to catch my rides to and from the doctors offices which by the time I get to the front of the house I am exhausted !
I am a brittle diabetic with a recovering broken ankle waiting on an O+ kidney donor to come along so I can get a transplant, so I get worn out real easy. Now this guy is causing me extreme stress causing blood sugar problems.
Answers:
if you have a state contractors license board you can contact them, they will represent you in getting this guy in line. you might contact your building department to identify the title Mass. license board works under, but they will not be able to help with the dead-beat contractor. If you have a license board, you should be able to leave him a message telling him that you are going to contact the license board if he does not perform within X days.
I assume you have given him money by check. If you do not have a written contract, the checks will be admissible in court. In California, a verbal agreement between a contractor and a property owner is binding as if written.
In summary,
1. determine if you have a licensing board.
2. call contractor and threaten to turn him in.
3. watch him come running to complete the project, and expect to hear all types of excuses. Don't forget, unless he was in a turkish prison, he should of called.
About the only thing you can do is take him to court. SInce you have a contract, he breached his end by not finishing it. Send him a certified letter informing him you will take this action and give him a time frame in which to comply, I would also make sure you have a copy of the letter you send.
Good luck.
You could contact the State Attorneys office, they would be more than happy to pursue charges. Or contact your local TV station, they love to follow up on companies that abuse the elderly and disabled. Someone out there should be willing to hunt this guy down!!
call the Better Business Bureau, the police, the mayor and lastly the local newspaper oh yea and the building inspector. the squeaky wheel gets the grease! Being a transplant survivor myself I can relate to your dilemma GOOD LUCK TO YOU.
Stop giving him money until the project is complete.
I would sugges the state attorney general's office and the better business bureau. I would try them first and then the news stations.
First I made the same mistake you made. I gave my contractor to much money up front and than couldn't get him back to finish the job I ended up hiring someone Else.
What you need to do is call your town hall and ask for the building inspectors office. Tell him what happen he can see if there was a permit issued for the work he can also run your contractors license and see if there are other completes about him.
If you do not have a permit for the work taking him to court in very hard (talk to your better business burro)
Ask your building inspector what your options are at this point.
Is your contractor licensed and bonded with your city and state.? Do you have a written agreement? Does your agreement say when the contractor was to finish? Is there a penalty clause? If you have any of these items you're remedy will be through State Board of Contractors, or the courts.
In many states a contractor is required to post a bond with the Secretary of State. If you call the Secretary of State they will tell you the process to go through to put a lien on his bond. This usually will get their attention.
call your local TV stations help line
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