Home improvements by friend cheated us?
Question:Our "friend", proclaimed handyman, really got us for home improvements costs. During his work, he asked for $1,500. which (duh) I gave him by check written out "cash" w/comments on the bottom "home improvement." I paid for all supplies. Long story short, 75% of work is not finished. He tried to put a sprinkler system in our yard, but had no clue. Our screens on back porch are now in place, but he never finished cutting them properly. We live in FL & Hurricane Katrina did a bit of damage. We paid for a pressure cleaner which he used 1st for his own home & charged us for the rental & $15/hr. to shoot a bit around our home. Twice he used a snake to unclog, but Draino works. He presented me w/a bill & I could not read it. All scribbles, but thinking he was a good friend of my husband, I wrote him a $1,500 check. Later we argued about the unfinished work & I fired him. Can I get any money back? Would appreciate any advice or experiences. TY -- Patti H
Answers:
You will never get your money back. You never signed a contract with him, plus home improvements are a nightmare in the courts. The courts usually go "he did the work -- tough beans if you don't like how he did it." You have to be able to prove that he is guilty of something. And being a crappy worker is not against the law.
Sorry Patti, but you got burned. Just be thankful it was only a few grand, not hundreds of thousands of dollars like people who get burned when building a house with a dirtbag contractor!!
Next time hire someone reputable -- ie. member of a group like Better Busines Bureau or a Professional Association. And check references.
Take him to a small claims court, but let him know first. I would tell him he can either finish the work, give 75% of the money back from what he has not done, or you're taking him to a small claims court. After all, what kind of real friend would do that to you anyway? Of course next time I would only pay him in increments, some up front, and some when he was finished. Lessons learned.
Unfortunately doesn't sound like you have much of a case without a contract. Also is this person a licenced contractor? You would have been able to report him to the state board. Chalk this up to an expensive lesson learned. In the future ask for references, and look into previous work done. When it comes to supplies, make sure you see the reciepts or even prepurchase the merchandise for the contractor. Good luck.
you may or may not get anything back ...even if you take him to court ...best to see if he is willing to give something back due to the "friendship" you have...hey , can i be your friend? i can do some work around your house if you give me $1000 up front.
good luck.
Most states have a CONTRACTOR'S LICENSE BOARD. I do not know what the requirements are in Florida, but in California a person that does over $500 in work must be a licensed contractor. You could contact your license board and they could prosecute him for contracting without a license. Upon sucessful prosecution you could receive your money back plus possibly penalties.
Hope you still have the bill with the scribbles which you paid him with ( have him explain to a small claims judge what the scribbles meant and for what the cancelled check you made out to cash was for). Obviously there are alot of extenuating things you are not relating which can also be brought into play (Did he cash the check where a security camera caught him doing so,do you have the power washer and how was it paid for and by whom ,was there an oral agreement, etc, etc. You might have to get advice from a friend or Attorney General 's para - legal who will ask all of the pertinant info to help you get your $$$$$ back or tell you to "chalk it up to experience ". Good Luck !!!!
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