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I paid a contractor to remodel my existing shed into a one bedroom apt. He almost never showed up, purchased over $3,000 worth of material and has $3,200 in cash of my money. He will not return my phone calls and has left me with a huge credit card bill, tons of material and an unfinished job. The only problem is I never got a permit from the city to remodel. Will I still be able to take him to court and sue? Does it look like I will get any of my money back? PLZ HELP!

2006-08-13 16:25:59 · 10 answers · asked by Erba08 2 in Home & Garden Decorating & Remodeling

I DO have a signed contract. He is not licensed nor does he work for a company. But he claims to have 25 years experience. The only reason I trusted him was because he claimed to be a preacher at his church. STUPID ME!!!

2006-08-13 16:49:44 · update #1

10 answers

Interesting. I am a licensed contractor. For years, I worked un-licensed. I have never cheated anyone.

Now I always write contracts so we are both clear on what is expected of each of us.

You can take this to small-claims court. But, even if you get this judged in your favor, you still have to collect from him. And, the judge would be within his or her rights to direct you to pull permits before you proceed.

Depends on how the "contract" was worded. If he agreed to work "time and material" then that means you were hiring him at an hourly wage, and he does not need a license for that.

If he bid the job for "X" amount of money, then he is officially contracting, and has to have a license.


All of that aside, consider this: Is there anything you might have done or said that might have affected his attitude toward you or the job?

Try contacting him again and resolve this. Find out if there is something you can do to help deal with whatever problems there may be. If he refuses, then you can go to the small claims court.

Also, where did you find out about him? From a friend? From a business? An advertisement? any of these can and should be informed if he refuses to honor your original agreement.

Hope you have learned a lesson here. Never pay anyone money up-front, unless you have seen their license and have a signed contract in hand. Only then do you pay them anything. And in California, a contractor can only ask for 10% of the contract price as a down-payment.

And please, please get permits. They are for your safety as well as those of your neighbors. Imagine if this clown had wired the house incorrectly and a fire resulted later, injuring or killing someone. You would bear part of that responsibility.

Mike

2006-08-13 17:55:12 · answer #1 · answered by Michael K 3 · 1 0

Yes you can, I believe you have a contract with the contractor before you give him the money, with the black and white, you can proceed to sue the company. Get another contractor to do the submission of permit and get the jobs done. I don't think there is a fraud issue, police will not help, get a lawyer.

2006-08-13 16:45:40 · answer #2 · answered by seb 4 · 0 0

contractor has no permit nor will he get one. Charges 40% over ins. estimate. Man came and sign this but did not let me read it. Said it was to let the work begin,. I am 76 widow. They have turned a 3 week job into 3 months and work is only fair at best., What can I do?

2016-10-06 23:31:06 · answer #3 · answered by carol l 1 · 0 0

Yes because in the state of florida you must pull a permit for just about anything ,and that the contractor job since he has the lic., and elleagl to do it with out one ,and he's the only one that can pull the contract .I would go to the gov. building on little road ,and report this .Because they can make you take it down if you had no permit even if he did a great Job.

2006-08-13 20:25:57 · answer #4 · answered by tjdmabc02 1 · 0 0

It probably depends on what state you live in. In California an unlicensed contractor has absolutely no rights in court, so sueing him here would be simple. Just have receipts and cancelled checks, etc.

The no permit could be a problem if your city hears about it. They could fine you and possibly make you remove everything that has been done, for inspection purposes.

2006-08-14 05:06:43 · answer #5 · answered by big_mustache 6 · 0 0

yes, sure u can sure without a contract, but suing is not very effective as the chance of recovering any money is remote. i hv read a case where the contractor was arrested for fraud. hope the police will help u arrest the culprit.

good luck and be aware.

2006-08-13 16:33:33 · answer #6 · answered by koolkaikc 2 · 0 0

The permit has nothing to do with it. Go get him, report him to any Consumer affairs agency you make have. And if the Company he worked for was at all involved, sue them too

2006-08-14 03:05:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

maximum contractors are required to have interior reach licenses. call your city progression Inspection branch. do not try this in case you tried to get with the aid of inexpensive with out facilitates or you'll finally end up tearing out what he did and replacing it. at the same time as human beings do not opt to pay for facilitates, this artwork must be inspected.

2016-12-06 12:05:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

you do not need a permit to sue. Try a different phone to call or try to locate his home and knock on his door. I would call the police, if you gave him money. I would call today.

2006-08-14 01:13:54 · answer #9 · answered by mike67333 6 · 0 0

no
because u have no proof of anything
but i got one question to ask
how did u the picture ontop of ur name

2006-08-13 16:32:50 · answer #10 · answered by alumita w 1 · 0 0

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