March 02, 2012
Contractor won't finish home improvements
Dear Consumer Ed:
I hired a contractor to do some remodeling on my home. I paid for the entire job so that he could purchase the supplies needed. He did most of the work, but will not finish the job. What can I do to get him to complete it?
Consumer Ed says:
You don’t say what kind of service agreement you had with the contractor (verbal or written). If you have a written contract, you have a much clearer legal leg to stand on. However, even if it was a verbal agreement, you may still be able to sue the contractor. We strongly recommend that you consult a private attorney. Other than suing or threatening to sue, you may also be able to force the contractor’s hand by reporting him to the Federal Trade Commission or to the Georgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division by calling 404-651-8600. For future reference, you should never pay the entirety of the agreed price in advance of having the work done.