Gettysburg, PA · Member since 2014 · 73 posts · 9 votes
I was working w/ a general-ish contractor, but paying for the subs myself. He hired a guy he knew for the electric and signed a contract with him, then gave him one of our checks for $1000 as a down-payment. He didn't get the permit to go through for a while, we ended up cutting ties with that general contractor and the electrician still has our money and did not do any work. I called 5 days ago with no return call. He is licensed and has something to lose.
What would be your next steps of action? Small claims court, collection agency, lawyer note, etc.
@Chris S.Cancel the check if you can. The best way to avoid that, if they haven't cashed it, yet. Otherwise, contact them. If they don't respond, mail a certified letter explaining the situation and give an option. Either return the check or bid on the job and use the $1,000 and deposit for he work to be rendered.
If that still doesn't work, you can go to state board and electrician's union or lobby to fight. Maybe even a lawyer will help. But all that is worth time and money.
Check the contract and make sure this deposit wasn't non-refundable. Assuming it wasn't, send a certified letter to demand your refund. Include a copy of the contract indicating the deposit is refundable. If no response, then start a small claims case.
He did cash the check. I sent a text to the old GC and asked for the contract that he signed. Still waiting on that. I trusted it would be fine b/c the old GC said the electrician was a stand up guy. Anyway, live and learn. Thanks for the help..