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handymaned · Dec 22, 2009, 10:05 AM

I am retired and do handyman work, I have met a lot of people and enjoy doing their work and always get paid when finished. I am not licensed or insured, how do I get paid $1500 for work done and the guy just does not want to pay? Can I go to small claims court ?

JudyKayTee · Dec 22, 2009, 10:13 AM

This is a legal question and should be moved. You can only sue in Small Claims Court if the locality where you did the work does NOT require that you be licensed. If you were working outside of the law you have no legal standing to sue.

If you did not need to be licensed and/or insured then you CAN file in Small Claims Court.

I'll skip the legal lecture but working uninsured is a dangerous practice.

this8384 · Dec 23, 2009, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by handymaned

I am retired and do handyman work, I have met a lot of people and enjoy doing their work and always get paid when finished. I am not licensed or insured, how do i get paid $1500 for work done and the guy just does not want to pay? Can i go to small claims court ?

Like Judy pointed out, it may not be legal for you to have performed the work without a license.

You can always file anyway. The worst that can happen is you'll be denied your claim.

ballengerb1 · Dec 23, 2009, 10:56 AM

Did you have a estimate or bid that he signed or any written agreement? Do you have your receipts for materials?

Fr_Chuck · Dec 23, 2009, 01:52 PM

In some areas, if you are not licened you can not sue in court. But your best bet is to sue in small claims court and try.Remember if you were doing most plumbing and most electicial work, not only do you require a license ( business) but have to also be licensed by the state, and there can be very heavy fines for doing work without one.

emacon · Dec 23, 2009, 03:29 PM

You would be better off walking away. You did not pull any permits and that can cause you a huge problem with the city.

ballengerb1 · Dec 23, 2009, 04:17 PM

I see nothing from the OP that indicates he did not pull a permit or if he even needed one. He posted this yesterday and until he comes back with some answers this thread is off my scope for now.

emacon · Dec 23, 2009, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

I see nothing from the OP that indicates he did not pull a permit or if he even needed one. He posted this yesterday and until he comes back with some answers this thread is off my scope for now.

A permit has to be pulled for putting up a new lighting fixture so I guarantee he did not pull a permit even though by law he had to. Additionally, since he does not have a license he could not pull a permit. The home owner would have to pull a "home owners permit".

Fr_Chuck · Dec 23, 2009, 05:39 PM

sorry no, each area has its own permit requirements, a lot have to do with dollar values of the work, unless structure or plumbing is invovled, merely changing a light fixture is not near a permit in my area

ballengerb1 · Dec 23, 2009, 08:37 PM

Sorry, but Fr_Chuck is correct. I am a handyman and much of what I do does not require a permit including replacing a light fixture. The real question here is how can the OP get his due. I am waiting to hear his answer to my questions in post #4. I also sit on a building departments review team and most folks would be surprised what does and does not require a permit. Some jobs the permit just triggers a notice to the local assessors office to increase the taxes while others actuallly inspect the building and check for an architects stamp.

emacon · Dec 24, 2009, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

sorry no, each area has its own permit requirements, alot have to do with dollar values of the work, unless structure or plumbing is invovled, merely changing a light fixture is not near a permit in my area

Building permits are down across the country. Counties now have to figure out ways to make up the difference. You would be surprised how many counties are requiring home owners, builders & handyman to pull permits just to put up a light fixture. I know this for a fact because one of my employees was putting up a light fixture on a house we were remodeling and a city inspector showed up at the front door and saw him hanging the fixture. He asked if we pulled a permit to put up the fixture and not only did I have to pull a permit I had to pay a fine.

Dollar values have to do with not only who can pull the permit but what the permit will cost. It has nothing to do with if a permit has to be pulled.

check to see if a permit has to be pulled to put up a light fixture in your area. Most people do not realize it does have to be pulled even if they are a home builder.