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rupi143 · Jul 18, 2011, 08:09 PM

I built a basment recently without a permit and now I've asked the same person/builder to get me the permit and I paid him $10,000 (he was a contractor and promised to get us the permit and complete construction properly) But now I still don't have the permit and the contractor has run away from the job. What should I do in this situation and whom should I contact?

hkstroud · Jul 18, 2011, 08:51 PM

A lawyer.

JudyKayTee · Jul 19, 2011, 04:28 AM

Originally Posted by rupi143

I built a basment recently without a permit and now I've asked the same person/builder to get me the permit and I paid him $10,000 (he was a contractor and promised to get us the permit and complete construction properly) But now i still dont have the permit and the contractor has run away from the job. What should i do in this situation and whom should i contact?

Do I understand the problem? You paid a contractor $10,000 to get a permit for you and he didn't get the permit. You want to know who you should contact and what you should do.

You should get someone else to assist you in getting a permit.

You should get someone to collect the $10,000 from the contractor who didn't do the job for which he was paid - apparently in advance.

It has been suggested that you contact an Attorney, but you didn't like that advice and, in fact, gave a "not helpful" rating.

My suggestion is either live with no permit and the loss of $10,000 OR retain an Attorney. You have no other choices.

rupi143 · Jul 19, 2011, 04:43 AM

You can assist me get a permit

J_9 · Jul 19, 2011, 04:46 AM

Originally Posted by rupi143

you can assist me get a permit

No, we cannot do that here.

hkstroud · Jul 19, 2011, 05:33 AM

Damn, I have to stop answering these kinds of questions. I now have a reddie from a 10 year old seeing ghost and a??

J_9, you cannot help him with his construction problems, could you sell him a brain for another $10,000?

J_9 · Jul 19, 2011, 05:36 AM

Originally Posted by hkstroud

J_9, you cannot help him with his construction problems, could you sell him a brain for another $10,000?

I'm in the baby business, not brain business. I'm all for parents having to have licenses to have babies, but I don't think this one would pass the class.

JudyKayTee · Jul 19, 2011, 06:07 AM

Originally Posted by hkstroud

Damn, I have to stop answering these kinds of questions. I now have a reddie from a 10 year old seeing ghost and and a ?????.

J_9, you cannot help him with his construction problems, could you sell him a brain for another $10,000?

I am on the floor!

This also falls into the "bite the hand that feeds you" category.

Well, I'm off to locate this guy somewhere in the US to help him get the building permit.

J_9 · Jul 19, 2011, 06:10 AM

Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

I am on the floor!

This also falls into the "bite the hand that feeds you" category.

Well, I'm off to locate this guy somewhere in the US to help him get the building permit.

Stop by here for some Memphis bar-b-que!

Whoa, what if he's not in the US. Is your passport up to date?

odinn7 · Jul 19, 2011, 08:13 PM

I know of some people in Nigeria that could probably get him a permit or perhaps a certificate for a lottery... for a small fee.

I loved the answers I saw here... thanks for the laugh.

hkstroud · Jul 19, 2011, 08:29 PM

OK, that was fun but enough beating up on poor rupi. He can't help it.

Rupi,
You are suppose to get your permits before beginning construction. Requirements to obtain a building permit vary from place to place but usually require a set of plans (and money). The city/county wants not only to know what you are doing, they want to approve what you are doing. They want to know what you are doing so they can tax you on it. What were you thinking? Did you think they wouldn't notice that you built a house and weren't paying taxes on it. I presume you intend to build a house, not just a basement.

Who did this work. You said "I built a basement", later you said the same "person/builder". In most places it is the responsibility of the contractor to obtain permits. Don't tell me you paid some one to build a basement without permits and then paid him to get the permits. If so, shame on you, "Trick me once, shame on you. Trick me twice, shame on me."

Contact the local permitting office. Find out what is required to obtain permits for what you want to do. Assuming you want to eventually build a house on top of that basement, as a minimum you are going to have to provide a set of house plans. Maybe plumbing, electrical and grading plans. Probably also be required to provide a site plan. You could be required to perform certain soil test before beginning construction. Be contrite, be up front, tell them what you have done. They already know. Chances are that they will help you work around problems.

As far as getting your money back from the "same person/builder". Unless you know enough about the law to get him into court to get a judgment against him, you need either a layer or a hit man. Even if you get a judgment against him, that's only a piece of paper. You would still need to know how to convert that judgment in to money.

Personally I'd go with the lawyer. If you go to a lawyer and he takes your money and does nothing, you are just out of more money. If you go to the hit man and he takes you money and does nothing, you are still out of more money. If the lawyer does anything for you, you may get your money back or at least some of it. If the hit man does anything for you, you are in real trouble.

Yep, think I'd go with the lawyer option.

Good luck.

ballengerb1 · Jul 19, 2011, 08:29 PM

Sorry but I have cornered that guy from Nigeria, he is all mine, I gave him my info and will get my check any day now so he can't help with the permit.

hkstroud · Jul 19, 2011, 09:08 PM

How did rupi change his rating from not helpful to helpful. Now none of this makes sense. Makes us all look like a**holes. Granted I am one, but Judy and J_9 are not.

Bob IS the guy from Nigeria, send him money.