[grubjunkie]

I hired a roofing contractor to put a new metal roof on my home. He received a deposit of 2,215 to purchase materials & start job the next week. He never called or showed up. After finally getting him to respond to a text message he said that he would start the following Wed. - he never called or showed up again, after trying several times to contact him, again he responded to a text message saying that his mother was in hospital dying, however he has been telling me this for the past 3 weeks & still it is his excuse. It has been a month now since he origionally said that he would start the job w/ several no call no shows & I have been texting hime to give me my $ back or do the job. We have a signed contract, & he cashed the check. It has rained several times since I started this process & now my roof is starting to leak in places & I can not afford to hire someone else because I have given this guy 2,215 already?
What can I do to recover my $ from this deadbeat contractor?
Vern

[Fr_Chuck]

He may even be a crook, Around Atlanta area every year, here are many who come in, get deposits and leave the area after a couple months. You need to start a law suit against him at once and perhaps call the police department also.

Next never, ever give a deposit before they show up, perhaps about 1/4 of the job on the day they show up with the material but never more than that. Also if you do a deposit, pay by credit card always, you can dispute the charges latter ( real credit card, not a ATM card)

[smearcase]

When you agree to pay a contractor for materials in advance of any work being performed, take possession of those materials before making any payment. Then if he fails to show in a timely manner, and if you have a properly prepared contract, you can hire someone else to install those materials. Payment has to be kept proportional to satisfactory work performed and materials provided. Discuss these issues and get them in writing before signing a contract. This isn't necessarily easy to do and you might have to compromise on some of your provisions but if you don't protect yourself up front, you are taking a possibly very expensive gamble.

[Vinallande]

It seem you had another bad roofer" excuse after excuses".In my case the roofer promised me the job will be complete in 4 days,after 10 days the roof still not complete " and my roof was a messed ,multicolor shingles,etc.".His excuses were" in the last year his mother died, 3 of his uncle died, and his brother recently shot his hand with the nail gun while on the job."After I hear so many excuses from the roofer,I thought to myself this guy willing to F you over and over again with his excuses. I suggest next time you want something done no matter how big or small of a job make the contractor write down everything you want to do"YOUR WAY not the way the contractor want to do" in the contract. Can not trust anyone nowaday.