[stampin1]

I bought a Groupon for a handyman who supposedly is bonded and insured from Clay County in Missouri to come take care of a shower leak behind wall, gut and rebuild. He also was listed with 5 stars with BBB for no complaints or bad activity. He came to do a verbal estimate and have had email correspondence, but there has never been anything he gave us in writing other than the invoice when he wanted to be paid. We never signed anything. (This has been the first real home project that has had to be fixed so I'm learning as I go.) I bought everything for the project except the cement boards and materials for the concrete custom shower pan. As each day progressed I would ask about concerns (aesthetic and potential future water problems). He kept saying that the things I didn't like were normal and done correctly. The night before he came to pick up check, a friend came over to see it and said many things were NOT done correctly. When I mentioned our concerns and that we needed them addressed (cracks/pinholes in grout, barcodes showing on about 4 tiles, raw edges on shower frame, etc) I then took lots of pictures and talked with other handymen who said don't pay until he fixes them. I attached a letter of what we felt needed to be redone to an email last night. This morning he responded with "I'll see you in court." My gut tells me he is not bluffing. We offered an alternative choice to pay him approx. half (for other work on the project and cover the few materials he bought with the option to take the $1000 and walk away but he hasn't taken that option. His invoice is around $2200. The first invoice he charged us for some materials that we bought; when I called he said he would rework the invoice but the ugliness started and we never rec'd his "final invoice." We thought we should bring in 2 other tiling/shower professionals for a second opinion if we are in the wrong. Are we in the wrong for not paying until satisfied? Do we have to get a lawyer? Would the cost of lawyer be more expensive than just paying for the poor work and having to start all over to make the shower usable? I don't know where to start on getting reliable information how to handle this. We've NEVER had any problems with businesses, our credit, or anything! We are good people. I've heard he could put a lien on our property! I'm so distraught. Can you help?

[dogdeville]

At the end of everyday he worked you was satisfied and told him it looked good you should pay him asap. Verbal contracts hold up in court. You must pay him and live with how it looks. You should have told him the truth at the end of each day