Dealing with Bad Contractor

[Steve]

Little Background here. Guy who we used for Snow Plowing, Driveway Repair and Dangerous Tree Removal we also hired for building us New Heated Shop. 20x30 building with 10ft bays on sides. Stick Build (not pole building).

Anyway I got him plans and list of materials and wanted bid. He convenced me to sale down a little saying "I can save you $$ and cheaper to heat". Anyway went went from 12ft walls to 10ft and little smaller.

Contract draw up. Way too much money up front. Total was $22,500 and he wanted 15k to start. I figured materials 8-9k and concrete. Ok I went with it, but my spidy senses went off. Another 5k after foundation done.

Materials delivered. Only wood and sheeting. No Metal. Wood got put up and was told "they are having trouble delivering Metal and it took 3 weeks". Yea sure. It was rainy and needed to dry out.

Finally back to work. Metal put on sides and they started on Roof. I went out and asked about "felt"? Was told not needed. He raised the walls by knocking holes in them on top and used boom truck. I asked about repairing them. Told me would not matter. Mattered to ME!.

Anway I let it continue on and went thru building with Fine Tooth Comb. Contacted Metal Sales and they sent me Installation Guide.

Sheeting he used was 7/16 - Calls for 5/8
No Felt. Calls for 30# felt
Tin On Wrong. Backwards in places. All should lay certain way.

Anyway that along with other things resulted in 2 page writeup with Building Inspector. I wanted that fixed along with Concrete Floor fixed or go into mediation. No Rebar used. Token amount of Rock. No taming down. No Stress relief.

We got letter from him saying how good he was and we made up things. Anyway his letter called us names and never addressed any issues at ALL.

We put lawyer on this before we wrote our letter. Going after his Bond (12k bond). We had to finish the building with another contractor. Had to rebuy metal because he stole some of it (Loaded it up with equipment).

Now the Icing. When new contractor started work they talked to building inspector and old Num Nuts Contractor drove by. Seems Inspector and him are Fishing Buddies.

Yesterday we had no water when I woke up. I checked breakers and fuses and everything I could think of. Went to 6" well (150ft from house, we live on 10ac). Bundle of wire beside pump and well filled with rocks and sand. Its looking like we can salvage the well. They got the cans of dirt out and will be back to try to clean out some sand and rocks with pump. Insurance will cover all but $1,000.

So after reading all this what would you do? I have camera on it now (Game Camera). Motion sensor in new building to warm me. Loaded Guns available. Call Phone and Flashlight. I know I can shoot him unless he goes after me. Cops took wire and cap to well to test for fingerprints. Yea right. Who would not wear gloves. Plus state crime lab is taking 2 years to do tests. Yea 2 Years.

We will go for the bond if it's available. Who knows I bet he canx his insurance police. I guess write it off as 12k plus 1k life lesson. I can do this, but want it to END.

[Anna]

I guess this is quite a common story. Some random thoughts...

Suppose motto is "use professionals not the local odd-job man!" although nothing is guaranteed.

Independent recommendations are the best.

Can you prove he stole the sheeting? If you could, you could get him arrested for theft!

Breach of contract - he didn't finish the job.

Shouldn't be necessary to charge more than 25% deposit, to cover material costs, I would have thought. Goodwill works both ways.

To get it to end? Call in some professionals to fix it properly!

Sorry, but it seems it has been an expensive lesson...

[Steve]

So true. Looks like we will get the bond. It's not about $$$, but he's Convected Felon (stabbing Wife) and Meth Head I was told. I bet he will go nuts when he gets served. I have plenty of firepower. If he comes to the door Wife will call 911 and I will be armed. If he forces himself inside one of us will defend ourselves.

The Well is low blow. I plan on trying to secure it better and camera watches it now. So if ti happens again we will have legal proof to put him away for few years I hope.

We got it fixed right. Only downside is having to pay twice. But that money will come back from the bond I hope. But it takes a year if he fights it.

Just venting here. New Lane Bryant Jeans arrive Saturday. That will be Nice!

[Davita]

All I can say is ouches... *sigh*

Now those jeans better be the perfect fit and perfect all other ways. You need it.

[Steve]

That's for sure. I more background. He stabbed his wife and went to jail for couple of years. Meth Head too. Gee. I think I figured out while sleeping how to protect the well. Build small hut over well and put motion senor in it. Wont' go off that way with Wind and Tree's and such. But open it up and I will get warning. I can be there in 2 min. Way before they can get top off well. Armed and ready. Cant' afford $1,000 every time they do this. No I don't want to kill anyone. Just hold for Law.

I figure he will blow his top when served summons. That will be in week or so. Kicked lawyer in butt to get moving yesterday. Gee like he was on HOLD. 3 weeks ago got email saying "GO". We were hoping for him finish it and mediation. I sent all stuff to Dept of Revenue yesterday too. Scanned copies proving he does not do Sales Tax. Might as well go in for 100%.

Update: Wife wants to drop it all and do letter from lawyer saying we are even and won't go after his bond if he leaves us alone. I think setting him off more is a LOSE for us. Ie Death or Destruction of Property.

[KimberlyS]

These type of people are just nuts and you are going to loose no matter what you do. Wish you the best no matter what you do. Going after him may help the next person that has to deal with him.

[DonnaT]

Hopefully it won't come to a dangerous confrontation.

Make sure he knows the police have been notified of all that has happened, should he decide to do anything else.

Don't drop anything. He needs to be stopped, and his bond revoked so he can't contract out again, legally. As a service to your community.

Best of Luck.

[Steve]

Donna thanks. We talked to Prosecutor and he will send Cops out to talk to him. Tell him "No Trespassing". They know. I think if the alarm goes off I will NOT go out there. If I do it will be BAD for me.

We are going ahead and going for the bond and this way he will no longer have good record. I own it to society. Wife feels better after talking to prosecutor. Friend also recommended this.

It's not about Money. Sure 12k hurts, but we can recover from that. Death....No.

I made sure local Building Supply place (small town) got his flyer off the board of contractors. They read the package and agreed with me.

Going for 12k bond and Lien if possible of 8k. Or More if possible. Max it out. Lien I don't know yet. They are only good for 10 years and it's just piece of paper. Depends on how much extra it costs.

God I need panty shopping trip. I just want to enjoy life. I am on disability from Military and SSA and CRDP (bet you don';t know that one). Sit back. Cut some firewood. Bicycle around. Dressup little bit. No harm to anyone. Seems I hired a Bully.

[Anita]

I'm sorry to hear about all of that. You're fortunate in that he has a bond to go after; he's not just a handyman if he's got one of those. Intimidation and harassment always get my blood going, but...hold onto YOUR temper, especially if you've got weapons around the house. You already know that, from the sound of it.
Good luck, Steve!

[Steve]

Yes I am keeping cool and not doing what he did. He yanked up the wire from the 6" water well (could not get pump up takes winch), and put concrete down into it. New Well and possibility new water softener. Or about 16k damages. Insurance covers everything but 1k. Getting water from next door by container for toilet and washing up and things. No fun, but hey it's warm so ok.

I have Law on my side. Only way gun will come into play is if they break in. Just not fun. I did check this guy out. Not enough. Should have talked to more people and somehow did better checking. But he came up clean with L&I. No one has gone after his bond before. Gee he scares them off. I won't scare I wear panties. That alone is pretty scarey stuff.

Thanks everyone for letting me vent. Hopefully this weekend go shopping or something.

[Anna]

Steve, please feel free to vent! I reckon we're all avid followers of your story. Please keep us informed, and good luck with it!

[Sarah Ann]

OMG, sure you don't really live around here? Sounds like my neck of the woods, we had a nice person running around stealing well tanks for a while, and all the contractors here are questionable in one way or another. Convicted felons and druggies abound as well. I got my current roof work done by a friend in the neighborhood I knew and could trust to do it right. I got the materials and he consumed a lot of beer and goodies while his wife and I sat in the yard and cheered him on. Worked out fine.

I would make a serious recommendation, if you are going to live in the country, keep dogs. big dogs, and a gate to lock and hang your No Trespassing and Beware of Dog signs on. I have firepower to back it up too, but the dogs and gate have worked for me so far. Anybody tries to get in, it sets the dogs off. Good luck and keep us posted please.

[Ralitsa]

Wow, what a story!!
That's just crazy. I agree, the best way to deal with all of that is to go panty shopping, in fact I would say get yourself some new bras and maybe a few dresses too, while you're at it.
Not much I can add to the advice, except that motion sensors hooked up to water sprinklers and electric fences are an interesting combination.