Strategy to get money back

[Brianna H.]

Good morning, BP! 

We recently completed a renovation on our rental home. The contractor told us the work would take 10 days to complete, but it actually took 2 months. Anyways, he promised us that he would pay us for one month's rent to make up for it. The payments were made through a renovation loan, so I never personally handed him any money. 

Now, I'm not stupid and I knew that I was taking his word for paying us. He received the final payment, and I have been trying to contact him through e-mail, text, phone with no answer...DUH! 

I'm looking for any advice on how to get him to follow through on his word. I realize there is a chance that he will not pay, but he seems like the type of guy that is a man of his word and I'm willing to try. Thanks in advance!

I also need an itemized receipt from him so that I can get my taxes in order. Do you think I could bring an officer to his office to get this from him?

[Brianna H.]

Originally posted by @Russell Brazil:

It is a civil matter. I essentially see 3 choices. 1) Let it go and chalk it up to a learning experience. 2) Threaten to take him to small claims court. 3) Actually take him to small claims court.

I would be apt to try #2, and if it didnt work, then Id go with #1.  Unless something was a large amount of money, I dont think #3 would be worth it.

 Thanks for the advice! I am willing to accept that this is a good learning experience (never trust anyone :-/ ), but I do want to try to at least pester him to the point that he caves. I feel like he is the type of person that would not want this hanging over his head. 

I am going to try threatening to take him to court and see if that works! I'm not sure how much it costs to go to small claims, but you are probably right about it not being worth it.