Contractor abandoned my kitchen renovation after taking $28,000 - what are my options for recovery?

I hired a licensed contractor for a full kitchen renovation. Contract was $55,000 total. Paid $28,000 upfront (I know, too much, lesson learned).

He demoed everything - cabinets, counters, flooring, even removed part of a wall. Then after 3 weeks of excuses about "materials being delayed," he just stopped responding to calls and texts. It's been 2 weeks of silence.

My kitchen is completely gutted - no sink, no stove, nothing. We've been eating takeout and using the bathroom sink to wash dishes for over a month.

I verified his license is still active with CSLB. What are my options? Can I file a bond claim? Small claims limit is only $12,500 in California. Should I hire an attorney?

Construction attorney here. I'm sorry you're dealing with this - it's unfortunately all too common. You have multiple avenues for recovery:

1. CSLB Complaint (do this immediately):

• File a complaint with the Contractors State License Board
• CSLB can suspend or revoke his license, which creates pressure to settle
• They also have a Consumer Recovery Fund that can pay up to $30,000 per claimant if the contractor can't pay

2. Contractor's Bond Claim:

• California requires contractors to have a $25,000 bond
• You can file a claim directly against the bond
• Bond claims don't require a lawsuit, though you may need a judgment first depending on the bond company

3. Legal Action:

• Your damages exceed small claims ($12,500 limit), so you'd need to file in Superior Court or waive the excess
• Calculate damages as: money paid minus value of work completed, plus cost to complete with another contractor

First step: Send a formal written demand via certified mail giving him 10 days to return to work or refund your money. You can find a template for a contractor demand letter here.

Thank you! A few follow-up questions:

1. How do I calculate "value of work completed" when all he did was destroy my kitchen? The demo work is worth maybe $2,000-3,000?

2. Can I file a bond claim AND use the CSLB recovery fund, or is it one or the other?

3. Should I wait for him to respond to the demand letter before filing the CSLB complaint?

Former general contractor of 30 years here. This is unfortunately common in the industry right now - a lot of contractors overextended themselves during the pandemic renovation boom and are now failing.

My advice:

• File the CSLB complaint immediately - don't wait. If he has other complaints pending, they may take action faster. This also starts a paper trail.
• Get written quotes from 2-3 other licensed contractors to complete the work. This documents your "cost to complete" damages.
• Take detailed photos and video of the current state of the kitchen.
• Gather all documentation: contract, permits (did he pull permits?), payment receipts, text messages, emails.

For value of work completed: Demo is typically worth $2,000-$5,000 depending on scope. If he pulled permits and did any rough plumbing/electrical, that has value too. If he just tore things out and disappeared, his completed work is minimal.

To answer your questions:

1. You're right that demo has minimal value. Get quotes from completion contractors that itemize what's been done vs. what needs to be done. If the full job would cost $60,000 and demo is worth $3,000, your damages are $28,000 paid minus $3,000 value = $25,000 in overpayment, plus potentially additional costs if completion costs more than the remaining $27,000 you would have owed.

2. You can pursue both the bond AND the CSLB recovery fund, but the recovery fund is typically a last resort after you've exhausted other options (bond, judgment against contractor personally). They'll want to see you tried to collect elsewhere first.

3. File the CSLB complaint NOW. Don't wait. The complaint and demand letter can happen simultaneously. CSLB complaints can take months to process, so start the clock immediately.

Did he pull permits for this work? A full kitchen reno with wall removal almost certainly requires permits. If he did work without permits, that's another CSLB violation and potentially a bigger problem for you when you hire someone to finish.

He said he was going to pull permits "once we finalized the cabinet layout." So no, no permits were pulled. Is that bad for me?

It's bad for him, not you. Performing work that requires permits without pulling them is a CSLB violation. Add that to your complaint.

For you, it means when you hire a completion contractor, they'll need to pull permits and there may be some complications if the existing work doesn't meet code. But that's a cost you can add to your damages against the original contractor.

I went through something very similar 2 years ago - contractor abandoned my bathroom remodel after taking $18,000. Here's what worked for me:

1. Filed CSLB complaint immediately
2. Sent demand letter via certified mail
3. When he didn't respond, I filed a bond claim with his surety company
4. Surety company investigated and paid me $15,000 (the bond maximum at that time) within 60 days
5. Filed in small claims for the remainder (waived excess over $10,000)
6. Got judgment but never collected - contractor had no assets

Total recovery: $15,000 from bond plus about $2,000 from CSLB recovery fund. Didn't make me whole but helped significantly.

Key lesson: The bond claim was the most effective path. Don't skip it.

Following this thread because I'm in a similar situation. My contractor took $35,000 for a master bathroom and bedroom addition, framed it out, and then vanished. That was 6 weeks ago.

@demolished_kitchen_help - did your contractor have a business address or just work out of his truck? Mine had no real office which I now realize was a red flag.

@RenovationNightmare - He had a "business address" that turned out to be a UPS Store mailbox. His CSLB license listed a different address which appears to be his home. Looking back, I should have verified more carefully.

Update: Filed the CSLB complaint and sent a certified demand letter. Also looked up his bond information on the CSLB website and contacted the surety company about the claim process.

Interesting development - when I searched his name on CSLB, I found he has TWO pending complaints already from other homeowners. One from 8 months ago!

Multiple pending complaints is significant. CSLB will likely take action faster with a pattern of complaints. It also tells you this isn't a one-time situation - this contractor has a history of problems.

Be aware: if multiple people file bond claims, the $25,000 bond gets split proportionally among claimants. So if three of you have valid $25,000+ claims, you might each only get about $8,300 from the bond.

This is why pursuing multiple avenues (bond, CSLB recovery fund, personal judgment) is important.

Similar situation here - different contractor but same story. One thing that helped me: I found the other victims through CSLB records and we coordinated. We shared documentation, attended the CSLB hearing together, and it was more effective than each of us fighting alone.

The contractor eventually had his license revoked and we all got payments from the recovery fund.

Just want to chime in with a different angle. My contractor abandoned a $42,000 kitchen job after I paid $22,000. Turned out he was UNLICENSED - he'd given me a license number that belonged to someone else entirely.

My attorney told me about California Business & Professions Code section 7031. If the contractor is unlicensed, you can recover ALL money paid regardless of work completed. The contractor cannot keep ANY payment for work done without a license.

I sent a demand letter citing B&P 7031 and he paid back the full $22,000 within two weeks. He knew he had no defense.

So first thing everyone should do: verify the license number on CSLB matches the person you hired. Don't just check that "a license exists" - make sure it's actually THEIR license.

@KitchenDisaster_2025 - THIS. B&P 7031 is incredibly powerful. I wish I'd known about it earlier.

My story: Paid a "contractor" $15,000 for deck work. He did about $4,000 worth of work then disappeared. When I checked, his license was expired for 2 years. Under B&P 7031, I was entitled to the FULL $15,000 back, not just $11,000.

Small claims court judge cited the statute and gave me judgment for the full amount. The key is that unlicensed contractors have NO RIGHT to compensation for their work under California law.

Good points about B&P 7031. To clarify for everyone:

• Licensed contractor who abandons: You recover overpayment (money paid minus value of work done)
• Unlicensed contractor: You recover 100% of money paid, period. They have no right to keep anything.

Always verify license status at the time of contracting AND at the time work was performed. A license that was valid when you signed may have lapsed or been suspended by the time work started.

@demolished_kitchen_help - since your contractor's license is active, you're in the first category. But still worth double-checking that the license was continuously active during the project.

Adding another data point: Filed a bond claim for $18,500 against my contractor's bond (he abandoned a garage conversion). Got the full $18,500 from the surety company in about 45 days.

The bond company didn't even fight it - they just asked for documentation (contract, proof of payment, photos of incomplete work, demand letter showing no response) and paid out.

I think I got lucky because I was apparently the only claim against this particular bond. If others had claims, it would have been split.

Update: The contractor finally responded - but only after I filed the CSLB complaint and bond claim. He's claiming "personal emergency" caused the delay and wants to "work things out" without involving CSLB.

He's offering to refund $20,000 (not the full $28,000) and says he can return to finish the job in January. I don't trust him at all at this point. What should I do?

DO NOT let him back on the job. A contractor who abandons work and has multiple CSLB complaints is not someone you want in your home.

If you want to negotiate, demand a full refund of the $28,000 in exchange for withdrawing the complaint. Get it in writing. Get the money before you withdraw anything.

Personally, I wouldn't withdraw the complaint even if he pays. Other homeowners deserve to know about his history.

I agree - do not let him return to work. The trust is broken and you'd be taking on significant risk.

If you negotiate a settlement:

• Demand the full $28,000 plus your documented additional costs (eating out, temporary kitchen setup, etc.)
• Get everything in writing as a formal settlement agreement
• Have him sign a release acknowledging the refund is for breach of contract
• Get certified funds or cash - don't accept a personal check
• Only withdraw complaints AFTER you have the money in hand

That said, his $20,000 offer shows he's scared. You have leverage. Consider consulting with an attorney before settling - many construction attorneys offer free consultations and a demand letter from a lawyer might get you full recovery.

Just won my small claims case against an abandoning contractor! Sharing details in case it helps:

• Contractor took $14,000 for bathroom remodel, did maybe $3,000 worth of work, disappeared
• I waived the excess to stay in small claims ($12,500 limit) rather than hire an attorney for Superior Court
• Brought: contract, all text messages printed out, photos of before/during/current state, three quotes from other contractors to complete, and a spreadsheet calculating my damages
• Contractor didn't even show up to court
• Judge awarded full $12,500

Now trying to collect, which is the hard part. He owns a house so I'm looking into putting a lien on it.

Question for the group: Has anyone filed a police report for contractor fraud? My contractor took $50,000 for a whole house renovation, did nothing, and I found out he's done this to at least 5 other people in Orange County.

The detective I spoke with said they're "looking into it" but contractor fraud is apparently hard to prosecute because they claim it's a "civil matter." Frustrated.

@FraudReporter_OC - You're right that police often treat this as civil. However, if there's a clear pattern of taking money with no intention of doing work, that can rise to the level of criminal fraud (theft by false pretenses).

Tips for getting police to take action:

• Document the pattern - if you can show 5+ victims with similar stories, it looks less like a "business dispute"
• Contact the DA's office directly if police won't act
• File a complaint with the state Attorney General's consumer protection division
• Contact local news - investigative reporters love these stories and publicity sometimes prompts action

In one case I handled, the contractor ended up with felony grand theft charges after enough victims came forward.

Lurking contractor here who often takes over abandoned projects. Some advice on finding a completion contractor:

1. Be upfront about the situation. Don't hide that another contractor abandoned the job. Good contractors want to know what they're walking into.
2. Expect to pay more. Taking over someone else's mess is harder than starting fresh. Budget 20-30% more than original quotes.
3. Ask specifically for "completion" experience. Not all contractors want these jobs. Ask if they've done them before.
4. Get detailed inspection first. A good completion contractor will want to inspect and might find problems the first contractor created/hid.
5. Permits may be complicated. If the first contractor started work without permits, the new contractor has to figure out how to get permits for partially-completed work.

Good contractors exist. We hate guys who give our industry a bad name.

Update: After some back and forth and a demand letter from an attorney, the contractor agreed to refund $26,500 - the $28,000 minus $1,500 for the demo work that was actually completed. He paid via cashier's check.

I decided to keep the CSLB complaint active because I learned there are at least 4 other homeowners he did this to. They deserve to know.

Currently interviewing new contractors. This time: verified references, checking CSLB for complaints, written contract with payment schedule tied to milestones, and never paying more than 10% upfront.

Expensive lesson learned. Thanks everyone for the guidance.

Glad you got most of your money back! Your new vetting process sounds solid. A few additions:

• Visit a job in progress if possible, not just completed work
• Get proof of insurance - call the insurance company to verify it's current
• Check for pulled permits on their past projects via your city's building department
• Payment schedule tip: 10% deposit, then payments tied to completion milestones (demo complete, rough-in complete, etc.), with 10-15% retained until final walkthrough

Good luck with the new contractor!

Different outcome to share: I went through CSLB mediation and it actually worked. Here's my timeline:

• Aug 1: Contractor stopped showing up, owed me about $12,000 in unfinished work
• Aug 10: Filed CSLB complaint
• Sep 5: CSLB contacted me about mediation option
• Sep 20: Mediation session (phone call with CSLB mediator, me, and contractor)
• Sep 25: Signed agreement - contractor to return and finish work within 30 days with CSLB monitoring
• Oct 1: Work completed, passed inspection

Not every contractor is a complete scammer. Some get overwhelmed and make bad decisions. Mediation can work if the contractor is willing to make it right and CSLB holds them accountable.

Now that I've been burned, here are the red flags I ignored that I'll never ignore again:

1. Wanted cash or large deposit upfront - "for materials" he said
2. No physical business address - just a cell phone
3. Pressure to start immediately - "I have a window next week or it'll be 3 months"
4. Vague contract - no detailed scope, no timeline, no milestone payments
5. Excuses about permits - "We'll pull them later" or "This job doesn't need permits"
6. Recent negative reviews - I only looked at the 5-star reviews, not the recent 1-stars
7. Wouldn't provide references - "All my clients are too busy to call"

Every single one of these applied to my contractor. I was too eager to start my project and ignored the warning signs.

Update on my situation (the master bathroom/bedroom addition): Filed bond claim in September. Just got notification that TWO other homeowners also filed claims against the same bond.

Bond is $25,000, total claims are about $80,000 combined. So we're looking at splitting it proportionally - maybe $10,000-11,000 each if the math works out.

Better than nothing but frustrating. Going to pursue CSLB recovery fund for the rest.

Just want to add: Check if your homeowner's insurance has any coverage. Some policies have provisions for:

• Theft coverage - if contractor took money with no intent to perform, might qualify
• Additional living expenses - if you can't use your kitchen/bathroom, some policies cover temporary housing or increased costs
• Builder's risk - if you added this endorsement for the renovation

It's a long shot, but I've seen homeowner's policies pay out in contractor fraud situations. Worth a call to your insurance agent.

Success story to share for anyone feeling hopeless:

Timeline of my recovery:

• March 2024: Contractor abandoned $38,000 whole-house flooring project after taking $20,000
• April: Filed CSLB complaint, bond claim, and sent formal demand letter
• June: Bond claim approved - received $25,000 (full bond)
• August: Small claims judgment for remaining $5,000 (waived excess over $12,500)
• October: Garnished contractor's bank account, collected full judgment

Total recovered: $30,000 of $20,000 paid = actually came out $10,000 ahead because my damages calculation included cost to complete with new contractor.

The system works if you're persistent. Document everything and pursue every avenue.

Question: Does California allow treble (triple) damages for contractor fraud? In Texas where I'm from, certain consumer protection laws allow 3x damages for deceptive practices.

My contractor took $25,000 and his license turned out to be suspended at the time he signed my contract. Wondering if there's additional recovery beyond just refund.

@TexasTransplant_SD - Good question. California doesn't have automatic treble damages for contractor issues, but you have options:

• B&P 7031 - Full refund of all payments to unlicensed/suspended contractor (as discussed above)
• Civil Code 1780 (Consumer Legal Remedies Act) - Can get actual damages plus attorney fees, and in some cases punitive damages
• Business & Professions Code 17200 (UCL) - Unfair competition claim that can add restitution and injunctive relief
• Punitive damages - Available if you can prove fraud/malice, but requires Superior Court (not small claims)

Since his license was suspended when he contracted with you, you have a strong B&P 7031 claim for full refund regardless of work done. An attorney could advise whether additional claims make sense given the amounts involved.

Just found this thread researching my own contractor nightmare. Is there any way to find out who the other victims of a contractor are? I want to coordinate like TriciaM mentioned but CSLB doesn't list complainant names.

I found the other victims through a combination of: Yelp/Google reviews mentioning similar experiences, Nextdoor posts in neighborhoods where the contractor worked, and actually calling CSLB and asking if they could facilitate contact (they can in some cases if everyone consents). Also check if there's been any local news coverage - reporters sometimes write about serial bad contractors.

Adding my story: Contractor abandoned a $65,000 pool and deck project after taking $40,000. He'd dug the hole for the pool and then vanished. I had a literal pit in my backyard for 4 months.

Recovery path:

1. Bond claim: $25,000 (but had to split with another victim, got $15,000)
2. CSLB Recovery Fund: $15,000 (took 8 months)
3. Small claims: $12,500 judgment (waived excess)
4. Collected on judgment via bank levy: $8,000

Total recovered: $38,000 of $40,000 paid. Not bad but the stress and 14 months of effort was exhausting.

Pro tip: CSLB Recovery Fund takes forever. Start that process early even while pursuing other options.

For those in the Sacramento area - I had success getting help from Assemblymember contact office. When CSLB was taking forever on my complaint, my assemblymember's office made an inquiry and suddenly things moved faster.

Elected officials have constituent services that can sometimes push government agencies to act. Worth a try if you're stuck in bureaucratic limbo.

PSA on collecting judgments against contractors:

Getting a judgment is step one. Collecting is step two and often harder. Tools available in California:

• Bank levy - Sheriff freezes their bank account (need to know which bank)
• Wage garnishment - 25% of wages if they have W-2 employment
• Property lien - Attaches to any real estate they own (search county recorder)
• Till tap - Sheriff takes cash from their business register
• Debtor examination - Court order forcing them to disclose assets

I used a combination of property lien + debtor exam. Found out he had equity in his house and eventually he paid to remove the lien when he tried to refinance.

Judgments are good for 10 years and renewable. Be patient and persistent.

This thread has been incredibly helpful. I'm dealing with a contractor who took $55,000 for a flip property renovation and has done maybe $15,000 worth of work over 5 months with constant delays.

Question: At what point does "slow work" become "abandonment"? He shows up maybe once a week for a few hours, always with excuses. I want to fire him but worried about the legal implications.

@FirstTimeFlip - Look at your contract for timeline provisions. If the contract specifies completion dates or milestones and he's significantly behind, that's likely a material breach.

General rule: If no timeline is specified, "reasonable time" applies. 5 months for work that should take 2 months is likely unreasonable.

Steps to terminate properly:

1. Send written notice that he's in breach due to delays
2. Give him a specific cure period (7-14 days typically) to resume steady work
3. If he doesn't cure, send termination letter
4. Document everything - the sporadic visits, excuses, etc.

Having proper documentation of breach protects you if he later claims you wrongfully terminated. Check out the contractor dispute letter templates for language you can use.

Update on my B&P 7031 case from earlier in the thread: The unlicensed contractor initially paid the $22,000 back, but the check bounced!

So I filed in small claims for the original $22,000 plus the bounced check fee plus my filing costs. Judge awarded everything plus statutory damages for the bad check (triple the amount up to $1,500 under Civil Code 1719).

New total judgment: $24,200. He paid in cash within a week - I think the bounced check penalties scared him.

Lesson: If their check bounces, you may actually recover MORE through the bad check statute.

My contractor didn't exactly abandon the ADU project - he finished it, but failed all inspections and then refused to fix anything. City won't give certificate of occupancy. I've paid $120,000 and have an unusable structure.

Is this situation similar enough to abandonment that I can use the same remedies discussed here?

@ADU_Headache - Yes, similar principles apply. Work that fails inspection isn't "complete" - the contract almost certainly requires work to meet code and pass inspection.

Your remedies:

• CSLB complaint for incompetent/negligent work
• Bond claim
• Demand letter requiring him to correct defects
• If he refuses, hire another contractor to fix issues and sue for cost of repair

At $120,000, you should seriously consider hiring a construction defect attorney. This is too much money for small claims and the issues are probably complex.

Important note I haven't seen mentioned: If you're the homeowner and your contractor abandons, make sure no subcontractors or suppliers have filed mechanic's liens against YOUR property for money the contractor owes THEM.

I got burned this way. Contractor took my money, didn't pay his suppliers, and now I have $8,000 in liens on my house from the lumber yard and plumbing supplier. I have to pay them or fight the liens even though I already paid the contractor.

Check your county recorder's office for any liens filed against your address.

@LienBasics raises a critical point. To protect yourself from subcontractor/supplier liens:

• Require lien waivers with each progress payment - contractor should provide unconditional waivers from all subs/suppliers for work covered by previous payments
• Use joint checks for large purchases - make checks payable to both contractor AND supplier
• Pay attention to preliminary notices - in California, subs/suppliers must send a preliminary 20-day notice to preserve lien rights. This is a warning that someone besides your contractor is owed money on your project

If liens have been filed, you can often negotiate them down. Suppliers would rather get 70% than go through foreclosure. But this should definitely be added to your damages claim against the original contractor.

Investigative reporter here, I'm working on a story about contractor abandonment in the Bay Area. We've identified a contractor with at least 12 victims totaling over $400,000 in losses.

If anyone wants to share their story (can be anonymous), please reach out. Media coverage sometimes prompts DA action when CSLB moves too slowly.

Also happy to share our research methodology for tracking down other victims - cross-referencing CSLB complaints, court records, BBB complaints, and social media.

Happy New Year with a happy update! My bond claim finally paid out - got $11,200 (my proportional share). Combined with what I expect from CSLB recovery fund, I should recover about $22,000 of the $35,000 I lost.

Timeline recap for those following:

• June 2024: Contractor abandoned project
• July 2024: Filed CSLB complaint + bond claim
• October 2024: Learned bond would be split 3 ways
• January 2024: Bond payment received

6 months from abandonment to first recovery payment. Patience required but the process works.

My contractor's excuse when I threatened CSLB complaint: "I'm going through bankruptcy, you can't collect anyway."

Is this true? Does bankruptcy protect them from CSLB actions or bond claims?

@SiliconValleyScammed - Bankruptcy is complicated, but here's the short version:

• CSLB complaint: NOT stopped by bankruptcy. CSLB can still investigate and revoke license.
• Bond claim: NOT stopped. The bond is from the surety company, not the contractor personally.
• CSLB Recovery Fund: NOT stopped. This is a state fund, not contractor's money.
• Personal lawsuit/judgment: MAY be stayed by bankruptcy automatic stay, but you can still pursue and get judgment - just collection may be delayed.
• If fraud is involved: Debts arising from fraud are often NOT dischargeable in bankruptcy anyway.

Don't let the bankruptcy threat stop you. Most of your remedies are against third parties (surety, state fund), not the contractor directly.

Just won my small claims case! Here's what the judge specifically mentioned as helpful in my case:

1. Timeline document - I made a one-page chronology of events with dates
2. Organized photos - Before, during, and current state, labeled with dates
3. Communication log - Spreadsheet showing all calls/texts/emails with dates and brief descriptions
4. Three completion estimates - Shows cost to finish the work
5. Demand letter and proof of service - Showed I gave him chance to fix it

The judge said my organization made it easy to understand what happened. Contractor showed up with nothing but excuses. Judgment for full $12,500.

Perspective from someone who does small jobs: The licensing threshold in California is $500. Any job over $500 requires a contractor's license.

I see a lot of "handymen" taking on $5,000-$10,000 jobs without a license, then abandoning or doing poor work. These folks have NO bond to claim against.

But the B&P 7031 full refund applies to them too! If they're unlicensed and the job was over $500, you can get every penny back regardless of work done.

Always ask for license number BEFORE hiring, even for "small" jobs that don't seem small.

Follow-up to my earlier post about the B&P 7031 small claims win: I've now collected the full judgment!

Here's how: I found out the contractor (unlicensed guy) worked as a W-2 employee at a legitimate construction company on the side. Filed for wage garnishment. His employer is now sending me 25% of each paycheck until the judgment is satisfied.

Took some detective work (debtor examination where judge ordered him to disclose employment) but persistence paid off.

Just want to thank this thread. Read it back in October when my contractor stopped showing up. Followed the advice here:

• Sent demand letter using template from this site
• Filed CSLB complaint
• Started bond claim process

Contractor called me within 2 weeks of receiving the demand letter, clearly scared. We negotiated a full refund of my $18,000 deposit in exchange for me not pursuing the bond claim (I kept the CSLB complaint active).

The demand letter was the key - it showed I knew my rights and was serious. Thank you all!

Final final update from OP: My new kitchen is DONE! Hired a great completion contractor who finished in 8 weeks. Cost about $35,000 but the work is excellent and passed all inspections.

Financial recap:

• Lost to original contractor: $28,000
• Recovered via settlement: $26,500
• Net loss from scam: $1,500
• New contractor cost: $35,000
• Total project cost: $36,500 (vs. original $55,000 contract)

Silver lining: Actually spent less overall than I would have with the original contractor, got better work, and learned a ton about contractor vetting.

CSLB update: Original contractor's license was suspended last month due to multiple complaints. At least he can't do this to anyone else (legally).

Thanks to everyone who helped along the way. This thread helped me navigate one of the most stressful experiences of my life.

@demolished_kitchen_help - Congratulations on getting through this! Your outcome is actually better than most - recovering $26,500 of $28,000 is excellent.

For everyone following this thread, the key takeaways:

1. Act quickly - File CSLB complaint and bond claim immediately upon abandonment
2. Document everything - Photos, communications, receipts, contracts
3. Send formal demand letter - Often prompts settlement
4. Check license status carefully - Unlicensed = B&P 7031 full refund
5. Pursue all avenues - Bond, recovery fund, small claims/lawsuit
6. Be patient but persistent - Recovery takes months but works

Good luck to everyone dealing with these situations. The system isn't perfect but it does provide remedies if you know how to use them.

Bookmarking this thread for future reference. About to start a $75,000 home addition project and this discussion has taught me:

• Verify license AND check for complaints on CSLB website
• Verify insurance by calling the insurance company directly
• Never pay more than 10% deposit
• Payment tied to milestones with retention held until completion
• Get lien waivers with each payment
• Detailed contract with timeline and scope
• Verify permits are actually pulled

Prevention is better than recovery. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.