Contractor took $15K deposit and disappeared - what are my options?

I feel so stupid. Hired a contractor back in October for a kitchen renovation. Total job was $45K, he asked for $15K upfront for "materials and permits." Had good reviews on google, showed me his license, seemed professional.

He came by twice after I paid, did some demo work, then just... vanished. Won't answer calls, texts go unread, showed up at the address on his business card and its a UPS store mailbox. Its been 5 weeks.

I have the contract, cancelled check, and text messages. What are my options here? Can I actually get this money back or am I just screwed?

Document everything NOW before memories fade:

• Screenshot all text messages and emails
• Photos of any work done (or not done)
• Get a copy of permits pulled (or proof none were pulled)
• Bank statement showing the payment
• Copy of his license info if you have it
• Write down timeline of every interaction while its fresh

Also send a formal demand letter via certified mail to every address you have for him. Even if returned, it shows you made good faith effort to resolve.

did you pay by credit card by any chance? if so dispute the charge immediately. banks take contractor fraud seriously

No he insisted on check. should have been a red flag in hindsight

thank you for the detailed response. looked up his license and its showing as "active" on the state website. filed the complaint this morning and they said typical investigation takes 60-90 days. also filing police report today.

sorry you went through it too. the violation is real - I keep second guessing myself like how did I not see this coming

If his license is active, thats actually good news for you. Means he has a bond you can potentially claim against or whatever, and the board has more leverage.

One more thing - check your homeowners insurance. Some policies have coverage for contractor fraud/theft. Long shot but worth a call.

And don't beat yourself up. These guys are professionals at this. Good reviews are easy to fake and they know exactly how to seem legitimate. The fact that you have a signed contract and documentation puts you in a better position than most just saying.

OP - I found this thread while researching the same contractor. I posted about my experience on Nextdoor last week and THREE other people in our county reached out saying he did the exact same thing to them. Same playbook - professional presentation, $10-20K deposit, does minimal demo work, then ghosts.

Combined losses are over $55K between the four of us. We've been sharing documentation and one of the other victims has a contact at the DA's office. They're now opening a criminal investigation for grand theft and fraud. Apparently when there's a clear pattern like this with multiple victims, prosecutors are much more willing to pursue it.

If you're comfortable, DM me and I can connect you with our group. The more victims who come forward, the stronger the case. The DA investigator said they may also be able to find assets we couldn't through their subpoena power.

Also - turns out his "active" license was under a different business name than what he was operating under. The licensing board is now looking at that angle too.

This is terrifying to read. We're about to start a bathroom renovation and were going to give the contractor 1/3 upfront like he asked. Now Im reconsidering.

For anyone who's been through this - what's a "safe" deposit amount? Is 10% standard or unreasonable to ask for? Don't want to lose a good contractor by being too paranoid but also don't want to end up like OP.

For freelancers: always have a clause specifying who owns the work product. Without it, the default rule varies by state. In most states, the client owns work-for-hire, but that's not universal for independent contractors.