Having a Hard Time With a Contractor - Learn How to Use Your Leverage Over Them and Save Your Sanity

So it's happen to you, you never thing it will but then it does, you've been taken by a bad contractor. Now what do you do? Who can you turn to? What actions can you take to recoup your money and stop this contractor from screwing the next guy over? Following these next tips will help you get your money back, help stop them from doing it again and hurt them where it counts. Before reading these tips try to reason with your contractor with they still won't fix it tell them your going to do the following and they'll change their tune. 1. Did the contractor you hire have a government issued license such as painting contractors have, like a Home Improvement Contractors License. It's important to ask for these licenses as it tends to weed out the bad contractors. If your contractor does have one your in lucky you can report them to the state government office and 2 things will happen the state will pay to have your house fix and they will take his license to do business. 2. Was the contractor a member of Angie's List or are you if so you have a lot of power. You can ask Angie's List to call the contractor and ask them to fix the problem or return the money. You may ask why a contractor would care what Angie's List wanted and ignore you. And the reason why is because for many contractors Angie's List is a major source work for them and one bad review from a Angie's List member would cost them tons of money. 3. If you can find there company in Google Places and Yahoo Places {this is where the map pops up on the right} write a bad review for them. This will cost them work and help other people steer clear of them. 4. Was your contractor a member of the BBB if so write a review over there. 5. Did you find your contractor from the Super Pages? Did they have the super guarantee? If so call Super Pages up and file a claim and get your money back. 6. Lastly call your district attorney up and see what they can do. Also file a claim in small claims court. I know at times like this things can feel helpless and even if you did all this you might still not see your money come back but at least you will feel better and at the same time help some unsuspecting person avoid this shady contractor next time. If any one know of other legal ways to get even with characters like this please leave a comment below.