Contractor Non Perfomance

[KarenO]

My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: New Hampshire

In mid June we signed a simple contract for gutter install based up the contractors verbal commitment to start early July. The contract stipulated all deposits are non-cancellable and non-refundable. Mid July we asked him For the start date and he said “best guess beginning of August. August 3rd we asked and was told “no idea at this point”. We started putting pressure on him for a commitment. On August 8th he said he would look into it next week. We heard nothing back. On the 15th we asked for our deposit back and told him we would find another contractor to do the work. He respond back “there will be no refund...there was never and will never be a date or time...”. Do we have any recourse?

[adjusterjack]

Unfortunately, NH is one of those states that do not license contractors at a state level. You can file a complaint with the NH Consumer Protection Bureau for all the good that will do you.

https://www.doj.nh.gov/consumer/complaints/index.htm

Also check with your city or county to see if a local license is required and whether he has one.

You can sue him but, even if you win, collecting from scammers is often problematic.

But, bottom line, I think you may be kissing your money goodbye.

Life lesson from the school of hard knocks: Never give any contractor or workman any money up front. Always pay on completion, even you you have to buy the materials yourself.

[llworking]

Unfortunately, NH is one of those states that do not license contractors at a state level. You can file a complaint with the NH Consumer Protection Bureau for all the good that will do you.

https://www.doj.nh.gov/consumer/complaints/index.htm

Also check with your city or county to see if a local license is required and whether he has one.

You can sue him but, even if you win, collecting from scammers is often problematic.

But, bottom line, I think you may be kissing your money goodbye.

Life lesson from the school of hard knocks: Never give any contractor or workman any money up front. Always pay on completion, even you you have to buy the materials yourself.

While I agree in theory, it may be difficult to find any contractor who will agree to do a job without an upfront deposit. Deposits are standard in the industry. I do agree however, that buying the materials yourself could be a valid way to get around that. However, you might end up paying a bit more for the materials than your contractor would.

[budwad]

. On the 15th we asked for our deposit back and told him we would find another contractor to do the work. He respond back “there will be no refund...there was never and will never be a date or time...”. Do we have any recourse?

Tell your contractor that he either starts the job in the next two weeks or returns your deposit. And if not you will sue him under The Consumer Protection Act of NH and he will lose and have to pay your attorney fees.

https://nhlegalaid.org/self-help-gui...protection-act

How much did you give on deposit?