What do I do if my contractor doesn't show up?

A contractor who has been paid and stops showing up is in breach of contract. The recovery sequence has a strict order — skipping steps weakens your eventual claim.

Step 1: Document the absence. Save every text, voicemail, and email. Take dated photos of the job site. Get written statements from any subcontractors or suppliers who also have not been paid. This is your evidentiary record.

Step 2: Send a formal demand letter by certified mail, return receipt requested. State the contract, the amount paid, the work completed, the work outstanding, and a firm deadline (7 to 14 days is standard) to resume work or refund the unearned deposit. Many state laws (California Business and Professions Code 7159, for example) require this notice before further remedies attach.

Step 3: File a complaint with the state licensing board. The CSLB in California will investigate and can issue citations, restitution orders, or license suspension. The Arizona ROC has a Residential Recovery Fund that pays up to $30,000 per claim against a licensed contractor's bond. Oregon CCB, Nevada NSCB, and most states have similar consumer recovery mechanisms.

Step 4: File a bond claim. Every licensed contractor in California carries a $25,000 contractor's bond; Oregon CCB carries $20,000 for residential. The bond is your first-dollar recovery — file directly with the surety company listed on the contractor's license lookup.

Step 5: Credit-card chargeback. If you paid by credit card, dispute the unearned portion within 60 days of the statement. This is usually your fastest recovery.

Step 6: Small claims (under $5,000-$10,000 depending on state) or civil court. A judgment against the contractor can be used to file a lien against any property they own and can collect from future bond claims.

Step 7: If the contractor has truly disappeared, run a public-records check — Groundcheck (earthmove.io/trust) will tell you if they have already opened a new LLC under a different name (phoenix pattern), which strengthens a fraud claim significantly.

If multiple homeowners are in the same situation, contact your state Attorney General's consumer protection division — pattern fraud gets prosecuted criminally.