I know I am probably screwed but need advice

[-King-]

Should be easy to prove fraud.

[Pushead2]

[Raiderhater]

Originally Posted by listopencil

^

Do it now.

Yep, don't waste time.

[Unsmooth-Moment]

Use a particular set of skills to track the guy down and kill him. Or go to the police.

[FAX]

Go buy a framing hammer with your last 20 dollars and smack yourself in the head with it.

FAX

[Willie Lanier]

Originally Posted by FAX

Go buy a framing hammer with your last 20 dollars and smack yourself in the head with it.

FAX

Really? How do you trust anyone in that particular sector of business? No disrespect to anyone in that industry, but if I'm doing anything on the house, I don't write a check before work is done...

Unless it's family...

Originally Posted by Willie Lanier

Really? How do you trust anyone in that particular sector of business? No disrespect to anyone in that industry, but if I'm doing anything on the house, I don't write a check before work is done...

Unless it's family...

You wouldn't do business me then. We make and agree upon a sensible payment schedule before work commences. That way if you get hit by a bus or are trying to take advantage of me, I don't lose my house. If I get hit by a bus or am trying to take advantage of you, you're not hurt too badly either. I can't buy $5k worth of material and then float you a loan while paying for the labor to have it all installed. There's a reasonable compromise and if you do business with reputable people who have real businesses your risk is minimal. If you do business with people from craigslist or want ads, you're going to be screwed more often than not. I've been hurt a whole lot worse by deadbeat clients than this guy was screwed by a scam artist.

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by Phobia

You wouldn't do business me then. We make and agree upon a sensible payment schedule before work commences. That way if you get hit by a bus or are trying to take advantage of me, I don't lose my house. If I get hit by a bus or am trying to take advantage of you, you're not hurt too badly either. I can't buy $5k worth of material and then float you a loan while paying for the labor to have it all installed. There's a reasonable compromise and if you do business with reputable people who have real businesses your risk is minimal. If you do business with people from craigslist or want ads, you're going to be screwed more often than not. I've been hurt a whole lot worse by deadbeat clients than this guy was screwed by a scam artist.

The way I see it, you want your client to lend you money to pay for your employees. If your client is paying your expenses throughout the job, what exactly do they need you for?

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

The way I see it, you want your client to lend you money to pay for your employees. If your client is paying your expenses throughout the job, what exactly do they need you for?

No. Not at all. I want paid for materials as they're delivered. I want paid for a half-done job when it's half done. I can't do a $50k job and wait a month to get paid on it. Some guys can and do.

I lost $15k to a lady when I first moved to KC. That will never happen again. Ever.

They need me for my expertise, resources and labor. I don't need a grocery store. I can create everything they sell there. I just don't have time, tools, nor expertise.

[CLX]

Originally Posted by Phobia

You wouldn't do business me then. We make and agree upon a sensible payment schedule before work commences. That way if you get hit by a bus or are trying to take advantage of me, I don't lose my house. If I get hit by a bus or am trying to take advantage of you, you're not hurt too badly either. I can't buy $5k worth of material and then float you a loan while paying for the labor to have it all installed. There's a reasonable compromise and if you do business with reputable people who have real businesses your risk is minimal. If you do business with people from craigslist or want ads, you're going to be screwed more often than not. I've been hurt a whole lot worse by deadbeat clients than this guy was screwed by a scam artist.

When I've done work with contractors that needed material and wanted a deposit we always had paperwork to cover ourselves. I should note here that I've never done business on craigslist. A reputable contractor shouldn't ask for money without some kind of paperwork. I might give a repeat contractor an advance, but that would be a situation where you've developed a trust with the guy. I would like to think that in a bigger metropolitan area than I'm in the contractor would be bonded.

Originally Posted by CLX

When I've done work with contractors that needed material and wanted a deposit we always had paperwork to cover ourselves. I should note here that I've never done business on craigslist. A reputable contractor shouldn't ask for money without some kind of paperwork. I might give a repeat contractor an advance, but that would be a situation where you've developed a trust with the guy. I would like to think that in a bigger metropolitan area than I'm in the contractor would be bonded.

Yeah. All that. It's really not all that difficult to figure out if you're working with a scammer or not.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by CLX

When I've done work with contractors that needed material and wanted a deposit we always had paperwork to cover ourselves. I should note here that I've never done business on craigslist. A reputable contractor shouldn't ask for money without some kind of paperwork. I might give a repeat contractor an advance, but that would be a situation where you've developed a trust with the guy. I would like to think that in a bigger metropolitan area than I'm in the contractor would be bonded.

When my husband was a contractor, he did this with a repeat client who then focked him. Turned out she had a pattern of doing this to contractors. 25 years ago it was alot easier to pull of than it is now.

[DonkyPuncher]

Originally Posted by Willie Lanier

Really? How do you trust anyone in that particular sector of business? No disrespect to anyone in that industry, but if I'm doing anything on the house, I don't write a check before work is done...

Unless it's family...

Yea right family is the worst to pay in advance

[BossChief]

Now you know what brown can do for you.

[Jenson71]

Whoops. State law gives construction guys mechanics liens in case they don't get paid, so never give them an advance.

Okay, but lesson learned. Good luck. I would think you would get a default judgment in the county, then spend some time with the cops looking for forger. Then file your judgment in his county and attach his property. I would expect it to take time and probably not get full return, but you never know.