The $2,100 prepaid card I loaded for a contractor upfront totally backfired on me in Hamilton

I paid a basement waterproofing crew half the job cost before they even started, and then they went silent for 3 weeks after one day of work. The card was non-refundable through my bank, so I had to chase them through small claims and still only got half back. Anyone else ever hand over prepayment for home repairs and get burned, or do you always hold back till the final inspection?

2 comments

2 Comments

vera_johnson928d ago

Flip it around and see it from their side for a second. A contractor who fronts materials and labor for weeks can get stuck holding the bag if you bail, so some upfront cash is pretty standard in this field. The real issue here isn't the prepayment, it's that you didn't vet them harder or put a clear schedule in the contract before handing over that card.

finley_gonzalez4926d ago

My cousin got burned the same way last year and now she only pays 10% down, then ties the rest to what actually gets done. They wanted 50% upfront and she held her ground, contractor ended up doing fine with it. That little bit of leverage saved her when they tried to ghost for two weeks.