Getting Help After Bad Handyman Service

First step: Fire your crummy contractor. It's best to do this in person and in front of several witnesses.

Tell Hank the Handyman he's breached the terms of your contact, and you no longer require his services. Then ask him to take all of his tools and leave. Watch as he does so, and make sure he doesn't leave anything behind. Also make sure to get back any house keys you've loaned out, and make it clear he is not to return.

He many choose to take the matter to court, so to protect yourself, document any time he's breached the contract as well as any other problems, such as not pulling permits or delivering subpar work. Take photos for reference.

If he has hit any of the milestones laid out in the contract, like framing or drywalling, pay the amount required. Courts aren't qualified to make judgments on substandard work and will likely order any milestone payments to be delivered in full.

If you've issued checks for work which hasn't been completed but aren't yet cashed, call the bank for a stop payment. Never believe handymen who say they're going to put a lien on your property unless you pay. If you're the owner of the home and your contract doesn't include any lien wording, this isn't possible.

Dealing with the aftermath of a bad contractor is messy and time-consuming, but you have several resources available.

First, check your state government website for information about contractors and licensing. In California, for example, all contractors must possess a valid license to work, and filing a complaint with the government can give them grounds to begin an investigation. Angie's List provides a License Check tool, an online resource where you can look up the license requirements for professionals as required by your state, city or local government. 

Municipal governments may also offer services, like mediation, that can help settle handyman disputes. In some cases, arbitration or mediation may be laid out in your contract as the approved method for resolving disputes. If not, you'll need to convince the contractor that mediation is in his best interest. This process is useful in cases where disputes about the quality of work arise, rather than the completion of the job as a whole.

Review sites like Angie's List are great outlets to share your experiences and warn other homeowners about the problems you've encountered. Posting honest reviews of work may spur a bad contractor to crawl back out of the woodwork. While the company may threaten to sue for libel, so long as you don't focus on ad hominem attacks and instead speak truthfully about what's been done (or left undone), this kind of suit won't get far.

If you're an Angie's List member, you can follow the Complaint Resolution Process, a third-party complaint process. If your complaint qualifies, Angie's List leverages the strength in numbers to attempt to resolve consumer complaints for its members, and there’s no charge to initiate it.

You may reach the point where it's worth employing the services of a construction lawyer. You'll probably pay between $300 and $800 for a consultation, but the lawyer can tell if you have a civil case against the contractor. Although it takes time and money, a victory in court could see the contractor ordered to fix poor work or pay back some of the money taken.