Do we have any recourse?

[cleancloths]

I had a similar situation with a contractor that put an addition on our house about 14 years ago. He told me the job would take six weeks. I told him that would be fine, I would give him 90 days - to which he replied that would not be necessary that it would only take six weeks. Then I presented him with the contract that called for him to pay me $100 a day for each day from 91 on that the job was not complete.

At day 120 he came to me and said we had to discuss the contract as it was killing him. I told him fine, he had done many extras I had asked for so I told him we would call it even. I then asked him how much longer, he said 10 days. I told him he had two weeks, he told me not to work it would only take 10 days. I told him fine, sign here - where it said he would pay me $200 a day for each day after two weeks. At day 20 he got fired and I finished the little bit that was left and never paid him the balance due.

The moral of the story is take nothing said as binding, get it all in writing.

[esalkin]

Too late now but just for the record, do some homework anytime you get contract work done.

Here are some rules:
Make sure they are a legit contractor.
Get every detail in writing (start date, finish date, materials, etc...)
Also in Florida (and other states?) be sure and get a "release of lien" that says they have paid all subcontractors or you may end up stuck with another bill!

Here are a couple of government sites that have contracting tips. Their may be more in your area:

http://www.cslb.ca.gov/consumers/beforehiring.asp
http://www.miamishoresvillage.com/Bu...g_contract.htm

[Luvtlee]

Too late now but just for the record, do some homework anytime you get contract work done.

Here are some rules:
Make sure they are a legit contractor.
Get every detail in writing (start date, finish date, materials, etc...)
Also in Florida (and other states?) be sure and get a "release of lien" that says they have paid all subcontractors or you may end up stuck with another bill!

Here are a couple of government sites that have contracting tips. Their may be more in your area:

http://www.cslb.ca.gov/consumers/beforehiring.asp
http://www.miamishoresvillage.com/Bu...g_contract.htm

We did all this, did everything the way you're supposed to do. But, now that I've been complaining here they've really stepped up the pace. We were plastered ahead of schedule due to a cancellation elsewhere and the pool is now almost full of water. In the end we are not quite two weeks late, and I'm feeling a bit sheepish for all the whining. >.< Might want to move this post to lessons learned, huh? Lesson learned here: that just because they may get a bit slow here and there, doesn't mean the whole project will necessarily go that way. Also, staying in close contact with them via phone calls and always remaining polite while talking to them, might've helped. Who knows, maybe that is why they chose to fill that cancellation spot with us; cuz' they'd gotten tired of me calling.

[georgiapoollover]

we had to contact the BBB in our area to get help. Our pool contractor delayed our pool blaming the manufacturer for the pool kit being backordered and stuff. That was a lie. Our pool contract was signed June 12 and our pool was done. Aug 11. They told us 4 weeks at the longest. It took about 8. What a disappointment, but the pool is nice now that we have it. The pool company was way too over booked with jobs.

[esalkin]

...Our pool contract was signed June 12 and our pool was done. Aug 11. They told us 4 weeks at the longest...

Gee, my AG took that long. Of course, my wife and I did it ourselves in '04 and we were hit by 3 hurricanes!

[Spensar]

We did all this, did everything the way you're supposed to do. But, now that I've been complaining here they've really stepped up the pace. We were plastered ahead of schedule due to a cancellation elsewhere and the pool is now almost full of water. In the end we are not quite two weeks late, and I'm feeling a bit sheepish for all the whining. >.< Might want to move this post to lessons learned, huh? Lesson learned here: that just because they may get a bit slow here and there, doesn't mean the whole project will necessarily go that way. Also, staying in close contact with them via phone calls and always remaining polite while talking to them, might've helped. Who knows, maybe that is why they chose to fill that cancellation spot with us; cuz' they'd gotten tired of me calling.

The big question is though, would they have done this without your applying some pressure or would that "cancellation" slot have gone to someone else?