Legal Question in Consumer Law in Iowa

Can we be held responsible for a contractor's failure to pay his bills?

Hi, my wife and I own our home in Iowa. Last summer we paid a contractor to install soffits on the house. We paid him $900 in advance for supplies and $600 for labor. The work was done and completed last July with no problems. Last night we were contacted by his former business partner claiming we owed the business partner $400 for supplies. Apparently our contractor had just gone into business with this guy and used a joint line of credit to buy our supplies, with his partner's approval. Allegedly the bill was never paid by our contractor even though we paid the contractor in full. This former business partner of our contractor stated that if we didn't pay the bill, he would file paperwork to place a lien against our home. I am contacting a lawyer later, but thought I'd just ask here just to see what others have to say. I have no idea what the laws are around this, but it seems to me that his redress is with his former partner, not us. We paid and have all receipts, and now this comes up 9 months later? Seems fishy to me. Again, I am contacting a lawyer later but it never hurts to get other input. Thank you very much in advance!


Asked on 3/20/09, 9:32 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Thomas Moens Moens Law Offices, Chartered

Re: Can we be held responsible for a contractor's failure to pay his bills?

I would suggest waiting for the advice from the attorney you are hiring, since he or she will obviously have more information than you are able to provide here.

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Answered on 3/23/09, 11:54 am


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