Legal Question in Construction Law in Virginia

Home repairs

A contractor has recently completed work in my home. I have paid him $6400 so far and the final cost is $6950. The problem is that I have not received paperwork in a timely manner (or at all), the amounts he claim I owe do not add up to the sum on his few invoices he has given me, he did not seperate charges but wrote lump sums for costs that I can't understand, the work was not done as requested, and he is now calling my house yelling at me and threatening legal action in the form of a Mechanics' Lien. I agreed to pay him the final installment but I have requested the proper paperwork to review his charges. He has given me three different charges both verbally and in writing insisting I just pay $550 to settle his costs. I feel like I am geting cheated and bullied. What is my defense against a mechanic's lien that I believe is fraudulent?


Asked on 7/22/07, 6:20 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Home repairs

It would seem a little late now to be contesting the $6950 charges for the contractor's construction work if you've already paid him $6400. The better course would likely be to simply pay the $550 which he's requesting and then to have the job evaluated by someone else who's qualified to judge the work which has been completed. If there's a serious disparity between what you've paid and what the expert evaluator believes the job is worth, you could then consider bring suit against the contractor in small claims court for the difference.

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Answered on 7/22/07, 8:52 pm


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