I hired a custom cabinet maker last July to design and build cabinets for my whole house, and it has turned into a complete disaster. We're more than six months behind schedule, and his professionalism is nonexistent. He frequently misses deadlines, skips appointments, and blames others for his failures. After talking with lawyers, I've decided it's just too much hassle to take him to court. I know he'll eventually deliver the cabinets, but I expect the quality won't be what we agreed upon.
I'm thinking about withholding the final payment until he addresses all the issues, but I know that won't fully compensate for the stress he's caused. I owe him two payments totaling $13k, with each one being $6.5k. I'm worried he might abandon the project or try to hold my cabinets hostage until I pay up, even though our contract specifies the payment terms.
What are some ways I could make his life a bit more challenging after this is all over? I'm not looking to directly threaten him since that could complicate things further, but I'm curious about potential ways to seek a little retribution. I'm considering reporting him to the BBB and posting negative reviews on social media—any other suggestions?
3 Answers
I get your frustration, but I don’t really see the point in complaining to the BBB after he finishes the work. If he actually completes it and the quality is decent, it might not be worth jeopardizing the last payment. Maybe just hold off and see if he pulls through in the end, even if it’s been a rough ride.
One playful way to mess with him is to create fake Google Voice numbers and keep calling him for quotes using different accents or from far-off addresses. It might drive him a bit crazy, and while it probably won't work forever, it could be a fun way to waste some of his time! Just don't go overboard with it.
You could consider small claims court if you're really fed up with him. It might only cost around $150 to file where I live, but keep in mind that it has a payout cap of $10,000. Just make sure you get the doors first because if the work isn’t finished, you might have a stronger case later.