---
name: contractor-dispute
description: "Handle a dispute with a contractor — unfinished work, poor quality, overcharging, or a no-show — with a path that protects your money and your options. Use when asked to deal with a contractor dispute, my contractor did bad work / won't finish / overcharged, or how to get a builder to fix their work. Produces a read on your position (contract, payments, evidence), a firm-but-professional communication and demand path, documentation and payment-leverage guidance, and escalation options (mediation, licensing board, chargeback, small claims) — flagging that it's not legal advice."
---

# Contractor Dispute

A contractor dispute is stressful because your home and your money are both on the line. The winning approach isn't a shouting match — it's leverage: a clear record of the agreement and the problems, a professional demand with a deadline, careful use of any unpaid balance, and knowing the escalation routes. This lays that out so you push for a fix without torching your position.

## What This Skill Produces

- **A position read** — where you stand based on the contract/agreement, what's been paid, and the evidence you have
- **The communication & demand** — a firm, professional message stating the problem, the fix required, and a deadline
- **Documentation guidance** — the photos, contract, messages, payment records, and a defect list to assemble
- **Payment leverage** — how any remaining balance or retention is your strongest lever (and the risks of withholding)
- **Escalation options** — mediation, the licensing/trade body, a card chargeback, small claims, or a lien response — matched to the situation
- **A boundary** — this isn't legal advice; for big sums or liens, get a professional

## Required Inputs

Ask for these if not provided:
- **The problem** — unfinished, defective, overcharged, no-show, or gone AWOL
- **The agreement** — written contract/quote, scope, and payment terms
- **Payments** — what's paid, what's outstanding, any deposit/retention
- **Evidence** — photos, messages, the defect specifics
- **Your goal** — get it finished/fixed, a partial refund, or to end it and move on

## Framework: Document, Demand, Leverage, Escalate

1. **Establish your position.** What did the agreement promise, what's been paid, and what's actually wrong — this determines your leverage before you do anything.
2. **Document thoroughly.** Photograph defects, list them specifically against the agreed scope, and gather the contract, quotes, and all communications.
3. **Demand professionally.** A calm written message stating the specific problems, the required remedy, and a reasonable deadline — not an angry call — creates a record and often works.
4. **Use payment as leverage carefully.** An unpaid balance or retention is your strongest lever; but understand the risks and terms before withholding, and never pay in full for incomplete work.
5. **Escalate proportionately.** Mediation, the licensing/consumer body, a chargeback (if paid by card), or small claims — pick the route that fits, and respond properly to any lien threat.
6. **Know the limit.** Large sums, liens, or a stonewalling contractor may need a lawyer — flag it.

## Output Format

### Contractor dispute: [problem] · paid [x]/[total] · agreement: [written?]

**Your position:** [leverage from contract + payments + evidence].
**Document:** [defect list vs scope · photos · contract/quotes · all messages · payment records].
**Demand (written)**
> [Specific problems · the fix required · a reasonable deadline · professional tone].
**Payment leverage:** [unpaid balance/retention as lever — risks of withholding · don't pay in full for incomplete work].
**Escalate:** [mediation → licensing/consumer body → chargeback → small claims]; respond to any lien via [x].

> Not legal advice. For large sums, liens, or a stonewalling contractor, consult a professional.

## Quality Checks
- [ ] Establishes the person's position from contract/payments/evidence
- [ ] Emphasizes documenting defects against the agreed scope
- [ ] Provides a professional written demand with a deadline
- [ ] Explains payment leverage and its risks
- [ ] Matches escalation options to the situation
- [ ] Flags not-legal-advice for serious cases

## Anti-Patterns
- **An angry phone call** with no written record.
- **Paying in full** for incomplete or defective work.
- **Withholding payment recklessly** without understanding the terms/risks.
- **No documentation** — gutting any future claim.
- **Jumping to a lawyer** for something a demand letter could fix (or ignoring one for a lien).

## Example Trigger Phrases
- "My contractor took the deposit and hasn't finished — what do I do?"
- "The work is shoddy and they won't come back to fix it."
- "I think my builder overcharged me. How do I dispute it?"
- "Write a firm message demanding my contractor fix their work."
- "Contractor's threatening a lien — what are my options?"