We hired a company in September 2013 and paid him 50 percent down to work on our piers on Lake Conroe located in Texas. We just purchased a home and to accommodate our boat and jet skis we needed a new dock and work done to our existing piers. We hired a company Key Largo Construction to do the work. Our first indication that we were going to have problems is when he did not show up for 3 weeks when he clearly stated at the time of signing the contract he would be back in 3 day. We had to threaten him to start his work. He showed up with faulty equipment to do the job that kept breaking down. The pilings in put in we're out of alignment and so badly scarred that it has taken the life expectancy out of the pilings. The carpenters showed up and complained to us that it was going to be hard to align the pilings and that they were not getting paid for their work. Which in turn we agreed to pay Key Largo additional monies so that they would be paid. He took our money and we have not had any contact with him. After several emails he agreed to finish our job only if we agreed to pay him the balance for work he has not yet completed. In other words he was holding us hostages because he knew we needed to get the work done and we had already paid him close to $6000 for the little work that had been done. He even had the the nerve to say "man up" and pay me all the while knowing that the contract stated 50 percent up front and 50 percent when work completed. I would never ever recommend this maniac to anyone.

Surely you don't intend to let him return? I'd be threatening him for return of the $6000 since he botched the first phase.

If you have a signed contract you have grounds to sue him. Don't let him get away with sloppy work and bullying you.