| A couple of years ago my wife hired a contractor to | | | | imagine the nerve of anyone, asking for more |
| install a concrete block wall in our backyard. She | | | | money, after the job was completed, because it was |
| asked some people at her work for some masonry | | | | a little harder than they originally thought. I could tell |
| contractor referrals and one of the women, swore | | | | that he had problems digging the foundation, but I |
| up and down that she had the best contractor for | | | | asked him about the soil conditions and if this was |
| my wife. | | | | going to be a problem, the first time he visited the |
| We met with another contractor before finally hiring | | | | job site. |
| John. The other contractor told us that we didn't | | | | He handled it very discreet by telling her that she |
| have enough money in the project, for his crew to | | | | could write out two checks for $1500 each to him |
| work on our home. The second contractor John | | | | and one check for $1000 to another person. My wife |
| however gave us a decent price and was hired the | | | | didn't know what to do, but I did, after all of my |
| next day. John was in his 60s and definitely knew | | | | years in construction, someone like this was just |
| what he was doing. | | | | going to be another notch on my belt. |
| As a contractor myself, it only takes me a few | | | | I told her to write out one check to him for $1500 |
| minutes to tell whether someone knows what | | | | and one check for $1000 to the other person and |
| they're doing or not and John definitely knew what | | | | mail them to him. If he contacts you again, give him |
| he was doing. John started the project and worked | | | | my phone number and I will handle it from there. We |
| on it for about five days and when he finished, I | | | | never heard from him again and I didn't think that we |
| couldn't imagine anyone doing a better job than his | | | | were going to. Scams like these aren't just happening |
| construction company. The block wall was straight | | | | in the construction business today. So be careful |
| and the job site was clean. | | | | when hiring a contractor, even if it's a referral from |
| We didn't hear from him for a few days and when | | | | someone you know. You never really know what |
| he finally contacted my wife, he e-mailed her a | | | | you're getting or who you're dealing with, until the |
| message asking for an additional $1500. I couldn't | | | | project is completed. |