What to Do When a Contractor Takes Your Deposit and Disappears
You paid a deposit, the work never started, and the calls stopped. Here is how to document the money trail and demand a refund.
Separate the story from the evidence
When a contractor vanishes after taking your money, frustration is natural — but a demand built on emotion rarely moves anyone. What moves people is evidence: the agreement you reached, the money you handed over, and the work that never happened.
Start by writing a short timeline. Note the date you hired them, the amount you paid, what they promised to do, and the date things went quiet. This becomes the backbone of any demand or claim — and our guide to documenting a contractor dispute shows exactly which records to pull together.
Follow the money
Collect every record that shows you paid: canceled checks, bank or card statements, payment-app receipts, and any written estimate, contract, or text message describing the scope and price. Even informal texts can establish what was agreed.
If the contractor delivered partial work or materials, document that too. Knowing exactly how much of your deposit is genuinely unearned lets you demand a precise refund rather than a round number a contractor can easily dispute.
Make the demand specific
A strong demand names the amount you want returned, the reason it is owed, and a firm deadline to refund it. Vague threats get ignored; a specific, professional letter that shows you have organized your evidence does not.
Putting the demand in writing also preserves your options. If the contractor still refuses, you will have a clean record showing you tried to resolve it directly before escalating.