Deadbeat Builder

hbc2

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2007
Location
Siler City North Carolina
Any of you guys who do subcontract work beware of a deadbeat builder in Cary. Brad Mulahey, Easton Construction . He did not pay me the last $1200 of a job I did for him in August. I found out he shitted the previous sub before me out of $1000, just enough that you dont want to take legal action. The house closed right after I finished, so I could not take out a lien. Let us know of any other dishonest builders.
 
In my line of work I hit a few deadbeats (fortunately very few, about 5 or so the last 10 years).

I use what I call the "power of positive annoyance".

Be nice, but never give up reminding them of their debt. Mail a statement to him every month, adding your contract late fees/finance charges each month (your contract stated that, right?). Email him weekly. Call him every once in a while, but be nice. Don't harrass, just ask nicely when your check is coming. Or be a little more vague -- he'll know what you are after without you saying it. Find out where he eats lunch, just happen to run into him...don't say much other than "hope to hear from you this week..."

I got a check once for an account that was about 3 years out. Guy told me he'd never had paid it but I was there every time he turned around.

To many small business will give up within 2 or 3 months. Keep at it.

Be careful about collections laws, though...but as long as the debt is owed to you, you can do many things that can't be done if you sell the debt or have a collection agency handle it.

Then again, builders are a whole different critter. Good luck.
 
I hope you had a contract. If not you are SOL. I had a contractor doing work to my house and I asked him about doing something. Well he took it upon himself to go ahead and do it even though I never asked him to. Mainly because of what he was going to charge. Well when he did it he tried to charge me. I told him to show the contract. Contractors know they have to sign a contract or there isn't a leg to stand on for either person involved. Good luck and hopefully he will pay up. I would submit his name to the IRS for tax fraud.
 
Get Carolina AGC involved, they are usually very persuasive with contractors.

I'm not sure what type of work you do, but Id advise (if possible) a holder.

2 of the cooler things I have seen in the last few years. A tile guy I know leaves one tile out until he is paid.

And a brick mason we worked with a few years back would lay a thin piece of glass in the chimney. Once paid he'd drop a brick, and all was well, if not...well the fire place would draw too well.
 
thanks for the heads up. contractors/builders that don't pay can really hurt a small sub.

thankfully, we've always worked for good people. we make sure they have a good reputation before taking on the work though.
 
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