The contractor took your $15,000 deposit, demolished your kitchen, and hasn’t been seen in three weeks. His phone goes to voicemail. In California, you have more power than you think — the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) can suspend his license, and his license bond exists to pay victims like you. Here’s exactly what to do.
Step 1: Document everything (today)
- Photograph the work site — the unfinished work, the damage, the materials left behind. Date-stamped photos are evidence.
- Gather your paperwork — the contract, all payments (cancelled checks, credit card statements, receipts), texts and emails, and any change orders.
- Write a timeline — when you hired him, what was promised, what was paid, when he disappeared. Memories fade; paper doesn’t.
- Get competing bids to complete or fix the work. The difference between what you paid and what it costs to finish is your damages number.
Step 2: Send a demand letter
- Write a formal demand — certified mail, return receipt requested — stating what the contractor failed to do, what you want (finish the work or refund $X), and a deadline (14 days is standard).
- Cite the license. Include his CSLB license number. It signals you know the system and you’re not bluffing.
- Keep a copy of everything. If this goes to the CSLB or court, your paper trail is your case.
Step 3: File with the CSLB
- File a complaint online at cslb.ca.gov or call (800) 321-2752. The CSLB investigates complaints against licensed contractors — and unlicensed operators too.
- The CSLB can suspend or revoke the license for abandonment, fraud, and code violations. That threat alone brings many contractors back to the table.
- Unlicensed contractor? In California, anyone doing work over $1,000 (labor and materials) must be licensed. Hiring unlicensed is risky for you — but the CSLB still pursues unlicensed operators, and you can sue in small claims.
- Act within the statute of limitations. CSLB complaints generally must be filed within 4 years of the violation.
Step 4: Go after the license bond
Every licensed California contractor carries a license bond (currently $25,000). If the CSLB process doesn’t make you whole, you can file a claim against the bond — and sue the contractor in small claims court (up to $12,500 for individuals) or superior court for larger amounts. Bond claims and lawsuits can run in parallel with your CSLB complaint.
Protecting yourself next time
Verify the license at cslb.ca.gov before you hire anyone — check that it’s active, in good standing, and covers the right classification. Never pay more than 10% or $1,000 (whichever is less) as a down payment — it’s the law in California. And never pay cash without a receipt.
Our free California contractor dispute guide includes a demand letter template, a CSLB complaint checklist, and a damages worksheet.
Get the free kit
Download the free California contractor dispute guide — demand letter template, CSLB checklist, and damages worksheet. From the Compliance Alliance Network, free forever.
For educational purposes only. This is not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is established by reading this article or downloading any linked materials.
