I looked over the FAQ and read the disputes/collections threads, but am finding no answers.

Situation:
We paid a painter $800 as a down payment to paint our house. He took our check, cashed it and never came back. In a busy suburban, down payments to a single owner of a business is pretty common (all of our quotes included a down payment). We have a signed contract and a copy of that check and took it to small claims court. They guy never showed up so I won the case by default. This guy is licensed and bonded, his bond company said they'd only pay up if I took it to Superior Court. It's a $200 fee to do that and although a lawyer isn't required, I'd be held to the same standards if I used Superior Court.

His license and bond were suspended and the state accidentally sent his social security number to me with the paperwork (they whited it out.... not hard to see what was hidden).

I've moved to the other side of the state and this scammer has skipped town without leaving a forwarding address. Should I hire a collections agency? What can I do to collect what he owes me? I would love any advice.

Thanks in advance.

larryandsonja said:I looked over the FAQ and read the disputes/collections threads, but am finding no answers.

Situation:
We paid a painter $800 as a down payment to paint our house. He took our check, cashed it and never came back. In a busy suburban, down payments to a single owner of a business is pretty common (all of our quotes included a down payment). We have a signed contract and a copy of that check and took it to small claims court. They guy never showed up so I won the case by default. This guy is licensed and bonded, his bond company said they'd only pay up if I took it to Superior Court. It's a $200 fee to do that and although a lawyer isn't required, I'd be held to the same standards if I used Superior Court.

His license and bond were suspended and the state accidentally sent his social security number to me with the paperwork (they whited it out.... not hard to see what was hidden).

I've moved to the other side of the state and this scammer has skipped town without leaving a forwarding address. Should I hire a collections agency? What can I do to collect what he owes me? I would love any advice.

Thanks in advance.
Sic Dog on 'em!

He cashed the check at my bank. There's no trace. He did leave his address and phone number on there... right before he changed it.

send mail to his last known address and write clearly on the envelope:

"DO NOT FORWARD. ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED."

that's step 1.

dmlavigne1 said:Take it as an $800 lesson on doing a reference check. Is $800 really worth your time that you have to put in to get the money back?

I did a reference check, I checked out his bond and license, I saw his previous work... what else could I do? I didn't just hand the guy money without checking him out.

I actually sued and won the difference of what I had to pay a new painter. So I actually won $1400. I could take him to court for 3 times the amount per the Consumer Protection Act in WA State plus any extra court fees. Essentially, I could drain the $6000 from his bond. I don't have a regular job, my husband works so I don't know what my time is worth. I do know that guys like this should NOT get away with it. So to answer that last question, yes, it is worth my time.

You have his name and SS#. Perhaps it's time to play some A0R! To each his own.

Don't send him a 1099. If you do that you are relinquishing your rights to collect on the debt.

sounds like a job for Mona "The Hammer" Shaw

Can the bonding company unilaterally decide they don't have to pay unless you take it to Superior Court? Like DeGlass said, I'd go after the bonding company.

Why not sue for the whole $6k if you can, and then collect from the Bond company? That'd be worth $200 and whatever reasonable amount of time you'd have to put in.