Contractor & Service Disputes
They took your money. They're not getting away with it.
Bad contractors count on homeowners not knowing how to push back. Handled helps you write a formal demand that puts them on notice — and gives you a clear path if they keep ignoring you.
Hold your contractor accountable — it's free→No commitment required · Results in minutes · Communication assistance only — not legal advice
#1
Home improvement contractors are among the top consumer complaint categories in nearly every state
100+
Arrests made in a single Florida contractor fraud sting — consumer protection agencies are taking this seriously
Most
Contractors respond when they receive a formal written demand citing their licensing obligations and your legal remedies
The problem
They took your deposit and disappeared. Or they finished — badly.
You paid upfront in good faith. Now the contractor isn't returning calls, the work is unfinished, the quality is unacceptable, or they're demanding more money for work you already paid for. And you're not sure what you can actually do about it.
The answer is more than you think. Contractors are licensed professionals with legal obligations — to complete work as agreed, to stand behind their work, and to respond to formal written complaints. A demand letter that cites your state's contractor licensing laws, your agreement terms, and your intent to escalate to the licensing board changes the dynamic immediately.
Most contractors resolve disputes fast once they understand you know how to report them.
Common scenarios
If any of these sound familiar, Handled can help.
Handled covers the full range of contractor and home service disputes.
Contractor abandoned the job
Took the deposit, started work, then stopped responding. A formal demand establishes your timeline and legal grounds for recovery.
Poor quality work
The finished work doesn't meet the agreed standard. Handled drafts a demand for correction or refund that references your contract terms.
Overcharged or surprise costs
Charges beyond the agreed scope without your authorization are a breach of contract — and the basis for a formal dispute.
Refused to return deposit
Paid upfront for work that was never started or completed. Handled helps you formally demand your money back with legal grounding.
Property damage
The contractor damaged your home during the job and is refusing responsibility. Documentation and a formal demand are your first steps.
Unlicensed contractor
Discovered your contractor wasn't licensed? This significantly strengthens your position — and Handled knows how to use it.
How it works
From ignored homeowner to formal demand in minutes.
01
Describe what happened
Tell Handled what the contractor was hired to do, what went wrong, how much you paid, and what response you've received. Plain language, no legal knowledge required.
02
Handled builds your demand letter
Handled produces a complete demand letter citing your agreement terms, your state's contractor licensing laws, and your escalation options — including the licensing board, small claims court, and your state attorney general.
03
Send it and document everything
Send by certified mail with return receipt. Handled tells you exactly what to do if they don't respond — including how to file a licensing board complaint and what to bring to small claims court.
From a Handled user
“The contractor took my $2,800 deposit and went completely silent. Handled helped me write a formal demand that referenced his licensing obligations under Georgia law and made clear I was prepared to file a complaint with the state licensing board. He called me back the next day and returned the full deposit within two weeks.”
Handled user — Georgia
Sample output
RE: DEMAND FOR COMPLETION AND REFUND — Roofing Project, 2847 Magnolia Lane
Dear Mr. Castellano,
This letter is formal written demand for either immediate completion of the roofing project at the above address or a full refund of the $4,200 deposit paid to Castellano Roofing & Repair on January 8, 2026, under contract number CR-2026-114.
Work was scheduled to begin January 15, 2026 and be completed within ten business days. As of today — March 16, 2026 — no work has been performed, no materials have been delivered, and you have not responded to four written requests for a start date or deposit refund.
Under Georgia Code Section 43-41-17, licensed contractors are required to perform contracted work within agreed timelines or return deposits upon request. Your failure to perform or respond constitutes breach of contract and grounds for a complaint with the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors...
State licensing law citedContract breach documentedLicensing board complaint notedSmall claims path outlined
Licensing law grounding
Cites your state's contractor licensing statutes and the specific obligations your contractor failed to meet.
Multiple escalation paths
Licensing board complaint, small claims court, state AG — Handled maps out every option and what each one involves.
Complete documentation trail
Every letter Handled produces creates the paper trail you need if the dispute escalates to a formal proceeding.
Handled Pro — $6.99/month
For disputes that take more than one letter to resolve. Track every communication, every deadline, and every escalation step.
+Unlimited interactions — no monthly cap
+Persistent case history — every letter saved and searchable
+Profile memory — your details auto-populate every document
+Situation tracking — monitor open disputes and next steps
You trusted them with your home.
Now trust Handled with the dispute.
Handled gives you the demand letter, the legal grounding, and a clear path forward — so your contractor understands this isn't going away.
Hold your contractor accountable — it's free→5 free interactions per month · No credit card required
Handled provides communication assistance only. Nothing on this platform constitutes legal advice. For matters involving legal proceedings, consult a qualified attorney.
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