My client ghosted me after I finished the whole bathroom reno

I was in a cramped bathroom in Portland, finishing up a full reno job I'd quoted at $4,500. The client had been chatty all week, but when I texted them the final invoice, they just vanished. No calls, no emails, nothing for two weeks. I had to file a lien on their house to get paid, and it took three months to see a dime. Has anyone else had to chase a client through legal steps like that?

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3 Comments

william4074mo ago

Hold up, you paid $4,500 to do the whole job without getting paid first?

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patkelly4mo ago

Right? That's a big gamble unless you've worked with them before or had something in writing. Did he at least get a contract or some kind of deposit before fronting that cash?

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gavinh264mo ago

Honestly, that's brutal and I hate that you had to go through that. People really forget contractors are running a business, not a charity. The fact they ghosted right after you finished shows they probably had no intention of paying on time, if at all. Filing a lien is smart but it's a hassle, and three months of waiting is ridiculous when you already did the work. Ngl, this is exactly why I never start a job without at least half up front, and even then I'm checking in for partial payments along the way. You gotta protect yourself because some clients will absolutely take advantage if you let them.

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