I know I am probably screwed but need advice

[synthesis2]

Make the situation quick, wanted my deck redecked and found a guy on craigslist that does it. His companies name is "brown can do" and he had been around for a long time and had done work for a family member several years ago. Anyway everything seemed legit.

With that said he came out to the house, he was a little rough dress wise but seemed to have his stuff together and at least talked the talk to make you feel better about it.

Said he would order the composite boards but needed a deposit for the materials ($2500)

I gave him the money and let me know a few days later than those boards were on backorder so I gave some other ideas and he has since not got back to me.

Here is the question ( I know I was a dumb ass for even giving him a deposit I get it) but I intentially didn't sign the check as my safety net and if he would have asked me about it I was going to tell him that as soon as I see an order I will sign it.

Needless to say he signed my check and cashed it and I have not hear from him since and its been a month.

Here is the question should I

1) Go to small claims court? he may not have a penny to piss in and would loose in a landslide

2) Go to my bank and tell them I didn't sign the check and see what happens from there?

Just curious which was would be better to go.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by nstygma

this may be his residence

Holy crap. I guess we know what Little Bill's house in Unforgiven would have looked like had he lived to finish it.

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by nstygma

this may be his residence

Pretty safe assumption that it's not a covenant-controlled community. Turn this thing around and check out the view from his front porch.

http://maps.google.com/maps?sugexp=c...ed=0CC4Q8gEwAA

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

Pretty safe assumption that it's not a covenant-controlled community. Turn this thing around and check out the view from his front porch.

http://maps.google.com/maps?sugexp=c...ed=0CC4Q8gEwAA

Sweet, a mobile home with a fireplace added on. I bet that is one of his designs.

[nstygma]

yeah that's in unincorporated Jackson county, not many regulations out there.

well, looks like the guy probably doesn't live there. the house foreclosed since that document was filed and has switched owners. look at the price difference: $120k to $25k!!

Sale History

1) Sale Date: 2006-03-23
Recorded Date: 2006-03-30
Type of Sale: AA (Valid Sale)
Grantor: LLOYD RUSTY & JENNIFER
Grantee: BROWN FLOYD C
Sale Price: $120,000.00
Document Number: 2006E0002906

2) Sale Date: 2009-10-20
Recorded Date: 2009-11-16
Type of Sale: NV (Not Valid-Multiple Reasons)
Grantor: BROWN FLOYD C
Grantee: US BANK NA AS TRUSTEE
Sale Price: $66,300.00
Document Number: 2009E0115591

3) Sale Date: 2010-04-16
Recorded Date: 2010-04-22
Type of Sale: NV (Not Valid-Multiple Reasons)
Grantor: US BANK NA AS TRUSTEE
Grantee: MCDONALD WILLIAM J & DOROTHY C TRUST
Sale Price: $25,500.00
Document Number: 2010E0038112

[Lepht]

Got it already from the state website as well as a secondary in the same vicinity. He's advertised himself as licensed, but his business was dissolved according to robin carnahan. I'm going on a field trip tomorrow if my call isn't returned.

[T-post Tom]

Track him down & taser him in the nutsack until he gives you the money.

[Lepht]

The other address I have is 2302
Beach drive, oak grove mo

Hope you're willing to take meth instead of cash.

[Prison Bitch]

Craigs has been great for me, lots of great experiences. My brother cut down so many limbs from my trees that my entire drive way was covered - literally - 5 feet high with debris. Some dude from Louisburg came with his 2 middle school boys. They worked the entire day. Then refused payment! I said no take $75 at least, so he sheepishly did. I think he wanted to teach his boys to work.


Anyway I did have a douchebag come by to paint my trim. QUoted me $500. D(cked around for parts of 3 days then demanded payment when he was about 1/3 done. I said, what is this? He said "Well I charge $30/hour and my hours are up. In fact I gave you 20 hours so it should be $600 but I'll cut you a break" We argued for about 45 min on my back deck and I finally gave him $375. And he was mad! I then hired college kids to finish it and they were great.

[arrwheader]

I'm a banker and what you need to do is and I apologize if this was already said in the thread I'm not gonna read through it all you ****s anyways file the police report go to the bank with the case number fill out an affidavit for fraud they may reimburse you since the signature was actually forged all this depends on your bank and their fraud liability policies. If the signature was forged and he cashed the check at YOUR bank then the bank is partially responsible because the teller didn't check the signature fully. I also doubt you write many 2500 checks their should have been warning signs all over it. If he cashed it at his bank then they will have all his info

[Prison Bitch]

Cops don't care about check fraud. I had a renter bounce a $1700 check to me. I called the cops and they said it was a personal issue and they don't get involved in rent disputes. I asked what check disputes they get into, they didn't really answer. I don't think they really care. Told me to go to small claims court.


Funny thing: a month later the state of Kansas is calling me asking for his phone #. Said he bounced $300 for his car tags. Wanted me to assist finding him. I suggested this wasn't really a criminal issue, and that the best course for them was to go to Small Claims court.....

[arrwheader]

Hahaha nice but yea cops won't do shit you just need the case number for the bank to legally be able to do anything about it

[HMc]

checks are so old school

[crazycoffey]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Cops don't care about check fraud. I had a renter bounce a $1700 check to me. I called the cops and they said it was a personal issue and they don't get involved in rent disputes. I asked what check disputes they get into, they didn't really answer. I don't think they really care. Told me to go to small claims court.


Funny thing: a month later the state of Kansas is calling me asking for his phone #. Said he bounced $300 for his car tags. Wanted me to assist finding him. I suggested this wasn't really a criminal issue, and that the best course for them was to go to Small Claims court.....

rental issues are civil issues, cops can't do anything. this situation is close too, that makes it all the more frustrating. the forging his name makes it stand out as a criminal act.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by CLX

When I've done work with contractors that needed material and wanted a deposit we always had paperwork to cover ourselves. I should note here that I've never done business on craigslist. A reputable contractor shouldn't ask for money without some kind of paperwork. I might give a repeat contractor an advance, but that would be a situation where you've developed a trust with the guy. I would like to think that in a bigger metropolitan area than I'm in the contractor would be bonded.

When my husband was a contractor, he did this with a repeat client who then focked him. Turned out she had a pattern of doing this to contractors. 25 years ago it was alot easier to pull of than it is now.