Subcontractor ghosted mid-project, then showed up 8 days later asking for full payment

Last month I had a guy doing drywall for a basement reno on the south side, he took a deposit, worked two days, then just vanished. No calls, no texts, nothing for 8 days. I finally found another crew to finish the job, paid them out of pocket after the client approved the change. Then the original guy shows up at my shop door asking for the remaining balance like nothing happened. Said his phone broke and he had a family thing, which maybe was true, but he didn't even ask about the Project status or offer to redo the work. I told him I already paid someone else and he got real defensive, started saying I owed him for the two days of work. I get that materials and labor cost money, but you cant just disappear on a job site and expect things to stay the same. I ended up giving him half of what he asked just to avoid a lien threat, which still stings. Has anyone else dealt with a sub that pulls this kind of move and how did you protect yourself legally next time?

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1 Comment

lopez.simon12d ago

Did you have a written contract with him that spelled out what happens if he walks off the job? Cause if not, then honestly you're lucky he only asked for half. In most states, if there's no contract clause about abandonment, the labor he did perform is still owed, period. You paid someone else to finish, but that doesn't erase his two days of work. And the lien threat? That's real leverage, not just a bluff. The way I see it, you made a business choice to cover your butt, which is smart, but calling it unfair is a stretch. Next time, put a clause in writing that says if he disappears for more than 72 hours, he forfeits payment for incomplete work, and have him sign it. That's your protection.