Fitzgerald Construction - Richard Fitzgerald

We had used this contractor in 2011 to install new siding on our house. He did a beautiful job for a very reasonable price. We didn't hesitate to call him back and offer him the job of replacing our windows and doors, and repairing our bathroom flooring. He came to the house the day after we called, and was very friendly. He quoted us a price we thought was reasonable, we shook on it, and I wrote him a check for the deposit he asked, $2100 for cost of materials. He promised he would get back in touch within 2 weeks to schedule the work. The very next morning he drove to my bank, 20 miles into Charlotte NC and back, to cash that check. He didn't call back after 2 weeks so I called to get a date he could start and left a message on his answer mail. He didn't call back. I called every day that week but he didn't return my calls. This went on for 2 weeks more, before I finally asked my daughter to call him on her cell phone (obviously he was avoiding my calls). He called her back within an hour, so she handed her phone to me. I grilled him on why he wasn't staying in touch, and he said he had taken another job while he was waiting for our materials to come in, and it was taking longer than he thought. I asked him if he was going to do our job or not. He promised he would and that he would call me the following Monday to give me an update on a start date. AGAIN, he didn't call. That was the last time my husband or I had a chance to speak to him, even though we have continued to call his only phone number. We sent a certified return receipt letter to his address at the beginning of December 2013 (two months after our original estimate visit) to outline our account of what had happened with him so far, how extremely dissatisfied we were with his negligence, and that we were ending the agreement. We asked for our deposit to be returned by Dec 31st or we would take legal action. We got the return receipt card back where the letter had been delivered to him, but no call, no letter, no money back. Finally, on January 2nd 2014 I called his phone one last time to inform him his time for returning our money was up and I would be going to the court house the next day to file against him. I said if he wanted to know what I put on Angie's List, read the certified letter I'd sent him. He called my phone the very next day at 12:30 PM to tell me he would go to his bank the following Monday January 6th to get our money and he would mail it the same day. Again, many promises that we would have it in hand by Friday January 10th. I told him if it wasn't in hand by the 10th I would follow through with my suit. Thursday January 9th, he called me to say he was coming by to put the money in my mailbox that day, which he did about 4 PM. Full refund in cash. I have learned my lesson. Even known handymen can't always be trusted. I will never recommend or use any contractor or handyman again who won't sign a written contract or wants a deposit before he shows up to do the job with materials in hand. AND, I will always go to Angies List to check someone out before I hire them, period!!