Scott's Pools Inc

I gave Scott a $7,500 deposit to begin the construction of a pool on July 31, 2012. He told me that the $7,500 would reserve a spot on his schedule and that he would subsequently send me a contract and a detailed estimate of the project. He immediately cashed the check and then disappeared. I sent him emails, and left him numerous phone messages looking for some type of paperwork and an estimate on the pool construction. After not receiving any replies, I called contractor that originally put me in touch with Scott, to let him know that I was having trouble getting in touch with him. Scott then called me and said that he had not received any of my messages. Not only was that unbelievable, but it doesn't explain why he took money and then disappeared for months. He had asked for a deposit to get started on the work and then disappeared without any contact. Despite my anger, I told him I was willing to start fresh and he told me he would provide me an estimate within a week. Two weeks later, after not hearing anything from him, I called him and surprisingly he picked up. It was clear by the tone of his voice he was not expecting me to be on the other line and that he regretted answering. I told him at that point that I could not work with him and asked him to return my deposit. He said that he couldn't because he had spent it all. He asked if I could wait until he got a deposit on additional work, he would pay me back in full. I asked him how much time he needed and he told me he would call me in March of 2013. This was the October-November timeframe and I have provided him the deposit in July 2012 so I wasn't thrilled with financing his life for that long a period, but I agreed. I never heard from him in March and he has not returned multiple messages in April and May. I have once again contacted the contractor that connected me with Scott who is beside himself that Scott would treat any customer this way, let alone one in which he acted as a reference. He informs me that Scott has plenty of work and chooses not to pay me. He said that he had a conversation with Scott who: 1) admitted he took my money and owes me a full refund; and 2) he said that because we don?t have a contract, there is really nothing I can do except wait until he is ready to pay me back. This man is a thief and should be avoided at all costs.