Who owes contractors money
Property owners on residential and commercial jobs. General contractors who were paid by the owner and have not paid the subs. Developers with a project that changed hands. Builders who owe a supplier for material that is already in the walls.
How contractors get stiffed
- The punch-list hostage. The job is substantially complete and the final payment or retainage is held over a list of small items that keeps growing. "We will pay when it is perfect" means never.
- The verbal change order. The extra work was approved on site, on the phone, in a hurry. At invoice time nobody remembers approving it.
- Pay-if-paid and pay-when-paid. The general contractor says the owner has not paid, so you have not been paid. Whether that clause is enforceable depends on how it is written and on state law.
- Back-charges and setoffs. Alleged defects, delays, or cleanup costs are deducted from what you are owed, with no documentation and no chance to cure.
- The early lien waiver. An unconditional waiver signed to get a check that then bounces, is stopped, or never comes.
- The homeowner who never intended to pay the balance. Deposit paid, work done, final invoice disputed, credit card payment charged back.
Lien rights: the clock you cannot ignore
Mechanics lien and bond claim rights are the strongest tools a contractor or supplier has, and they are time-limited. Preliminary notice requirements and filing deadlines vary by state and are measured in weeks or months from the last work or delivery, not years. If a deadline is close, get advice from a construction attorney now; a collection agency does not file liens. Once the deadline is protected, or has passed, the balance is still a collectible debt and that is where we come in.
What to do before you place the account
Gather the signed contract, change orders (written or any record of approval: texts, emails, daily logs), pay applications and invoices, photos of the completed work, inspection sign-offs or certificates of completion, lien waivers you signed, and every message about payment. Send a final written demand with a date. Place it.
How we collect for contractors
An owner or general contractor who owes for completed work is a commercial debt and business-to-business debt is our core work. We investigate the debtor, make daily contact, issue written demands, and negotiate disputed items with the documentation in hand. A homeowner who owes a residential contractor is a consumer account, collected under the consumer rules by collectors trained on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, with an approach that keeps the door open for the customer to come back.
If the debtor will not engage, the file goes to an attorney in or near the debtor's area, and if you authorize litigation our attorneys pursue judgment and enforcement, including garnishment, levy, and asset recovery. Early placement puts you first in line if a developer or general contractor becomes insolvent.
Common follow-up questions
Can a collection agency file a mechanics lien for me?
No. Liens are filed by you or your attorney within your state's deadlines. We collect the debt itself, and our attorney network can advise on the legal position in Phase 2.
The general contractor says the owner has not paid them. Do I have to wait?
Not necessarily. Whether a pay-if-paid clause lets the GC withhold your money depends on the exact wording and on state law. Send us the contract and the account; the legal position is reviewed before any recommendation.
The homeowner charged back the card payment. Can you collect it?
Yes. A reversed payment leaves the balance owed. We collect it as a consumer account, with your signed estimate, photos, and completion records as the backup.
Talk to us
Tell us about the accounts and we put together a free assessment, usually within one business day. Request a free consultation, contact us, or call 321-710-3530. Ready now? Place a claim and we go to work today. No recovery, no fee.