Best Way to File a Complaint on a General Contractor

You have completed a project and you tried to find the best contractor. You interviewed several people before hiring one contractor. Sometimes no matter how hard you try, things just don’t go the way you planned. Your general contractor did not do what he/she agreed to do. Now, you need to file a complaint.

First, before filing any official complaint, talk to the general contractor and tell him/her your concerns. If he/she does not know you have a complaint then, he/she cannot fix the problem. Offer an opportunity to fix the problem first. This is only fair to you and to your contractor.

Once you have talked with your contractor and he/she refuses to fix the problem or the two of you cannot agree on a feasible solution, then you will have to take alternative steps to file an official complaint. Look through the paperwork you signed when you hired the general contractor. You should have received a copy of the general contractor insurance policy. Find this policy and contact the name of the insurance company responsible for your general contractor. If, for some reason, you do not have a copy of the insurance policy, send a written certified letter asking your general contractor for his/her insurance company's contact information.

Once you contact the insurance company, a representative will be able to walk you through the process of filing a formal complaint. You may also need to do this for any subcontractors working for the general contractor.

If you do not find success working with the insurance company, you can always contact your state's industry regulators. These people ensure that work is being properly done within the state legal limits.

Filing a claim with the Better Business Bureau is another option. Though you may not get any monetary satisfaction, you will warn others of problems with this general or subcontractor.

Your last option should be to file a claim in small claims court. Going to court can be a costly and many times ineffective process. You will have to provide proof of the quality of work. This will require expert witnesses. The general contractor’s company will have attorneys working for them, as well. This could become a large production that will leave you with less money and more frustration in the end.