Teacher001
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Maryland
First, I thank you all for a wonderful effort here.
I hired a contractor to install an air conditioning system at my house. The job was almost complete, but he started demanding the final payment ahead of time. My written contract states I pay after final inspection, but he wanted it early. We had a stand still for 2 weeks, with me refusing to pay, and him refusing to complete the work.
Yesterday I came in and found the outside part of the system gone. He removed the condensers, severed the tubes in a way which renders them not usable, and even filled them with sand to cause more harm. He also removed wiring and electrical parts which were installed by my elelctrician.
The units which were taken were provided by him as part of the contract. I am 100% current on my payments, except for the disagreement about the timing of the final payment.
The contractor gained access to the roof by climbing a fence from the back alley. he gained access to the roof by climing an emergency staircase. I did not give him permission to access my property, or remove anything.
The next day he listed the stolen parts on craigslist. I had a friend call him to make sure it was my parts, and it was, 1,000,000%. I confronted him on the phone and he said he will sell them to me, or to anyone else.
My question, since the contractual terms have not been fulfilled, is this considered my property or his? Would this be considered theft, unauthorized removal of property, or somethign else? What can I do?
Another side question if I may: another contractor stored an air compressor in my backyard, and it was missing folowing the above described event. Since it was gone from my house, is it my responsibility to pursue the issue, or should the owner file a claim? Thank you.
First, I thank you all for a wonderful effort here.
I hired a contractor to install an air conditioning system at my house. The job was almost complete, but he started demanding the final payment ahead of time. My written contract states I pay after final inspection, but he wanted it early. We had a stand still for 2 weeks, with me refusing to pay, and him refusing to complete the work.
Yesterday I came in and found the outside part of the system gone. He removed the condensers, severed the tubes in a way which renders them not usable, and even filled them with sand to cause more harm. He also removed wiring and electrical parts which were installed by my elelctrician.
The units which were taken were provided by him as part of the contract. I am 100% current on my payments, except for the disagreement about the timing of the final payment.
The contractor gained access to the roof by climbing a fence from the back alley. he gained access to the roof by climing an emergency staircase. I did not give him permission to access my property, or remove anything.
The next day he listed the stolen parts on craigslist. I had a friend call him to make sure it was my parts, and it was, 1,000,000%. I confronted him on the phone and he said he will sell them to me, or to anyone else.
My question, since the contractual terms have not been fulfilled, is this considered my property or his? Would this be considered theft, unauthorized removal of property, or somethign else? What can I do?
Another side question if I may: another contractor stored an air compressor in my backyard, and it was missing folowing the above described event. Since it was gone from my house, is it my responsibility to pursue the issue, or should the owner file a claim? Thank you.
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robable Cause:X