HVAC Work - Payment Not Collected

[joeym304]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? VA

Hello All,

First time posting, thanks for reading and helping. Is there a law that provides a time frame for someone to collect payment for a job they did? Basically, I had a new HVAC system installed and the person has never come to collect the money. He's never sent and invoice or tried to collect the payment. I've called multiple times to try settle up the payment. There is a small amount of work to be done before the job is completed. At most, the work would take about an hour to complete. I could actually do it myself if needed. Its been over 6 months since the new HVAC system has been installed. Is there a law that gives him a timeframe to collect payment on his services? There is also no contract for this job. It was all done on a handshake.

Thanks!

 

[NIV]

Virginia law requires all licensed contractors use written contract for residential work.
http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/uploadedFiles/MainSite/Content/News/What%20You%20Should%20Know%20Before%20You%20Hire%20A%20Contractor.pdf

The rules on if a job is finished or abandoned might depend.
http://www.uslaw.org/files/public/Virginia_construction_10.pdf

Just because it may be a crime does not mean an unlicensed contractor can't collect.
http://www.vsb.org/docs/valawyermagazine/vl1008_damages.pdf

Just to be sure, you didn't sign anything at all? Not just something that looked like a "contract", but, anything?

 

[joeym304]

Hello,

Thanks for posting back. Although I never saw his license, I did check online to make sure that he had a license for HVAC work. There was no contract of any kind signed. Nothing at all signed.

Just to make sure I'm clear, he came in and did 98% of the work and never collected payment. It's not that I haven't tried paying him, he just won't return my calls or show up to finish the last little bit of work.

Can he show up 6 months from now and try to collect? I would think there has to be a law to protect the customer.

Thanks.

 

[Zigner]

Hello,

Thanks for posting back. Although I never saw his license, I did check online to make sure that he had a license for HVAC work. There was no contract of any kind signed. Nothing at all signed.

Just to make sure I'm clear, he came in and did 98% of the work and never collected payment. It's not that I haven't tried paying him, he just won't return my calls or show up to finish the last little bit of work.

Can he show up 6 months from now and try to collect? I would think there has to be a law to protect the customer.

Thanks.

What you're looking for is the statute of limitations. In your state, this matter would seem to have a 3 year statute of limitations.

 

[LdiJ]

What you're looking for is the statute of limitations. In your state, this matter would seem to have a 3 year statute of limitations.

That is what it looks like to me too...3 years.