How do I handle a contractor who won't return my calls?

When a contractor stops returning calls in Ottawa, you need to act quickly to protect your project and your money. This is unfortunately common and can signal anything from being overwhelmed to outright abandonment of your job.

Immediate Steps to Take

Start by documenting everything. Keep records of all your attempted calls, texts, and emails with timestamps. Take photos of any work completed and any materials on-site. If you've made payments, gather all receipts and your signed contract.

Try different communication methods if you've only been calling. Send a registered letter to their business address (which should be on your contract and their ESA or TSSA license if applicable). Email creates a paper trail. Sometimes contractors avoid phone calls but will respond to written communication that feels more formal.

Escalation Timeline

Give them 48-72 hours to respond to urgent communication, but don't wait more than a week for any response. If electrical or gas work is involved, this becomes more critical since incomplete work can be dangerous and may violate ESA or TSSA requirements.

Check if your contractor is properly licensed. For electrical work, verify their Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC) status at licensing.esasafe.com. For gas work, confirm TSSA certification at tssa.org. Licensed contractors have more to lose by abandoning jobs and regulatory bodies to answer to.

When Money is Involved

If you've made payments and the contractor has disappeared, contact your bank immediately if you paid by credit card - you may be able to dispute charges for services not rendered. If you paid by cash or debit, this becomes much harder to recover.

Under Ontario's Construction Act, you should have held back 10% of payments until 60 days after substantial completion. If you haven't been doing holdbacks, stop any further payments immediately until the contractor re-engages.

Regulatory and Legal Options

Contact the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) at 1-877-372-7233 if it's electrical work - they take contractor abandonment seriously since it can leave dangerous incomplete installations. For gas work, contact TSSA at 1-877-682-8772.

File a complaint with Consumer Protection Ontario at ontario.ca/consumer. While they can't force the contractor back, they can investigate and potentially prevent others from being victimized.

If significant money is involved (over $35,000), you may need to file a construction lien against the property and seek legal advice. For smaller amounts, Small Claims Court in Ottawa (161 Elgin Street) handles disputes up to $35,000.

Protecting Your Project

If work was started but not completed, you may need to hire another contractor to finish or fix problems. Get written quotes for completion costs - you may be able to recover these additional expenses through legal action.

For permit-required work, check with City of Ottawa Building Code Services (613-580-2424) about transferring permits to a new contractor. Some permits are contractor-specific and may need to be reissued.

Prevention for Next Time

This situation highlights why verifying WSIB clearance, checking references thoroughly, and maintaining proper payment schedules with holdbacks is crucial. Never pay large amounts upfront, and always verify licensing before work begins.

The key is acting quickly - the longer you wait, the harder it becomes to resolve and the more likely the contractor is to move on to other victims.