How to find address to file a suit - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

MattCoops · 07-23-2007, 07:57 PM

Have a problem.
Subcontracted a job and guy didn't pay.
Have signed agreement. Deadbeat contractor.

I have phone number but no address.

How do I file a small claims suit if I don't have the guy's address?

Chris Johnson · 07-23-2007, 08:03 PM

Anybody can be found, start with the building permit application, freedom of information act, then start asking around, he come out soon enough. Another one I use is go to the local lumber yard that he buys from, that gets his attention really quick.

dougchips · 07-23-2007, 08:12 PM

http://www.411.com/10668/reverse_phone or google it.

tinner666 · 07-23-2007, 08:12 PM

Your SCC will know!

dougchips · 07-23-2007, 08:14 PM

http://www.nclbgc.net/lic_fr.html if he has a license you can enter his name here.

**ProWallGuy** · 07-23-2007, 08:40 PM

www.zabasearch.com

Grumpy · 07-24-2007, 09:46 AM

This is why I ALWAYS get mailing addresses from my customers, and put those addresses on the contracts.

However yeah anyone can be found now-a-days www.whitepages.com is a good place to start. The guy may pop up for free, if not you will be provided with links to pay sites where you might have to pay anywhere from $5-$15 to find him. Whitepages is also nice because if you have a phone/fax number (land line) you can do a reverse lookup and it will give you his address.

Submit your bill to the owner of the property. Chances are if you wern't paid so wern't many other subs, and you won't be the first asking the property owner for payment.

MattCoops · 07-24-2007, 09:48 AM

I looked through the white pages and think I found his address in there.
I just want to make sure its the right one before going to court and paying the hundred bucks to file a claim.

theartisan · 07-24-2007, 12:07 PM

check with your secretary of state office online, in my state you can pull up info on any registered company.

Grumpy · 07-24-2007, 05:09 PM

Wait a minute. You are filing a claim and not hiring a lawyer? How much does this guy owe you?

My lawyer will either add his fees into the ammount we are suing for, or will request legal fees after judgement, and because of the way my contract is written he is allowed it and the way the law is written he will probably get it.

Sure it costs me, but one wrong word or punctuation on your claim and it will be dismissed. Plus sometimes all you need is that strongly worded letter from your attorney to get paid.

Grumpy · 07-24-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theartisan

on any registered company.

Key word being registered

ultimatetouch · 07-28-2007, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattCoops

Have a problem.
Subcontracted a job and guy didn't pay.
Have signed agreement. Deadbeat contractor.

I have phone number but no address.

How do I file a small claims suit if I don't have the guy's address?

If you know where he lives..show up one morning and startle him. Ask nicely for your money.

Heritage · 07-28-2007, 11:21 PM

Grumpy, you said you have a lawyer to file for you in such matters?

How much do you pay? Do the costs get covered and added on to your claim total? Can you add legal representation on matters under 5k?

Any more info on this would be great because I was under the impression that lawyers fees would come out of my pocket, and on a 4k claim, dishing out 1500 isn't worth it.

Do tell!

firemike · 07-29-2007, 05:57 AM

Quote:

How much do you pay? Do the costs get covered and added on to your claim total? Can you add legal representation on matters under 5k?

Any more info on this would be great because I was under the impression that lawyers fees would come out of my pocket, and on a 4k claim, dishing out 1500 isn't worth it.

Depending on your lawyer, the costs may come out of your pocket at first, but the lawyer will sue him for money owed to you PLUS legal costs (attorney fees, court costs, service fees, etc.) either up front or as part of the judgement as Grumpy said.

I do work for a couple attorneys, the few times I had problems collecting all it took was a strongly worded letter outlining the law, and what it would cost if we had to persue it. When they found out it would cost two to three times what they owed me to try and screw me. It didn't take long to get paid or at least make some kind of arrangement.

Took 15 minutes of the attorneys time, usually his secretatry's time anyway, and I take care of little things around their office. Works out good for everyone.