Getting Paid: Our Contractor Attorneys Discuss 4 Legal Tools for Contractors to get Paid in Colorado

Our Colorado Collection Attorney discusses how Contractors can get paid.

Deadbeat, moocher, leech; there are many names a contractor has for customers who do not pay-up after all the work is said and done. That’s because it’s not always easy getting your customers to pay, especially if they are dissatisfied about the job or misunderstood a job’s cost or payment structure.

However, there are legal tools in every contractor’s belt that can be used to force an unruly customer to pay, as well as protect against future debtors. Whether the current costumer is paying less than they owe or refusing to pay altogether – here are some legal solutions a contractor can pursue.

1. Mechanics’ Liens

A lien is made against the property that the construction work took place on and doesn’t allow the owner to sell or refinance the property until the debt is paid, or until the lien expires. Further, the contractor can even foreclose on the property. This can make it a very successful tool, provided the contractor works within the lien laws. For contractors that only provided labor, the deadline to file is 2 months after the last day of labor was performed, and 4 months for contractors that also provided materials. A contractor is required by law to notify the property owner of the Intent to Lien 10 full days prior to filing.

2. Take them to court

If you are owed money, a contractor must reduce the bill to a judgment, to give them the legal ability to collect. To do so, the contractor must take the debtor to court. Once the court awards a judgment, a contractor can use various tools such as wage garnishments, bank levies, and foreclosures, to get paid.

3. Use a collection agency

If a contractor has many unpaid accounts, or simply does not have the time to file a lien or complaint with the small claims court, then they can consider selling or assigning the debt to a collection agency. Assigning a debt to a collection company means that they will collect the debt on your behalf and will take a portion of the total debt amount – usually 50% or more. Selling the debt to a collection agency is often a last resort for older accounts as a collections company will usually buy the debt for cents on the dollar. Contractors can use the Better Business Bureau to find reputable companies and shop around for multiple quotes.

4. Create smart contracts

To protect against future non-payers, a contractor should think about adding provisions within their contracts. Payment terms and the consequences for not paying should be stated clearly within the contract. Cancellation provisions can be added so you can ensure payment should the job be cut short by an unhappy customer. A contractor can also think about adding a reasonable service charge for late payments and a contract provision to make your customer liable for paying the contractor’s attorney fees if they do not pay their bill.

If you have any questions for our contractor attorneys, call (303) 688-0944 to begin your case assessment.