Had a run-in with a shady contractor in Phoenix last week

Casey Thompson · 2026-06-28T07:45:04.071108+00:00

I hired a guy to fix my back patio and he demanded cash before starting, then did shoddy work and disappeared. Has anyone else dealt with contractors asking for full payment upfront before any work is done?

aaron7402mo ago

Funny you say that, @reese_hayes71, but maybe the problem isn't the contractor asking for cash. The real issue is people expecting top-tier work for bottom-tier prices. If that guy was cheap enough to take the job without a deposit, he was cheap enough to skip town the second he hit a snag. A legit contractor who asks for money upfront at least has skin in the game to get the job done right. Cash talks, but bad judgment walks.

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reese_hayes712mo ago

Phoenix loves cash upfront contractors who vanish the second the check clears.

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the_paul2mo ago

Hold up a second. Cash upfront is the only way some contractors can even afford to start a job, especially with material costs being what they are right now. You wouldn't expect a restaurant to cook you a meal without paying first, right? The real problem is people hiring the cheapest guy on Craigslist without checking his license or bond here in Maricopa County.

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