If I don’t pay an independent contractor that I hired to do a job for me, what are the consequences?

I hired an independent contractor to do a job for me, we agreed on a payment of $600, but I wasn’t happy with the work done, so I’m not paying him. Now he is threatening legal action if I don’t pay him. What kind of legal action could be taken towards me? Just a civil lawsuit or something bigger such as jail time?

he would sue you.. he did SOME work didnt he? so mabye your not being fair not paying him at all.. unless his work had to be undone and redone by someone else.. in which case you can have hte second guy who had to redo the work come in and testify in your behalf ..

but.. if you had no one else do the job.. and that job got done.. and the work done is benefiting you or someone else.. then it’s seems something is due that contractor.. .. does not seem fair to me that you can benefit in ANY way.. and stiff him on compensation for his work.

but i think if u can prove that you did not benefit in any way from his failure to perform the work as contracted you might have a case..

otherwise it seems that you might not have been prudent and carefull in your contract in specifying the quality of the result the standard of work required.. so you might share some of the responsibility and thus costs.. ie mabye he should get SOMETHING.. but nothing.. when his time and assetts were utilized to your profit.. .. that’s gonna lose you a case… unless u got that second expert to say his job COST you money.. instead of profited you.. i think your in the wrong. and i think a court trying to find a fair resolution might agree. you do have some responsibility in ensuring there is a standard to be met in return for compensation before the job starts…all this should have been spelled out in the contract between you.. if it was not it’s his word against yours.. not paying him anything seems a bit unfair. not trying to resolve the dispairity.. or giving him a chance to correct deficiancys.. might not reflect well on you either.

Environmental Engineer Job, Civil Contractor, Melbourne

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