When retired Army veteran Luis Angel Gomez hired Dreamscape Pools for his Hillsborough County, Florida home in 2023, he thought his backyard project would be straight-forward — as his niece’s was. But, unlike his niece’s experience, it turned into what Gomez calls his “biggest nightmare ever.” (1)
Must Read
- Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don’t have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here’s how
- Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — here’s what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
- Robert Kiyosaki says this 1 asset will surge 400% in a year — and he begs investors not to miss its ‘explosion’
After he paid almost the full contract price of $111,535, contractor David Robbins stopped showing up, leaving Gomez with an unfinished pool and mounting financial strain.
Other people across Florida report similar experiences with Robbins, who faces charges of grand theft and has since had his contractor license revoked.
The red flags
Contractors typically ask for deposits upfront, but paying the full contract price before work is complete, as Gomez nearly did, is a major red flag. According to the Federal Trade Commission, homeowners should never pay in full before the work is complete and should limit upfront payments to no more than one-third of the total project cost. (2)
In this case and others like it, Robbins took large deposits — and sometimes nearly the entire contract value — without finishing the projects.
Another customer, Jamie Wolczynski, said he paid $66,000 for a pool installation that remains unfinished more than three years later. (1)
Financial consequences for victims
For Gomez, the fallout has been severe. Completing the project required hiring another contractor for $78,000 — money he had to get through a loan. This not only adds more debt to the mortgage he was already paying, but could also impact his credit score and strain his budget for day-to-day necessities. This is an issue many Americans face, as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau notes, "Overall financial stability and well-being deteriorated from 2023 to 2024 … more households had difficulty paying bills or expenses … (and) access to credit remains difficult for many consumers.” (3) On top of this, borrowing to fix unfinished work also reduces a household’s ability to save for retirement or emergencies, as debt repayment takes priority.
Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it
What victims can do
Victims of fraudulent or negligent contractors have several avenues for recourse. The first step is often to file a police report and pursue legal action. In Robbins’ case, civil lawsuits have led to judgments against him, including a $144,000 award in Manatee County that the customer is still waiting to collect. (1)
In Florida, some victims may qualify for the Florida Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund, which provides compensation to people who lose money due to licensed contractors’ misconduct. (4)
The program is "a last resort after all civil remedies have been exhausted" and requires meeting specific conditions, but only one of Robbins’ customers successfully recovered funds through the program.
Other states offer similar consumer protection or guaranty funds, though eligibility varies. Victims should also check whether their homeowner’s insurance provides coverage for contractor fraud or incomplete work. (5)
Lessons for homeowners
While home renovations should be an exciting time (and often is), they can take a devastating emotional and financial turn if contractor fraud arises. Knowing the red flags, financial consequences and available protections could help avoid turning your dream renovation into a nightmare.
Here are some tips to protect yourself when working with contractors:
- Verify their license and complaint history with the state licensing board.
- Never pay in full before work begins (one-third is the typical deposit), but structure payments around project milestones.
- Request references and inspect past work.
- Get everything in writing, including timelines and warranties.
What to read next
- Want to retire with an extra $1.3M? See how Dave Ramsey’s viral 7-step plan helps millions of Americans kill debt and build wealth — and how you can too
- I’m 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don’t panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)
- There’s still a 35% chance of a recession hitting the American economy this year — protect your retirement savings with these 5 essential money moves ASAP
- This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchase. Here’s how to buy the coveted asset in bulk
Join 200,000+ readers and get Moneywise’s best stories and exclusive interviews first — clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
Tampa Bay 28 (1); Federal Trace Commission Consumer Advice (2); Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (3); Department of Business and Professional Regulation (4); Office of the Insurance Commissioner Washington State (5)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.