For homeowners, subs & suppliers
Something went wrong with your contractor
If a contractor took your money, abandoned the job, or left you with work that isn't right, you have options, and understanding them is the first step.
For homeowners
This wasn't your fault, and you're not first.
Contractor fraud is more common than most people realize, and there's a real system for holding these operators accountable. Here's how it works.
How accountability actually works
California licenses contractors through the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), and that license is backed by protections most people never hear about until they need them.
The license itself.
Every legitimate contractor carries one. A complaint against a license is taken seriously because a contractor's livelihood depends on keeping it in good standing.
The license bond.
Behind each license is a bond, a pool of money that can compensate people the contractor harmed. It exists precisely for situations like yours.
The public record.
When harm is documented with the CSLB, it enters a record that agencies actually count. This is what turns scattered bad experiences into something regulators can act on.
Start with a conversation
You can file a complaint on your own at any time; it's free and it's your right. But how and when you file can affect what happens next, and a lot of people find it helps to talk things through first. We've walked alongside many people in your situation, and we can share what we've seen work.
A discovery call
Talk it through with us first
A short, free conversation. We'll listen to what happened and share what we've learned from helping others through it, including, sometimes, whether you may be dealing with a contractor we're already seeing elsewhere. That can shape how you approach filing. We're not attorneys and we don't give legal advice; we offer our own experience, and we'll point you to professionals when you need them.
Request a call →You're always free to file on your own; see the CSLB below.
When you're ready to file
Putting it on record with the CSLB
Filing a complaint with the CSLB is free, it's your right, and it's what enters what happened to you into the official record. You can do it yourself at any time, whether or not you talk with us first.
Go to CSLB.ca.gov → (opens in a new tab)This link goes to the CSLB's official state website. Roof Over My Heart isn't affiliated with the CSLB; we're pointing you to the real avenue.
Being straight with you
What Roof Over My Heart can and can't do
We can help you understand your situation, learn how the system works, and figure out your options. We can help you organize and prepare your documentation, so your case is clear and ready for the agencies who handle it. And where it helps, we can tell you whether what happened to you may be part of a larger pattern.
We are not a law firm or a government agency. We don't represent you, give legal advice, or file on your behalf. If your situation calls for legal advice, that's a decision for you and a licensed professional of your choosing.
For subcontractors & suppliers
You did the work and weren't paid
A contractor who didn't pay you is often the same one leaving homeowners in the lurch. The avenues that work go after the contractor, not the homeowner who already paid in good faith.
Verify before you take the job
Check a contractor's license and bond before you agree to work, the same lookup homeowners use before they sign.
Contractor license & bond lookup → (opens in a new tab)Know what you're owed
California sets payment deadlines and penalties a contractor owes you by law, including a monthly penalty on amounts wrongfully withheld.
Start with a conversation
A contractor who stiffs subs is often the same one defrauding homeowners. Talking with us first can help you approach this the right way, and sometimes we can tell you whether the contractor who didn't pay you is one we're already seeing elsewhere.
A discovery call
Talk it through with us first
A short, free conversation. We'll listen and share what we've learned from helping others in your position, including how the remedies aimed at the contractor tend to work. We're not attorneys and we don't give legal advice; we offer our own experience, and we'll point you to professionals when you need them.
Request a call →You're always free to file on your own; see the CSLB below.
When you're ready to file
Putting it on record with the CSLB
You can file a complaint with the CSLB and pursue a claim against the contractor's license bond. Both aim at the contractor, and both are free to start on the CSLB's own site whenever you're ready. Suppliers and subcontractors can file for unpaid labor or materials.
Go to CSLB.ca.gov → (opens in a new tab)This link goes to the CSLB's official state website. Roof Over My Heart isn't affiliated with the CSLB; we're pointing you to the real avenue.
The avenues we point to go after the contractor, the one who withheld your payment. That's the CSLB complaint, the claim against their license bond, and the prompt-payment penalties they owe you. These aim squarely at the party responsible.
Being straight with you
What Roof Over My Heart can and can't do
We can help you understand your situation, learn how the system works, and figure out your options. We can help you organize and prepare your documentation, so your case is clear and ready for the agencies who handle it. And where it helps, we can tell you whether what happened to you may be part of a larger pattern.
We are not a law firm or a government agency. We don't represent you, give legal advice, or file on your behalf. If your situation calls for legal advice, that's a decision for you and a licensed professional of your choosing.