My Contractor Ghosted Me: 7 Steps Minnesota Homeowners Should Take

01 Stop and Document Everything You Have

Before making any moves, gather your paper trail. Save every contract, invoice, receipt, email, and text message between you and the contractor. Photograph the current state of the project from multiple angles, including any materials left on site.

Write a simple timeline of what was promised, what was paid, when work stopped, and when communication ended. This record becomes your foundation for every step that follows, whether you file a complaint, pursue a refund, or take legal action.

02 Send One Clear Written Message

Sometimes a contractor is overwhelmed, not deliberately dishonest. Before escalating, send one final written message by email or text. State the project status, the amount you have paid, and a firm deadline of seven to ten business days, roughly one to two calendar weeks, to respond.

Make it clear that you will pursue formal action if you do not hear back. If they respond, you have a path forward. If they do not, your documented attempt shows you acted in good faith before taking further steps.

03 File a Complaint With the Minnesota Attorney General

The Minnesota Attorney General’s consumer protection division handles contractor complaints at no cost. Filing is free and can be done online. The office mediates disputes, keeps consumers informed about active cases, and helps identify contractors with a pattern of dishonest practices.

When Minnesota Rusco shut down, Attorney General Keith Ellison issued a consumer alert and began tracking the situation, helping affected homeowners understand their recovery options. That same office handles individual complaints from homeowners whose contractors abandoned projects or stopped communicating. Filing a complaint also helps the state identify repeat offenders and protect other homeowners across Minnesota.

04 File With the Department of Labor and Industry

If your contractor was licensed in Minnesota, you may be eligible for reimbursement through the Minnesota Contractor Recovery Fund. Here is how it works:

• The fund covers actual out-of-pocket losses, such as deposits paid for work that was never completed
• Individual claims are capped at $100,000 for work performed after December 1, 2007
• Total payouts per contractor are capped at $550,000
• You must first obtain a court judgment against the contractor to qualify
• If the contractor filed for bankruptcy, you can petition the bankruptcy court to lift the automatic stay for the sole purpose of obtaining that judgment

The process takes time, but the fund exists specifically for situations like this. The DLI complaint page walks you through getting started. This information is general guidance; consult an attorney for advice specific to your situation.

05 Dispute the Charge With Your Bank or Lender

If you paid your deposit by credit card, contact your card issuer and request a chargeback for services that were never delivered. Credit card companies handle these disputes regularly, and many homeowners recover their deposits this way.

If you financed the project through a third-party lender, you may be protected under the federal Holder Rule, which allows you to stop payments and potentially receive a refund when financed goods or services are not delivered. Act quickly, because dispute windows vary by institution and some close within 60 days.

06 Find a Licensed Replacement Contractor

Once your finances and complaints are in motion, you need someone trustworthy to finish the job. Here is what to verify before signing anything:

• Confirm the contractor’s license through the DLI license lookup tool
• Read their Google reviews and check their Better Business Bureau rating
• Ask for recent references from homeowners in your area
• Never pay more than 10 to 15 per cent upfront, or the cost of materials, whichever is less
• Get everything in writing before work begins: scope, timeline, payment schedule, and warranty terms
• Ask whether the contractor holds manufacturer certifications, which means they have been vetted beyond the basic state license

Hiring a certified roofing contractor adds a layer of accountability that a basic license alone does not provide. If your contractor ghosted you mid-project, this vetting step helps protect you from repeating the experience.

07 Know What to Do If Your Contractor Goes Out of Business

A contractor abandoning your project is one situation. A contractor going out of business entirely is another. When the company no longer exists, there is no one to call back, and recovery gets more complicated.

In a bankruptcy filing like Minnesota Rusco’s, affected homeowners are classified as unsecured creditors and are typically last in line for repayment. The same Contractor Recovery Fund process applies, but the court judgment step requires a petition to lift the automatic stay in bankruptcy. Some local contractors have stepped in to help homeowners in exactly this position, offering discounted rates and priority scheduling to get abandoned projects finished before winter.