# Contractor Took My Deposit, Didn't Finish: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> Withhold final payment until work is done; licensed contractors can be pursued through their surety bond.

**Who pays:** third-party

Never let payments get ahead of completed work, withhold final payment until the job is done and you're satisfied. If a licensed contractor walks off with your deposit, in California you can file a claim directly against the contractor's surety bond.

**Boundary:** In California, a homeowner can file a claim directly against the contractor's surety bond for a willful and deliberate contract violation.

## Sources
- [How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam](https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0242-hiring-contractor) — "And never make the final payment until the work is done and you're satisfied with it." (accessed 2026-09-29)
- [Bond Basics: A Brief Discussion](https://www.cslb.ca.gov/contractors/bond_basics.aspx) — "Claims against a surety company may be filed by homeowners, any person damaged by a willful and deliberate violation of a construction contract or by employees damaged by the contractor's failure to pay wages." (accessed 2026-09-29)

_Last verified 2026-09-29. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/contractor-didnt-finish-job-took-my-deposit/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._