You asked for your money back, in writing, and heard nothing. That is a hard spot to be in, and the quiet can make it feel like there is nothing left to try. There usually are a few things worth checking. This is general information, not legal advice, and what applies to you depends on your contract, your payment method and where you live. No step here guarantees a refund.
Check the clocks that are not the contractor's
The date you put in your letter was a request. If the contractor lets it pass, nothing legal happens on that day. Other deadlines may be running in the background, though, and they do not wait for a reply.
- Paid by credit card: the federal billing-error process generally needs written notice to your issuer within 60 days after it sent the first statement showing the charge. That is counted from the statement, not from the day you paid. See disputing a credit card charge for services not rendered and FTC: Using credit cards and disputing charges (with sample letter).
- Paid by debit card, Zelle, check or another app: the time limits and protections depend on your bank and the payment service. Call the number on the back of your card or in the bank's official app and ask. For Zelle in particular, see the Zelle guide.
If a deadline might be close, deal with that first. Waiting a little longer for the contractor can cost you options you cannot get back.
Make sure they actually got it
Sometimes a request goes nowhere for boring reasons: an old email address, a spam folder, a phone number that no longer works. Before you decide you have been ignored, look at how you sent it. If it was a single text or email, try again another way, such as a letter with tracking or a message to a second address you have for them. Keep a copy and proof of when and how each one went out. The free refund request letter template has a section on sending it and keeping proof.
A short follow-up you can adapt
A follow-up does not need to repeat everything. Keep it calm, factual and easy to answer. Replace the brackets and leave out anything that does not apply.
That last line is not a threat. It just tells them you have more than one path. Leave out insults, guesses about why they went quiet and accusations. Calm messages are easier for anyone reading them later, such as a bank, an agency or a court clerk, to follow.
Places to ask for help
- Your card issuer or bank. Tell them what you paid, what was agreed and that you asked for a refund and got no reply. Ask which process applies, what they need from you and by when.
- Your state licensing board or consumer office. Some boards take complaints about licensed contractors, and a consumer office can explain what it handles. You can find yours through USA.gov: Find your state consumer protection office. A complaint is not a promise of action or reimbursement.
- Free legal information. LawHelp.org: Free legal information, court self-help and legal aid by state (Pro Bono Net) points to court self-help and legal aid by state, which can be a good place to start if you are unsure what applies to you.
It helps to have your records in one place before you contact anyone. The evidence checklist covers what people usually gather.
Small claims: an option, not the automatic next step
Small claims courts are built for people without lawyers, and for some disputes they are a reasonable route. They are not always the right one. Claim limits, filing fees, deadlines and the way papers must be delivered all differ by court. You also need to know where to find the contractor, and winning a judgment does not mean the money arrives; see California Courts: Collecting a judgment (California example) for one state's explanation. Your court's self-help service can tell you whether your situation fits, and a licensed attorney can advise on your contract.
A fictional example
Marcus (a made-up person) paid $1,800 up front to have bathroom tile installed. The work never started, so he emailed a refund request with a reply-by date of April 12. April 12 passed in silence. Before doing anything else, he checked how he paid: a credit card. He found the statement that first showed the charge, counted the days, and called his issuer that afternoon to ask how to dispute it and what they needed. Then he sent one short follow-up by mail with tracking, kept the receipt, and put his records in one folder. How it ends depends on his facts and on what the issuer and any agency decide.
Next steps to look at
If you have not sent anything yet, start with the free letter template. For the bigger picture, see what to do after a contractor takes a deposit. If you'd rather answer a few questions and get a draft letter with a dated timeline and an evidence checklist filled in from your details, the optional letter pack does that. It prepares materials for you to review, edit and send yourself. See the fictional example pack first to compare.