I recently hired a contractor to do landscaping. We’re talking multiple trees to take down, redoing multiple flower beds, mulch, rock and some sod. I was quoted at ~9k$. I paid half (4500$) via Square using my platinum credit card issued by my CU.

I took a picture of his business license, insurance, and I ended up getting pics of trucks when I took before pictures.

The crew came and worked one day. Maybe completed 30% of the work. For the next two weeks my calls and texts were dodged/unanswered/sent directly to voicemail.

Finally I had enough. I called the police, did a police report. Called the CU explained what happened and was sent an email on how to open a fraud report. I submitted all the before pictures and the “after 30% of work” pictures. I sent the police report, and social media posts of people who claimed to have their money stolen by the same person / company.

3 weeks later I get an email that my claim was denied due to “lack of information.” I spent a total of 31 hours on the phone attempting to get someone to tell me what information I needed to send them or what information they found lacking. I got absolutely no where. No answers. No one from fraud department. No one cared at all. Just denied.

So I went the other route, filed a claim in small claims court. I provided the judge everything I sent to the credit union. Judgement was in my favor. Now he owes me the $4500. How do I collect? I probably will never see the money. I can’t legally garnish any wages. So I’m out 4500. I couldn’t really do anything else to protect myself more.

Navy Federal Credit Union. I’ve been a member since 1991. 30 years with a credit union. I am a military veteran. Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of transactions have passed through my account. I’ve had multiple home, auto and personal loans.

I’m still trying to get over it.