I wrote three checks to a contractor based on a contract to have work done on our home. One was at the time of signing; one was the day before the job, in order to buy materials; the other was on the first day of work. Seemed okay to me. The contractor, however, never came back after that. I'm out $2000 and the job is unfinished. He is no longer in town doing business. Can I stop those checks even though they cleared, or is there other recourse I can take?
A stop payment can stop a payment that has not yet been completed, but it cannot reverse the payment of a check once it is finally paid from your account. Payment becomes final on the business day after the check posts to the account, or sooner.
Contact the police to see if the contractor has been reported in similar scams, and file a complaint. Another avenue you could consider is to file a small claims suit against the contractor, but the fact that he apparently has left the area may make such an attempt futile.
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A stop payment can stop a payment that has not yet been completed, but it cannot reverse the payment of a check once it is finally paid from your account. Payment becomes final on the business day after the check posts to the 