BUYER BEWARE - Do not hire Chavez Darrow to build ANYTHING for u

I recently hired Chavez Darrow to build a mall for on my sim. When it all started out, it was very slow in getting started. Once building started, it took a week or so before seeing nething actually done. He would build a little, then stop and not see much of anything happening for days. For some reason in RL, he needed the payment sooner than later, so I did trust him and pay him up front, which he gave me a 20$ discount on it. Said it would be done much sooner now.
He couldnt handle the job alone, so offered to hire some friend builders to help him that he would pay for himself. I mean WHAM as soon as the others were helping him, things started to get done and rolling. I was impressed with Chavez and left him offlines about how i loved some of the things that were done. He replied back to him saying he was going to back out of the job because he couldnt compete with who was doing the mall. It wasnt his work. It was theirs (the other builders he asked to help him). He told me he couldnt do what they could do and wasnt going to be as good. He told me to think about what I wanted to do (either keep him on knowing it wasnt going to be as good, but a lil cheaper or going with the better builder). After talking to the other builder, I decided that since Chavez hasnt done much, and time was of the essense, plus him stating he couldnt do as well of a job.... That i would go with Redneck Innovations (the "better" builder, which was a good decision).
Chavez insisted that he would pay me the money back on that Friday (this was on a monday) because thats the soonest he could get it to me. I never saw him at all that week, I left him reminders that I needed the money just as much as he did and he needed to pay. Friday came... nothing, no payment... no Chavez. I left mulitple offlines. nothing. Til a few days later, he leaves me a msg that there is no way he is paying me back because i went with a new builder and the money was for his time and labor (umm 74 USD). I called Bullsh*t because there is nooooo way that the build was worth that time, it took 2 weeks just to get a FLOOR and a partial front. that was it NOTHING ELSE. Id offline him msgs, and still nothing. My fault for paying up front to help HIM AND I both out of a situation. But I also trusted a semi known builder that had done large jobs and had mutual friends. I have notecards of conversations, if neone would like to see proof of this. The guy fucked me over, and im still battling getting my money back. I am going to keep battling until i get my money back, or he doesnt work again as a builder.

Naming names is not allowed in this forum, sorry to say. This thread will be locked because of that and the fact that this is a personal dispute.

This is a reason one should go with reputable builders if one isn't willing to build their own items.

Sorry he bilked you.

In real life, land developers employ contracts and lawyers instead of posting on forums.

And how do you enforce a contract in SL? There is no legal system, other that the Lindens, and they won't do anything. It seems everything you do here is at your own risk, and they are not responsible. I know you will say only use reputable builders, scripter, etc., but problems arise,and deals go bad even with them. In fact, I had a situation similar to Jen's, and when I contacted the Lindens, they basically said there was nothing they could do. When I asked if there was anything I could do, they suggested posting it in the forums so other people would not get burned. At least in RL, I have the ability to use enforceable contracts, and hire lawyers to protect my interest when things go south.

I'm sorry to say but Coyote is correct about this thread being locked an the reasons. I am sorry for your loss but the forums are not the place to make it public. Also this is off-topic for this forum.