My Contractor Left the Job Half-Done – I Showed Him Why You Don’t Mess with a Single Mom of 3…
Eliza, a single mom of three, trusted a contractor to remodel her kitchen, but he disappeared halfway through the job, leaving her with an unusable space. Little did he know, Eliza had a clever plan up her sleeve to make him regret crossing her.
I’ve always heard that being a single mom is tough, but my friends and family have always had my back, so I didn’t really get it—until fate hit me with a situation that made my blood boil.
Before diving into the mess, let me tell you a little about myself. I’m Eliza, and I’ve been raising my three kids—Chelsea (10), Trevor (8), and Kayla (6)—on my own for two years. My ex-husband cheated on me, and after a few chances that he wasted, I kicked him out for good. He didn’t even bother fighting for custody, probably because he knew I’d win.
Life as a single mom was manageable at first, thanks to help from my brother Adam, who handled all the ‘manly’ stuff around the house like fixing pipes and electrical work. But when the kitchen drain got blocked, even Adam couldn’t fix it, so I had to hire a contractor.
That’s when I learned how some people treat single moms—especially when they realize there’s no man in the house. It started a few months ago with a minor sink issue. I tried all the usual home remedies, but nothing worked. After washing dishes in the bathroom for a while, I called Adam, but he told me I’d need a professional.
Through a friend’s recommendation, I hired a contractor named Mark. He seemed capable and friendly, and after diagnosing the problem, he suggested remodeling the kitchen entirely. His price sounded fair, and he promised to get it done in six weeks. So, I gave him the go-ahead.
For the first two weeks, everything went smoothly. Mark even got along well with my kids, who were curious about the work. But then, one day, he didn’t show up. I figured something must’ve come up, but after three days, I called him. He casually told me he was busy with another job and would “swing by later.” Red flags went up.
Another week passed, and I still hadn’t heard from him. That’s when it hit me—he was trying to take advantage because I’m a single mom. He probably thought I wouldn’t make a fuss and would just let it go. But he didn’t know who he was messing with.
I snapped a few pictures of the half-finished kitchen—cabinets hanging at odd angles, exposed wires, broken pipes—and posted them in some local home improvement Facebook groups. I didn’t bash him; I simply said he’d been great until he disappeared and asked if anyone else had experienced delays like mine.
The response was overwhelming. Dozens of people commented that Mark had left their projects unfinished, too. Some had been chasing him for months, others had lost their deposits. It seemed like the entire town was fed up with him.
Two days after my post, Mark called me, his voice shaking. “People are saying I don’t finish jobs—that’s not true, right?” He was panicking.
“Well, Mark,” I replied calmly, “I can’t control what people say. Maybe you should focus on finishing the work you start.”
He begged me to help take down the reviews, promising he’d finish my kitchen the next day. Sure enough, he showed up with his crew and worked at lightning speed, desperate to fix his reputation.
After they finished, he texted, asking if I’d remove the post and leave a good review instead. I told him I’d think about it. But I didn’t take the post down. He needed to learn that he couldn’t just disappear on people and expect no consequences.
Mark assumed I’d stay quiet because I’m a single mom. He was wrong. And looking back, I’m glad I handled it on my own. If Adam had been involved, maybe Mark wouldn’t have ghosted me—but then the town wouldn’t have known who he really was.
Everything happens for a reason, and I finally understand why.