A demand letter is a short, factual document stating what you paid, what you got for it, and what you want back by when. It isn't a lawsuit and you don't need a lawyer to send one — but it's often the thing that gets a contractor to actually respond.
The agreement, in a sentence. What was promised, for what price, and when it was supposed to happen.
What you paid. A specific number, with the date.
What was actually delivered. Nothing, if nothing happened. If some work was done, say what, and what you're crediting for it.
What you want back. What you paid minus any fair credit for completed work — stated as one clear number.
A deadline. A specific date, usually a week or two out, by which you want the money returned.
What happens if they miss it. Stating that you'll file in small claims, or file a complaint with the licensing board if the contractor is licensed, isn't a threat — it's the actual next step, and saying so plainly tends to focus things.
Frustration, the full history of missed calls, and anything you can't back up. A letter that recounts every broken promise reads as venting. A letter that says "I paid $4,000 on March 3rd for a bathroom remodel; no work began; I am requesting the full $4,000 back by [date]" reads as something that isn't going away.
If real work happened, credit it. Asking for every dollar back when part of the job was actually done makes the rest of the letter less credible, not more.
Certified mail with return receipt is the standard, for the same reason it always is: it proves they received it. If this ends up in small claims, "I sent a formal written demand and got no response" is a stronger position than "I texted a few times."
Email or text as a backup is fine. It shouldn't be the only channel you used.
Keep a copy of exactly what you sent, and the proof of delivery.
Some contractors pay once it's in writing with a real deadline — a letter reads differently than a text. Some negotiate a partial refund. Some still don't respond, and that documented silence becomes useful if you end up filing.
Get your paperwork straight first — the agreement, the payment record, and an honest total of what's owed. How to get money back from a contractor walks through gathering that before you draft anything.
Wherewithal is an organizational tool, not a law firm, not legal advice.
Wherewithal is an organizational tool only. Not legal advice. Consider consulting a licensed attorney.