How to File a Complaint Against a Contractor in Washington

Short Answer: Start with a written complaint to the contractor. Then use the Attorney General's free complaint service, report unregistered or unpermitted work to L&I, and pursue money through a bond claim, small claims court or a lawsuit.

Quick Facts

When a contractor relationship breaks down, it helps to know which door to knock on. Washington has several, and they do different things. This guide explains each, in the order most homeowners use them.

Step 1: Complain to the Contractor in Writing

Before any agency gets involved, write to the contractor:

• what was agreed (attach the contract),
• what went wrong, with dates and photos,
• what you want: repair, completion or a refund,
• a reasonable deadline to respond.

Keep it factual. A written complaint is often required later and sometimes solves the problem on its own.

Step 2: Check the Contractor’s Record

Look up the contractor on L&I Verify, or in the Washington Contractor License Lookup. Note the registration status, bond, insurance and any existing bond lawsuits. This tells you which options are open.

Step 3: The Attorney General’s Informal Resolution Service

The Washington State Attorney General’s Office (AG) runs a free consumer complaint service:

• File online through the AG’s complaint form, or by mail to the Attorney General’s Office, 800 5th Ave, Suite 2000, Seattle, WA 98104-3188.
• Phone: 1-800-551-4636 (in Washington) or 206-464-6684.
• The AG sends your complaint to the business and asks it to respond, generally within 30 days.
• The AG tries to help resolve the dispute informally but cannot compel the business or act as your private attorney.
• Complaints also help the AG identify patterns of unfair or deceptive practices.

Tip: Attach your contract, payment proof, photos and your written complaint to the contractor. A complete file gets a clearer response.

Step 4: Report to L&I Where Rules Were Broken

The Department of Labor & Industries enforces contractor registration. Report:

• unregistered contracting,
• work without required permits or electrical or plumbing licenses,
• a registered contractor using unregistered subcontractors.

Use L&I’s Report a Contractor tool online or call 1-888-811-5974. You can stay anonymous and you receive a referral number. L&I can investigate and issue infractions, but it does not resolve your private money dispute.

Step 5: Claim Against the Bond

If the contractor was registered and breached the contract, you can sue on its bond in superior court. Homeowners have two years from substantial completion or abandonment. The process is in How to File a Claim Against a Contractor Bond in Washington.

Step 6: Insurance for Accidental Damage

If the contractor’s work caused accidental damage, such as a fire or flood, notify the contractor’s liability insurer and your own insurer. The differences are explained in Contractor Bond vs Insurance.

Step 7: Small Claims Court

Small claims court is designed for people without lawyers. It handles claims up to a limit set by state law; check the current limit with your district court. You file against the contractor directly.

Step 8: A Lawsuit and the Consumer Protection Act

For larger losses, a civil lawsuit may be appropriate. Washington’s Consumer Protection Act (RCW chapter 19.86) prohibits unfair or deceptive acts in trade and can allow recovery of damages and attorneys’ fees in qualifying cases. Talk to an attorney about whether it fits your facts.

Step 9: The Homeowner Recovery Fund

If you win a bond-claim judgment against a registered contractor and it goes unpaid, eligible owner-occupants may apply to L&I’s Homeowner Recovery Fund. See Washington Homeowner Recovery Fund.

Choosing the Right Route

Keep a Complaint File

Keep everything in one place: contract, Notice to Customer, change orders, receipts, photos, messages, inspection reports and every letter. Note dates of calls. A good file makes each option faster.

Watch the Deadlines

Bond claims, lien actions and lawsuits all have deadlines. Do not let an informal process run so long that a legal deadline passes. If a large amount is at stake, talk to a lawyer early.

Online Reviews

Factual reviews can help other homeowners, but stick to what happened and avoid accusations you cannot support. A review is not a substitute for the formal routes above.

A Worked Example: Escalating Step by Step

A homeowner’s new siding is leaking at the window trim and the contractor stops answering calls.

• Week 1: the homeowner photographs the leaks, checks the record (ACTIVE, bond and insurance current) and sends a letter by email and post asking for repairs within 14 days.
• Week 3: no response. The homeowner files a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office, attaching the contract, payments, photos and the letter.
• Week 7: the contractor responds through the AG process offering to repair two of the four windows. The homeowner gets an independent repair estimate for the rest.
• Next: the homeowner weighs a small claims case for the remaining amount against a bond claim, mindful that the homeowner bond deadline is two years from substantial completion or abandonment.

Each step creates a record for the next one. Even if the informal route does not fully resolve the dispute, it often narrows it.

How to Write an Effective Complaint

• Keep it to one or two pages.
• Use a timeline with dates.
• State clearly what was agreed, what happened and what you want.
• Attach documents rather than describing them.
• Avoid speculation about motives; stick to facts.

If the Contractor Responds

If the contractor offers a fix, get the offer in writing with dates and scope before agreeing. Keep your other options open until the work is actually done to your satisfaction.

Bottom Line

Write to the contractor, check the record, then pick the route that fits: the AG for mediation, L&I for rule-breaking, the bond or court for money. Document everything as you go.