Contractor Disputes Payment-Plan Advice

Danny Lipford’s column about payment plans for remodeling projects (“Agree on Pay Plan Before Remodel Starts,” Dec. 26) provided some very useful and important advice.

However, there are two areas where I take exception to his comments. The first is his characterization of cash payment requests as income-tax dodges or evidence of bad banking relationships.

As long as a contractor performs on the contract, the method of payment is irrelevant. A contractor’s income tax status and banking relationship are not the payer’s concern.

Second, I would amplify on Lipford’s suggestion to “make sure” there are active workers compensation and liability insurance policies. Ask the contractor to see those policies and his current contractor’s license.

NICK CARTER

Via e-mail

The writer is a contractor.