Florida veteran out $111K for unfinished pool after contractor took his money and disappeared — and he wasn’t the only victim. How to spot the red flags

Other people across Florida report similar experiences with Robbins, who faces charges of grand theft and has since had his contractor license revoked.

The red flags

Contractors typically ask for deposits upfront, but paying the full contract price before work is complete, as Gomez nearly did, is a major red flag. According to the Federal Trade Commission, homeowners should never pay in full before the work is complete and should limit upfront payments to no more than one-third of the total project cost. (2)

In this case and others like it, Robbins took large deposits — and sometimes nearly the entire contract value — without finishing the projects.

Another customer, Jamie Wolczynski, said he paid $66,000 for a pool installation that remains unfinished more than three years later. (1)

Financial consequences for victims

For Gomez, the fallout has been severe. Completing the project required hiring another contractor for $78,000 — money he had to get through a loan. This not only adds more debt to the mortgage he was already paying, but could also impact his credit score and strain his budget for day-to-day necessities. This is an issue many Americans face, as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau notes, "Overall financial stability and well-being deteriorated from 2023 to 2024 ... more households had difficulty paying bills or expenses … (and) access to credit remains difficult for many consumers.” (3) On top of this, borrowing to fix unfinished work also reduces a household’s ability to save for retirement or emergencies, as debt repayment takes priority.

What victims can do

Victims of fraudulent or negligent contractors have several avenues for recourse. The first step is often to file a police report and pursue legal action. In Robbins’ case, civil lawsuits have led to judgments against him, including a $144,000 award in Manatee County that the customer is still waiting to collect. (1)

In Florida, some victims may qualify for the Florida Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund, which provides compensation to people who lose money due to licensed contractors’ misconduct. (4)

The program is "a last resort after all civil remedies have been exhausted" and requires meeting specific conditions, but only one of Robbins’ customers successfully recovered funds through the program.

Other states offer similar consumer protection or guaranty funds, though eligibility varies. Victims should also check whether their homeowner’s insurance provides coverage for contractor fraud or incomplete work. (5)

Lessons for homeowners

While home renovations should be an exciting time (and often is), they can take a devastating emotional and financial turn if contractor fraud arises. Knowing the red flags, financial consequences and available protections could help avoid turning your dream renovation into a nightmare.

Here are some tips to protect yourself when working with contractors:

• Verify their license and complaint history with the state licensing board.
• Never pay in full before work begins (one-third is the typical deposit), but structure payments around project milestones.
• Request references and inspect past work.
• Get everything in writing, including timelines and warranties.

Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

Tampa Bay 28 (1); Federal Trace Commission Consumer Advice (2); Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (3); Department of Business and Professional Regulation (4); Office of the Insurance Commissioner Washington State (5)