Had a similar issue here with Mr. Wells. Hired him to do a fence at my home in Lakewood and gave him a check for $501 for materials. Seven weeks of no shows and avoiding my calls (to the point of having to borrow a phone to get him to answer). No fence, no refunded money as promised. I finally took him to small claims court but of course he didn't show up.
I explained to this Mr. Wells that I was out of work and looking to have the work done at a decent price because of that and I am trying to keep my property up to code. His girlfriend was with him.
Didn't bug him a bit it seems to take money from struggling people.