I would like to share my bad experience with one trade contractor recently.
I think we should exercise extra cautions when dealing with some of these contractors. They can be quite un-etiquette when money is concern. In my case, it is a tiler by name of Chin Thin Fook (Ah Fook) 017-8799240
Yee Tar Tiles Marble Engineering
H 439, Kampung Aman, Seri Kembangan
03-9430997

Meet up with Ah Fook in late Sept this year. Showed him the house and even gave him some dimensions for him to check out. We even meet up a few times at the house for him to verify a few things. It was agreed that I will supply all the tiles. After we have agreed on the price, he asked for a deposit of RM 1,000 claiming that this is so that the owner will not change his mind on engaging him when the time comes to start work. Since I read a good comment from one of the renovation blog, I agreed and paid him the money. He issued me a receipt and I have also got him to sign documents to acknowledge receipt. It was also agreed that he will be personally be involved in the work. That's was the main reason why I decide to engaged him in the first place although his price is slightly higher then the market price. You have to pay higher to get quality workmanship.
As part of the scope of work, it was agreed that he will finish up some of the tiling work for the bathrooms (one day's work) first so that the works on the upper floors can be tidy up. The major works are located on the ground floor.
On early Nov, he finally got someone (his friend) to do up the tiling work for my bathrooms (replacing some damaged wall and floor tiles)
When I asked him to proceed with the tiling work for the ground floor, he asked for 40% of the contract amount saying that this is the industrial norm. Well, since I was convinced that he is trustworthy and a no-nonsense guy, I gave him a cheque for another RM 2,800 on 2 Nov. He got his friend to start work on my kitchen wall. His friend with another helper only work for 3 days and did not turn up for work after that. That was after the cheque has cleared.
I tried calling Ah Fook on his mobile the whole day. He did not answer. Finally when I managed to get him on his mobile, he claim that he cannot proceed with the work. I told him that since he is adamant that he is not willing to finish the job, then he should refund that balance of monies paid less the work done. He then claim that he will only refund RM 500 (although I did not agree that his work done justify RM 3,800 - 500 = 3,300) and asked for my bank account which I promptly gave him. After a few days with no sign of the refund from him, I called him. When I finally got him, he claim that he was busy to go to the bank and asked for a few more days. Now that the few days are up and he still has not bank in the money, I have not been able to get him on him mobile. He does not answer my calls.

Well, this is how contractors can be. So, beware.