This contractor could not even begin to complete the first phase of the contract we entered into. He could not rough in an exit door properly, and with other projects to be done, we decided not to take a chance on the other projects to the tune of $23, 000. As it is, he took $5, 800 of our money and left an opening in the wall incomplete. Because his workmanship was so poor, we felt compelled to release him. Now, a year and a half later, three court dates attended, an attempt to mediate, and now in the process of trying to go to arbitration, which is a get-out-of-jail-free card everytime a contractor does a substandard project, we are very outraged. Why are we outraged? Because as a homeowner, we have no protection against a thief in the night, referring to contractors who literally take advantage of homeowners by using an arbitration clause in their contracts. It is a weapon that contractors use to take a consumer's hard-earned money. Consumers should never enter into any contract that has arbitration language of any kind in it. Otherwise, you are doomed because the law forgives a contractor and continues to allow him to rape consumers without a penalty of some sort, which should include jail. Instead of a get-out-of-jail-free-card, it should be a go to jail if you fail in your fiduciary responsibility as a contractor.