Help Taisha Rebuild Her Dream Salon

I Got Scammed by My Contractor for $13,000

Hey everyone, my name is Taisha Flores. I’ve got a crazy story to share that’s been weighing on me, and I’m hoping it’ll help someone else avoid the nightmare I’m living through. So, I recently decided to open my dream salon, Taisha’s Beauty Bar. I found what I thought was the perfect location, signed the lease, and started the build-out. That’s where the trouble started.

I hired a contractor who seemed legit, who goes by the name Gabriel Calderon. Company name G&C Construction. We signed a contract, and I paid him $13,000 to get things rolling. He promised me that the renovations would be done in no time, and I was excited to finally bring my vision to life. But then, the problems started. I have been struggling with this for the last 5 months, hearing excuses after excuses, and nothing has been done.

Weeks went by, and I kept hearing excuse after excuse. First, it was a delay with the plans. Then it was an issue with the workers. He assured me he was on top of it, but every time I checked in, there was little to no progress. And now, it’s been close to a month, and I haven’t heard from him at all. No calls, no texts—nothing. It’s like he disappeared with my money.

To make matters worse, I’m paying $3,000+ a month in rent for this new location that’s not even close to being ready. 5 months of 3K which brings me to 15K for the last 5 months of just RENT!!! Every day, I’m sinking deeper into debt because I still have bills piling up with no income from the salon. My savings are drained, and I’ve been living in a state of anxiety, trying to figure out how to make ends meet.

I’ve tried reaching out to the contractor multiple times, but he’s ghosting me. I’m stuck in this mess, and the whole thing has been an emotional rollercoaster. I never thought I’d be scammed, especially with something as important as opening my own business.

Now, I’m navigating legal options, trying to see if I can get my money back, but it’s a slow and draining process. It’s heartbreaking because all I wanted was to create a space for my clients, and now I’m just trying to survive and still have this salon open and not get sued by the landlord.

So, please, HELP ME!!!! If you’re hiring a contractor, do your research, check their licenses, and never give such a big deposit upfront. Protect yourself because this could happen to anyone. Thank you, and please keep me in your thoughts as I try to get through this.