Note: this tool provides general, informational guidance only — not legal advice and not a guarantee of any outcome. It helps you organize your situation and understand your options; the strength of any resulting claim still depends on your own facts and documentation.
What this tool actually does
A contractor dispute rarely feels straightforward from the inside — there's frustration, an unclear sense of what actually went wrong contractually, and uncertainty about what to do next. This wizard asks a series of questions about your specific situation — what was agreed, what happened, and what you're seeking — and helps you understand where you stand and what a reasonable next step looks like.
What you'll need before you start
- A general sense of what was originally agreed with the contractor.
- A clear description of what went wrong — incomplete work, defective work, or a billing dispute.
- Any amounts already paid, and any estimate of what it would cost to fix or complete the work.
- Whatever documentation you already have — contracts, invoices, photos, or communication.
Using the wizard, step by step
- Describe your situation — what was agreed, and what specifically went wrong.
- Answer questions about documentation you already have or could reasonably gather.
- Review the guidance provided based on your specific answers.
- Use the suggested next step as a starting point for your own planning.
How this fits with the other contractor tools
This wizard works well alongside the other tools on this site built for contractor disputes specifically: use the contractor dispute calculator to put a number on your claim, and the demand letter builder once you're ready to put your demand in writing.
What comes out of it
Expect general, informational guidance tailored to the answers you provide — not a definitive legal assessment. Treat it as a way to organize your thinking and make sure you're not missing an obvious next step, rather than a final word on how your specific dispute will play out.
It doesn't replace your own documentation
However helpful the guidance, it can't substitute for the underlying evidence your case actually needs — see contractor disputes for the full breakdown of what matters most: photos, written estimates, and a clear comparison between what was agreed and what was delivered.
Next steps after the wizard
Depending on where the wizard leaves you, your next step might be sending a demand letter, gathering a second contractor's estimate, or moving toward preparing and filing a claim.
Official sources
- Guide to Small Claims Court Process — the official step-by-step process guide.
- Ontario Court Forms — the official source for current court forms.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sue My Contractor wizard free to use?
Yes — it's provided as a free informational tool, with no account or payment required.
Does this tool tell me if I'll win my case?
No — it provides general guidance based on your answers, not a prediction of how a court would decide your specific dispute.
Should I use this before or after getting a second contractor's estimate?
Either order works, but having an estimate in hand often makes the wizard's questions easier to answer specifically and usefully.
What if my dispute involves a subcontractor, not the contractor I hired?
Work through the wizard based on your direct relationship — who you actually contracted with is generally the starting point for a claim, even if a subcontractor did the work.