The recession has people gripping to their green as well a being quicker to stand up for their interests.
One North Central Florida homeowner says a man he hired to work on his home left him in the cold and rain and the worker says he did the job he was paid to do - a dispute that has consumers wondering if they are really getting their money's worth.
Smith said he agreed to pay Ed Willard of Atlantic Roofing more than $2,000 to do the job, and he paid $1,000 up front.
He says he is unhappy with the work and the rate the work is being done and told Willard, who then stopped showing up.
Willard disagrees with Smith's account and says he stopped coming to work because he cannot work in the rain and plans to finish what he started.
"We'll see in court," he said. "We'll all have our day in court and he will hear from an attorney, especially if he's saying something he shouldn't be."
Barbara Thompson works for Seniors Vs. Crime, a non-profit organization that helps people in situations like Smith.
She says arguments like this are nothing new.
"When you get door-to-door neighborhood contractors that kind of go around and tell people 'Oh, I can fix your roof or I'll fix your driveway or I'll fix your whatever,' then we see a lot of complaints and a lot of problems," she said.
Thompson also recommends making sure whoever you hire is licensed. She says not to pay in advance and to make sure you have a written contract.
Smith is back to the drawing board and the phone book trying to find agencies to help solve his problems.
At least one group says that they can point him in the right direction.