Inspired Italian tile Alex Alessandro Valenza Tile setter Left after deposit of 30% and 1 day work St. Petersburg Florida

I found alex on craigslist, in the Tampa Bay area. After an initial estimate, we hired him to lay tile in our kitchen. He requested three payments over the course of the work. The initial deposit was 1/3 of the total cost, which would be $2000.Alex did show up for work we handed him cash as he requested, Which didn’t seem unusual for a contractor. Well he is very charming and kind, and uses his Italian accent to his advantage, the truth came out very soon after he started work that first day. Within 10 minutes of starting, he was on the phone texting. 30 minutes later he was smoking a cigarette outside and this went on and on for 10 hours of work, which really should’ve been completed in about six. After that day was finished he said that it would be done totally in another five days. That was the last time we saw him. The phone number had changed from a 215 area code to the 727, which is the one he is currently using after finding him still advertising on craigslist. Unfortunately, I know that we are ultimately at fault. Half of the old floor is ripped up and not a tile is in place. If I could do it all over again I’d make sure to check that the person Is licensed and insured. We had no other choice but to pay somebody again to complete the work as promised. Please be careful he is all over craigslist and in the local Facebook pages such as Pinellas jobs wanted. It seems he has taken down the title inspired Italian tile and he’s just using tile installer.