Jane of All Trades Unreliable and dishonest Highland, California

"Lori" was referred to me for cleanup and landscaping of backyard in January 2012. Initially, she stated she would give me contract paperwork and any receipts for materials. She has very creative ideas and knew I needed help as a widowed, disabled senior so said she would give me "discount" rates. The 1st "phase" was cleanup including tree and weed removal and she verbally quoted me $720.00. She began work but left most of the bulk piled in side driveway for nearly two months. Unfortunately, I did not press her for any paperwork and paid her mostly with cash. Another $800. went for plants of which all but three did not survive. She said she didn't know where the receipt for Lowes was. She started a raised planter bed but never finished it. The ground, including a slope where old, rotting vegetation was is now all just dirt which keeps eroding and makes interior cleaning impossible. She started a small retaining wall on the slope but never finished it. I also paid her cash for a small indoor project which she did complete. I kept giving her extended time because she said she had a family and was attending school full time since her layoff from the City. She appears to have the knowledge, and to be fair, the few times she was here she was a hard worker. But, she kept postponing her workdays and seemed to do less for the money each time she did appear. I last saw her in July and she has never returned to finish any work. Shame on me for allowing myself to believe her when she felt she "connected" to me as a friend so I let lost too much money for a situation that is even worse than before. However, shame on her for either not admitting she had "bitten off more than she could chew", or just plain taking advantage of a situation.