Another day, another Karen. A video has surfaced featuring a woman who refuses to pay a contractor after he completed hours of landscaping work at her property. Sitting comfortably on the steps of her porch, she is seen denying the contractor’s request for payment, citing that he does not have a license or insurance. The contractor, who filmed the encounter, recounts the time and money spent on materials like wood for the porch and other landscaping essentials, only to be stiffed on the payment.
The video has rightly sparked outrage, with many commenters pointing out the absurdity of her claims. One user noted an observation echoed by many, saying:
“Why did she only check if he was licensed when payment was due? That’s the type of check you do prior to hiring someone for work. She’s no more than a common thief.”
Indeed, this highlights a crucial issue—if her concerns about licensing were legitimate, they should have been raised at the start, not at the moment payment was due.
But equally, as another commenter noted, “Also, you don’t need a license to pressure wash, she would need to pay for that,” reminding us that some tasks performed by the contractor likely didn’t even require a license in the first place. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to have deterred Karen from attempting to avoid paying for the work done, a tactic some speculated was premeditated. One went further, noting:
“This was the plan all along. I’m sure she followed this by threatening to deport him.”
In the video, the contractor remains composed despite the frustrating situation. He explains how he purchased the materials with his own money, including $2,000 worth of wood, and spent several hours working on the property. The community’s reaction has been sympathetic, with one person remarking, “It would be obtaining work by deception at the least in my eyes. The premeditation is obvious.” Legal experts in the comments also weighed in, stating that the contractor would likely win if this dispute ended up in court, as contract law is clear on these kinds of scenarios.
The Karen’s refusal to pay has drawn widespread condemnation, with many calling her actions a scam. As one user put it bluntly, “She didn’t want to pay even when she was getting it really cheap, shows she wanted something for nothing.” Others hoped that the contractor would retaliate by dismantling the work. Still, regardless of what happens next, this incident shines a light on the vulnerabilities contractors face when dealing with unscrupulous clients.
This whole situation serves as a cautionary tale for contractors everywhere. As many have said over on Reddit, always get your contract signed ahead of any work completed. In fact, you’re better off trying to get some sort of payment in advance.
