Yes, send the certified letter, etc. But if you get no response, contact the County. Montgomery County has an Office of Consumer Protection and assists with situations like yours. Often they are already aware of the contractor, and can make arrangements to get the contractor to complete the work in a timely manner. If they are completely MIA, but are licensed, there is a fund that can reimburse you for your losses.

From the website....

IF YOU DO BUSINESS WITH A LICENSED CONTRACTOR, YOU ARE PROTECTED BY THE HOME IMPROVEMENT GUARANTY FUND FOR LOSSES UP TO $15,000 THAT RESULT FROM POOR WORKMANSHIP AND OTHER VIOLATIONS OF THE HOME IMPROVEMENT LAW. YOU ARE NOT PROTECTED BY THE GUARANTY FUND IF YOU DO BUSINESS WITH AN UNLICENSED CONTRACTOR. This is the most important reason why you should only do business with a licensed contractor. If losses caused by a single contractor exceed $50,000, each consumer receives a pro rata refund.

Here's the link...

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ocptmpl.asp?url=/content/ocp/consumer/guide_home_imp.asp

Agree with PP. Posting complaints on various boards at this point is not going to get the job completed so focus your energy on that instead. It is important to terminate the contract before you hire someone else to finish the work.

All that being said, we've done 2 kitchens and a month is pretty short. One small kitchen took 3 months (had similar contractor issues on that one) and the other took at least 6 weeks before we could at least use it.

You need to write him a letter and send it by certified mail so that you have proof in writing. Explain that you expect the work to be done by X date (if there is a date of completion specified in your contract, use that. If not, then use a date based on your last conversation with him about expected completion dates). If not completed by that date, you will hire another contractor and any money paid to that money will be deducted from the balance that you owe the original contractor. If the outstanding work costs more than the balance owed, then you will sue him in small claims court for any additional costs incurred by you for his breach of contract. Explain that you will also file with the BBB and report him to the state licensing board. Then follow through.

Why are you emailing and not calling?

The contract doesn't help me. Doesn't Maryland have somewhere to complain or deal with issues with contractors. I'm planning to file a complaint with the BBB and write my opinions with Angies list and Checkbook for what that is worth.

I would read your contract very carefully. Then I would send him a letter by regular and certified mail telling him that if he does not get back to you by a date certain that you shall consider him to have abandoned the job and will hire someone else to complete it in order to mitigate your losses.

It has taken over a month to finish a small kitchen. They didn't even show up tday and will not even respond to emails. I still owe them 1800 and there is not much left to do. I'm inclined to hire a handyman to finlish and not pay the difference. What are the laws in Montgomery County? What have other folks done?