Bestway Asphalt, Columbiaville, MIchigan review: Asphalt paving contractor

On September 8, 2021, the owner of Bestway Asphalt, quoted a price of $28,500 for the installation of an asphalt driveway at my home. The work was to have been started the following week and completed during the month of September. He required a down payment of $14,250. We gave him a check in that amount, and he cashed it that very afternoon. Fast forward to the end of October. The weather was getting colder, and November’s forecast was for more of the same. The paving season was drawing to a close. Bestway had not even started the job and had no plans to do so. I told the owner I wanted a refund of my deposit. He told me he had used that money to buy materials. If true, these were not materials for our job but materials for someone else’s job. I told him that was not my issue. He had not done any of the work he committed to do, we were out of time, and I wanted my money back. He said he needed some checks to clear before he had the funds. He said it might take a few days, but the implication was that I would get my deposit back in a week or so. Months later, the owner is refusing to return my deposit, despite numerous requests that he do so and the fact that he did absolutely nothing to earn any part of it.