Denis, I have faced similar situations. I ignored the requests for my info. You want it, you ask for it up front. And, I'll see that as a sign of the kind I don't like to work for.

1099's are a PITA because they include the amount of expenses you incurred doing the job. It's up to you to use the expenses on your Sch C to make the adjustment. If the issuer of the 1099 inflates the amount, I would simply inform him that I was going to take the checks he cut for you and the incorrect 1099 to the IRS and invite him to bring along his canceled checks that justify the amount on the 1099.

I'm sure that he will promptly leave you alone if things don't jive. Volunteering for an audit that involves another tax payer will scare hell out of anyone.

Do you play poker? What cards are you holding? That's the way I treat all these dickweeds.

If he stiffed you and is threatening YOU with legal action, you can always return the "favor" with a Mechanic's Lien on his house.

It's an apartment. Are you reading this? Also, one has to be a licensed contractor in this state to do a job more than $500 aggregate labor and material. A lien won't stand w/o the license.

For some reason I don't think speeder has one. Not that I care, I inactivated mine. Eff 'em.

I've just put the guy on "ignore". Blocked his email address, etc. I may take him to small claims court for the amount he owes me which I had previously written off. He could do the same to me but I don't think he'll do well. In SCC when it's a "he said/she said" situation, I think (hope) that the truth sounds different than a wholesale lie to a seasoned judge. I hope.

Maybe he'll just go away.