When a business does not want to give you a written estimate when asked, asks for payment to be made in cash as they do not trust their customers, and asks for ½ of payment upfront in violation of Maryland law« : A contractor cannot accept more than 1⁄3 of the contract price as a deposit and may not accept any payment until the contract is signed. The agreed upon price of the home improvement contract should be clearly stated. Beyond the initial deposit, the Home Improvement Law does not control the payment schedule; instead payment terms, including a deposit of less than 1⁄3 of the contract, can be negotiated between the homeowner and contractor.», one has to be suspicious.