Zink’s Remodel

Due to recent freezing weather, we had a water pipe burst underneath our home. I asked around at our church, and friends in the area, for someone who could immediately fix the problem. Richard Zahnd, owner of Zink’s Remodel was recommended by one person.
Richard showed up the same day, and did a quick inspection of the situation. «I can fix this for about $ 400» he said. I gave approval. Nothing in writing. The next day, he was out with materials and a second person ‘helper’ and they repaired/​replaced about 20-​feet of copper tubing, and added insulation for the tubing they replaced.
When Richard completed the work, I asked again about the total cost. I told him that I’d been in contact with my home-owner’s insurance. He assured me it would be about $ 400, and that he had submitted an invoice to my insurance company.
Imagine my surprise, a week later, when Zink’s Remodel showed up at my home, asking for a check, for payment in full. «I called your insurance company, and they said you had been paid for my work…» I asked for a receipt, and the total amount of the bill. He could provide none. No receipt, no proof of any work or materials for the project. I paid him $ 400 on the spot, and promised to pay or negotiate more based on proof of work.
The next day, I contacted my homeowner’s insurance, and found that they had approved $ 648 for the plumbing work. By an amazing coincidence: That turned out to be the exact amount of Zink’s Remodel bill, which was finally provided to me on Feb 12. Three weeks after the work was completed.
Was the work done well? I have no way to know, it’s under my house, and I can’t crawl down there… and I’m not qualified to judge the quality of plumbing work if I could.
I would be very cautious when using Zink’s Remodel. My fault was a ‘handshake’ deal with an emergency plumbing leak, nothing in writing, and then a huge increase in the bill at the end.
Zink’s Remodel is CA State Contractor License # 653 505