I had a pool put in (pool, patio, with step by step payments on labor and materials), the certificate of occupancy has still not been finalized (issues with LA department of building and safety and COVID, but things are being straightened out). As they have on going work, I brought up 2 months ago that one of the pool jets have begun to rust up and needs to be changed, which they tried to remedy about over a week ago but has begun to rust again since. The contractor tried to collect the last payment 2 weeks ago, in which I said that the pool has not been completed, so I was able to negotiate that just 75% of the final payment of the pool be paid. After that payment of 75%, they finally hooked up plumbing to the pool so we can fill it without using the hose, we found out that this pipe on the pool side was plastered off, which means water cannot flow in. This is also the overflow pipe, so if it rains, water will flow out on all sides rather than through this pipe to a drain. A hole must be drilled in inside the pool. The water plumbing installed is also leaking underground which needs to be dug up and changed. Last week, his project manager tried to collect the final payment, but there are still issues that need to be finalized with the pool. The contractor/owner of the company said he needs to talk to us about another part of the project, but delayed this meeting as he said he is still waiting for some sort of document which has us worried if he is trying to file a lien on our property. Does he have the right to file a lien when things are still incomplete? Does he need to first send a preliminary notice in the state of California? And if he does send a preliminary notice, can this or the lien be contested as the work is not yet fully completed?