Bucking Horse Remodeling and Repair

Very confusing association. After I agreed to hire him, he told me he couldn't be there the second day of the job because of an appointment. No problem. A few days later, he wanted a cash deposit so he could get the materials plus 50% of the labor.. Fine, but he advertises as taking credit cards. I told him I wanted to pay by credit card but he said the machine was broken. As we discussed it, he acknowledged that the machine would be ready by the start date. Then, on the Monday start date, 15 minutes after he was to show up, he called to say he couldn't make it because of a family emergency. I explained that I understand that but here we are with two delays and the work hasn't even started yet. Further more in my mind I'm wondering where the cash deposit would be had I given him that two days earlier and how do I know now that he will start the job on what would be a Wednesday instead of a Monday start. In all fairness to him, this might all be legitimate, but from my side this is not a good start and I didn't have the "warm, fuzzy" feeling about the whole deal. So I called him the next day to tell him I had found another painter.