retainage should be 60-90 days on installs and splicing. should be 6 - 9 months on underground work because more potential for unknown. You should file a small claims suit after you send 1 certified and 1 regular mail notice. If they respond with chargebacks etc. go to your contract to see if there is a time clause for damages and chargebacks reported to you (if not then you should make sure it is in your next contract). If there is and they did not properly notify you in that time frame you'll win your suit, if all else is in order.
retainage is necessary evil of contract labor
because of the bad subcontractors that screw things up. the other side of it is the some of the contractors have taken advantage of it and screw subs too. if we were just all fair to each other ....but you can say that about anything in life too
