I called an ad that I found in the Fort Worth Star Telegram's Home & Business Services ads under the listing of Swimming Pool Services on June 2. The ad read "A ALL Resurfacing Co. A cut above the rest. Epoxy. Re-plasters. Tile repair & re-tile 1st cleans & Cleanups All pool renovations FREE ESTIMATES 20 yrs exp/references Call 817-455-1662." Left message on recorder.
June 3, Dan Ward returned my call and came out that day to meet with us. We saw 2 books full of "BEFORE" and "AFTER" pictures of his pool projects, discussed the needed repairs which were to be prep surface, repair hollow areas/cracks with patch, and 2 coats of what he called "polymer" white. He quoted us $1,800.00 plus taxes of $148.50 and he said he required $925.00 when he started the work, with balance on completion. He could start June 4th and be finished June 7th, the pool would need to sit for 3 days before he would check it and then we could begin to fill it. He looked and acted professional; very personable, and talked a good story. We signed a contract to begin next day.
He showed up with a helper on June 4th at 10:15 am, and the helper began knocking holes in the sides of the pool. I gave Dan Ward a check for $925. He immediately left when paid. The worker stayed until Dan returned at 5 P.M. He had patched the holes and taped off the pool tile to prevent the white coating getting on it.
We later found out that Dan Ward drove immediately from our home in Euless to our credit union in Plano to cash the check.
June 5th, it rained. No show... No call.
June 6th, Dan drops off his helper and we point out several weak/hollow areas that they had missed and we had discovered. Dan himself had taught us to tap and listen to the different sound that came from a weak/hollow area that needed to be fixed. The helper repaired a couple more areas... But not all the areas that we found. He explained that if did too many that were too close together that the whole wall would cave in! This sounded logical, so we asked him to do just the ones that he could safely do... And he did.
June 7th, no show... No call.
Every date since June 7th is a no show... No call.
I went to my contract and business card that Dan Ward gave me. They do not say A ALL RESURFACING as the Fort Worth Star Telegram ad did. They have the company listed as AASAP Pool Services. The only phone number listed is 817-455-1662, which is a cell phone number. Dan Ward will not return our calls. There is no business or PO address listed on either the business card or contract. When you reach his mobile, you get a recording and he chooses who to call back.
We know Dan Ward is not critacally injured or dead. We had someone call and pretend to need his services, and he returned their call within 2 hours... And has called them repeatedly trying to drum up their business!
Facts are that his helper worked a maximum of 11 hours with a little tape and plaster. A fair estimate would be way under $300... Closer to $225 worth of material/labor. I should have been suspicious when he didn't take "BEFORE" pictures of my pool! No "BEFORE" pictures for the show and tell book...'cause there would be no pretty "AFTER" picture! He never intended to finish my pool... He only showed up until check clears... And then they are gone. We were scammed!
Sadly, today (June 15th) I happened to mention to the neighbor behind me what had happened. Turns out that the same Dan Ward with AASAP Pool Service scammed them out of $4,000 in the same manner last summer! Thank goodness we didn't go with the more extensive repairs of $3,500 plus tax that we had discussed with him... Or we would have lost that much more!
The Star Telegram will not cancel this scam artist's ad until 3 complaints are filed with them. Neither will they give us his address or billing address. Nor will they allow us to place the ad I wanted to place..."Scammed... Call me to find out by which pool contractor."
The neighbors filed with BBB, who said they had several complaints against him. Fortunately, the neighbors have a DL# on the check they gave him that he cashed.
We know that we can't be the only ones he's done this way, but we hope to stop this criminal. But, we can't even take him to small claims court until we can locate him.
We are not through with Dan Ward and AASAP Pool Service. We will find him; we will prosecute.
Meantime, please beware and warn your friends to not use him.
Connie
Euless, Texas
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