As part of a remodel, Doug Parker, owner of Big Horn Construction was hired to tear out a cracked driveway and have it repoured. He subcontracted the work to a third party who tore out the driveway but never came back
to pour a new one. After more than a month of waiting, Doug was dismissed for nonperformance.
I would not have held it against him but for the following; Doug required full payment upfront and retained funds to which he was not entitled. (Be forewarned of a contractor who requires payment upfront.)
When we received the final invoice, there was a $450 charge for tearing out the driveway. Since Doug never returned my phone calls when I left very specific
questions regarding a lien release from the subcontractor, I called the subcontractor directly.
I asked the sub for a lien release showing he had been paid by Doug the $450 fee for tearing out the driveway. He informed me he had torn out the driveway but never charged a penny, as he felt badly for not having been able to completed the job in a timely manner.
I left yet another half dozen messages for Doug. Offering him the benefit of a doubt, I informing him that there was an error on the invoice since the $450 fee had never been charged. Again, not one returned phone call.
About a month later, we spotted Doug in public and confronted him. He was flustered. He pathetiquely blustered that he deserved the money anyway. It became evident when he was confronted that he knew from the beginning that the $450 was on the invoice. He simply pocketed the money!
To our way of thinking, he stole $450 by misrepresenting fees and refusing to return the money.
We investigated pursuing this with an attorney, but the fees for a lawyer far exceed the $450.
Altho Doug advertises as a green builder our experience showed us there is only one green to which he's dedicated himself!
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