Deceptive advertising by the Owner, Ray Lussier, of Advantage Pools and an incompetent employee (his son Mike and now part owner) resulted in a pool installed below ground. The pool flooded from rain washing landscaping into the pool; the non-factory installed tile, at factory prices, was a mess, the concrete decked cracked all over, the swim jets had a manufacturing defect and kept breaking, the pool lost water. The contractors solution: lower my yard. Yeah. Now I have a mote around the pool.
I waived my right to arbitration by NSPI and filed suit when the contractor would not take corrective action; the contractor insisted on arbitration per the contract, but refused to file as he was required, leaving me to pay the $400 arbitration fee over my already high attorney fees.
NSPI took 5 mos to schedule the arbitration, a month to make an award to me, and gave the contractor 5 months to re-construct the pool. It was a binding arbitration award. The largest in FL according to Mitch Brooks, Executive Director of Region VII and gatekeeper to the arbitrators. The volunteer arbitrators were David Williamson, Aquavista Pools, Hari Anne Felder, Atlas Pools, and Jack Manilla, Portofino Pools, all three of Jacksonville, FL.
Advantage Pools was required to hire an engineer to tell him how high to put the pool. I talked with the engineer, he had no clue what he was supposed to be doing, but drew plans to raise the pool 10 inches. Mr. Lussier told me the rest of yard would flood, but oh my, his hands were tied. He had to follow the engineering report. And little Mr. Lussier, Mike, was on the job again. With a major attitude and he left me with a mess.
Advantage Pools was not required to comply with the arbitration award, from correspondence I received, apparently he got buddy-buddy at the Region VII meeting with the NSPI crowd. What do I have now? A pool that won't hold water, improper grade that is washing away under the slab, wires to the pool light buried only 6 inches below ground, an unsafe step up to the pool, tile with chunks of concrete and concrete residue and scratches, and the sloppiest concrete job you ever want to see. The NSPI crowd amended the arbitration award with no notice to me, I had to pay for some of the re-construction materials, lost $500 worth of landscaping, a mote which floods worse than the first pool, stained pool, and no warranty. According to two of the arbitrators. Not sure what happened to the third, the pool now meets industry standards. I even asked NSPI for the industry standards. But never received; appears they make them up as they go. This after a supposedly thorough inspection that I was not advised of (they didn't want me at home). I also have hours and hours of lost work due to medical problems from a fall down that baby step. You know which one arbitrators. The same one that was ankle deep in water and slime the day you made the final inspection. I also have incurred thousands of dollars of medical expenses due to Xrays, MRIs, drugs, etc. Etc.
BTW, this fiberglass pool was manufactured by San Juan Pools of Lakeland, whose advertising I relied on in selecting this pool. They have been no help either.
So Advantage Pools of Lake City, Aquavista Pools, Atlas Pools, Portofino Pools, all of Jacksonville, NSPI Region VII and San Juan Pools. Rebutt all you want. I have the pool that I will gladly show anyone willing to come look at it. And that says it ALL!!! Am I angry? Damn right I am!!!
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