I knew I was in trouble when the foreman for my remodeling project demanded that I make two installment payments in one day because he had "forgotten" to ask me for one and now two were due. When I balked, he pointed out the completion schedule on the pre-prepared invoices and told me that the work now qualified for two payments. When I still balked he got the general contractor on the phone and was told that I did indeed owe the two payments that day and if I didn't make both payments work on my job would stop. At that time the drywall and texturing of the new addition were completed and the exterior stuccoed. MUCH work still remained
Well, I made the payments. Barely two weeks later I was abandoned. After two weeks of waiting for somebody to show up to work on my project, I called the foreman. He came out to my house to tell me that the painter he used was out "sick" and wouldn't be able to work for a "few days". He assured me that work on my project was on schedule and promised to have somebody out to work "soon". After waiting two more weeks I sent letters of complaint to both the foreman and the general contractor. Within two days there were people out at my house working. But they did little other than replace a new vinyl window that was the wrong size with the right one they claimed had been "lost" for 6 weeks. After a few days of only a little progress, I was abandoned again.
Frustrated, I filed complaints with the BBB and the California Licensing Board. Once the company was made aware of those complaints things started hopping on my project. I was pleased with the progress, but suspicious of the company's desire to get me to withdraw the Licensing Board complaint. Every time the foreman saw me he said he was in trouble with the company because I wouldn't withdraw my complaint. Then I was abandoned yet again.
After many days of not getting any work done, a building inspector suddenly showed up to give final approval. My project was substantially completed by this time, but there was still a lot of touch ups and finishing work that needed to be done. The inspector found a problem with my electrical wiring that he wanted addressed, plus he didn't like it that dirt that had been excavated for the new foundation was still in my backyard. When the foreman found out that the inspector didn't sign off on my project he called me, very upset about this "setback" and told me he didn't have the money to make the changes the inspector wanted. I told him how he handled the changes was his problem and that I wasn't paying any money for the work without a change order.
The work on my wiring was completed without a change order, but nothing was done about the mound of dirt in my backyard. The inspector was called out again to inspect, and of course he wouldn't sign off because of the mound of dirt. This time the foreman came with him and was very upset at the idea that he had to remove the dirt. To me, this was a part of job cleanup that was included in the contract, and I said so. The foreman tried to convince me that the dirt was part of a planter he was building me as part of a change order we'd signed early in the project. I told him nobody could consider a mound of dirt supported by wooden frames used for pouring concrete a planter.
Well, last week I found out why the foreman was so eager for the inspector to sign off on my project. I received a letter from the city informing me that my building permits were expiring! An extension was automatically granted when the inspector was called, but there can be only one. Sending proof to the Licensing Board that my job is taking so long that the permits were allowed to expire is something the company REALLY doesn't want me to do, I'm sure.
Last night the foreman called me to tell me that he had no money to pay for removing the dirt and since the company didn't tell him he was responsible, then he was going to charge ME! Rather then get into an agruement with him over the phone, I told him we'd talk about it the next time I see him.
This company has found a thousand ways to screw me. Not only do they not exercize reasonable diligance in completing my project, they do shoddy work that I have to repeatedly ask them to correct. Now they have the gall to ask me to pay for work they should have known was their responsibility all along.
I am apparently not the only customer this company has tried to scam. One other report is listed here and the website of the Licensing Board lists numerous complaints that have been referred to the California Attorney General for legal action. It also says that the license for the company has expired, but that a renewal application has been received. None of this information was available when I checked the company out in July.
Remodeling Time is still advertising for customers in San Diego. Do NOT do business with them!
Lee
San Diego, California
U.S.A.
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