Complaint / Review
Carlton Pools
With Several Pennsylvania Locations An untrustworthy contractor, very attentive sales process-then watch out, bait & switch, poor construction, HARD TO SUE, WATCH OUT!

We chose Carlton Pools because they were the most attentive in the sales process. We incorrectly figured that would continue once we were actually customers. We were wrong!

To avoid a lengthy story (and it is lengthy)-just know we have experienced:

- A delay in getting drawings and permits to start the job

- Drawings that were wrong - like not having enough jets in the spa. Or, when this was corrected, having all the jets of the spa on just one side (you are expected to read their drawings and fix the errors).

- A $6,000 price increase in the first two hours of the project. Watch out that the contract says one-day of excavation, but how do you know how many days it will take? Hmmm.

- A three week delay before they came back to work again

- Due to that delay, a six-month delay in completing the pool

- Delivery of equipment below the spec discussed with the salesman

- Defective cement deck; had to be ripped-up and done again

- A Township dictated work stopage because neither Carlton or their concrete sub-contractor was licensed in the township (picture a bright orange Order to Stop pasted on the front of your house)

- Extra charges even when you ask for the complete package up front.

- Excessively large chunks of cement torn out when installing the anchors for the pool cover

- And the list goes on... And on... And on.

Currently, we are trying to sue them. Don't think this is an easy recourse. Their first strategy was to not show up for small claims court. This forced a more formal lawsuit involving an attorney. Then their attorney asked for a rediculous amount of information, pictures, records, and even personal questions such as listing everyone who ever had access to the pool. OK, we answered - then asked our questions. They didn't answer. Apparently the next step is requesting a Order to Compel from the judge, which was done. They ignored that order as well. As of today, we are in the next step of this process.

Clearly Carlton is experienced at this aspect of the business. My opinion is they stretch this out to become expensive enough - or frustrating enough - that the customer simply gives up and accepts the screwjob they got.

Best advice - check out their competitors before taking this plunge.