I signed a $4308 contract with Greg Raynor of Frank Vincent Roofing for roofing and other repairs on my building with the typical terms of 1/3 down, 1/3 upon starting and 1/3 upon completion. Part of the job was very difficult to get to, which is why I got several quotes. I chose Vincent (not the cheapest) because he was "a 50-year-old local family business, " and because of the glowing report from the 1 reference I was able to contact. I paid them $1500 to begin.
By the time they came for the 2nd 1/3, the roof was completed, but the rest of the job was untouched. I gave them a 2nd check for $1500, but Greg Raynor gave me a real song-and-dance sob-story about how people weren't getting paid, etc. He talked me into giving him another $1000 check. Within 20 minutes of his departure, I called his office. Since he was out, I faxed a letter to him saying that I felt uncomfortable giving him so much on this contract when the difficult part of the job wasn't completed. I said that he left no incentive for them to actual finish the job, especially with the relative inaccessability.
I talked to him the following morning. Rather than returning my check or having me stop payment, he promised me a date the following week when the job would be completed. They failed to show up then, nor the 6 or so other promised dates since. They have yet to complete the job, now over 3 months since the roof was completed.
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