JT Roofing
Jeffrey Thomas Larkin
1319 Alton Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15216
Jeff Larkin of JT Roofing, was to provide supplies and labor to overlay 1 layer of existing shingles on roof. Contractor informed me that if I gave him 1/2 of the total as a deposit, 10/31/01, he would have all materials and crew out the next day, and the job would be finished within 2 days. I issued the check.
I received a call from MoneyMart that afternoon asking if I had issued the check to Mr. Larkin. I confirmed that I had although this raised concerns as to why someone with a reputable business would be cashing my check at a check cashing store.
Mr. Larkin told me that afternoon materials were purchased and would be delivered between 10-12 P.M. On 11/1. We received no delivery. He finally showed up around 1 P.M. To inform me that the place he had purchased materials from did not have the shingles, and he would buy them elsewhere and have them at my house within 1.5 hours. That afternoon, contractor never showed. I found him in a neighborhood bar. He said he was unable to locate anyone with a truck to bring the materials, but they would arrive by evening.
Morning of 11/2 - no materials, no contractor. Contractor finally showed up with materials around 11 A.M. Contractor did not have a ladder, or crew with him. He had purchased a hammer and nails in order to put our roof on. He borrowed a ladder from our neighbor, and began work. Larkin said his crew didn't show up for work, but would be there on 11/3. Contractor did 2 hours worth of work, and left because it looked like rain. Larkin told us at this time that he had misinformed us of condition of roof, and we already had a 2nd layer of shingles but that everything would be fine with a 3rd layer of shingles.
Morning of 11/3/01. Mr. Larkin showed at 7:40 A.M. And said his crew would be there. At 9 A.M. He began work by himself, for 2 hours, and disappeared. He told the neighbor whose ladder he was borrowing that 1 of his crew had broken a leg and he had to leave. We were home at the time and were never informed of his departure. Trash was left all over the property.
On 11/4, Jeff Larkin showed at 9 A.M. To inform me that he would not be working that day, but would on Monday, 11/5 with at least 2 other people. I informed contractor that if he did not begin work by 9:00 A.M. On Monday, 11/5/01, with a crew of at least 2 other people, and his own ladder, that I would be stopping payment on my check of $1250. He informed me that I had nothing to worry about and would be there. Monday, 11/5, Jeff Larkin did not arrive by 10:30 A.M.
I stopped payment on the check. Mr. Larkin arrived at 2:00 P.M. With an individual who appeared intoxicated. When I told Jeff Larkin that I had stopped payment on my check, and to please take his materials and leave, the individual who had come with him became verbally abusive towards me. Mr. Larkin asked to have until the next day to remove the shingles from my property, and I agreed.
We called another roofer who informed us that Mr. Larkin had damaged our existing roof by nailing boards through it to stand on. He also had not properly attached the few shingles that he had put up, and had not followed standard roofing procedures.
Mr. Larkin had also contracted with another neighbor to put in a retaining wall. He defaulted on that job as well, and the neighbor filed a complaint with the police. He found that Mr. Larkin had 5 subpoenas against him for bilking others on contracting jobs.
I decided not to file a police report and wrote the issue off as a $25 mistake since that was what it had cost to put a stop payment on my check. However, today I received a call from MoneyMart informing me that I was responsbile for repaying the money to them that Mr. Larkin had walked away with. Apparently under the Uniform Commercial Code they are able to collect as long as they can prove the check was cashed by the individual it was written to.
I now must decide if it's worth legal fees to try to track down a contractor who probably does not have the money to repay me. I thought I'd warn others before they make the costly mistake of dealing with this smooth talking contractor.
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