In 2008 I contracted to pay Atlas $4000 to pave my driveway and install Belgium blocks. The first day, they didn't show up. After many other delays and cancellations, they finished the job. Looked good. I was promised a free sealcoating, so I called to get it done before Winter. Called several times, but was told this could only be handled by Lou, who never called back. Then I was told they were booked through November and couldn't schedule any more that year. Started in the Spring, called more than a dozen times through the Summer into the fall, no callbacks. Finally in the Spring of 2010 I actually got a call from Atlas, but it was a telemarketer trying to sell me a sealcoating. I ranted and raved and gave her the whole story, she said she'd have someone get back to me. Well, finally, after going through the routine all Summer, that telemarketer called me in the Fall of 2010 and scheduled the sealcoating, which was done on schedule with no problems. That was the calm before the storm.
Then, in early Spring of I saw a huge arc-shaped crack at the foot of my driveway. A two foot chunk of asphalt had cracked off and was only held in place by the Belgium blocks. I called, but had to deal with Lou again. Many, many calls, and he never called back. He was actually in the office when I made some of the calls, but refused to take them. Finally, the girls in the office, who recognized my voice by that time, set up an appointment and insisted that he come to look at the driveway. Well, he did show up, at 8:45 am instead of 9:30, but he came.By that time, several other large cracks developed, as well as a spot in the middle of the driveway that started to expand into a mound and crack. Lou looked at it and asked me what I expected, after all, it was over two years old. I pointed out my neighbors' driveways, which are all much older than mine and in much better shape. He asked me if I thought I should be able to call him every time I have a problem in the next thirty years. He suggested that I call and pay them to sealcoat it again this Fall and that will cover it up.
I told him that I would take this matter further, that I would not let it drop, he told me that he owned the company, "I am Atlas, I own this company, there is no one else for you to call". I called the office as soon as he pulled away and was told that someone would get back to me. That was in the Spring and I'm still waiting for that call.in the meantime, my driveway has also developed a large dip as well as more cracks and the expansion.
Beware of any companies operating out of their address because they bought out other smaller local companies.
0 comments