Jim Walter Homes
Advertised 12% Discount & will not honor Multiple contract signings Multiple delays in construction

I signed up for a Jim Walter Home during a promotional campaign offering a 12% discount on new construction. The contract agreement was 're-worked' 5 times and I have possession of 3 different sets. For one of the signings we met their secretary and a notary at our local Dairy Queen and another time their representatives came to our work. I have yet to obtain my copy of these last two 'contracts'. With each signing some dollar amount had to be adjusted and this dragged out over the course of several months. Their explanation for the delays varied from "We are going through a restructuring." and "The sales rep you initially met with has been let go." and "The price of OSB has shot through the roof and there is not enough profitability to the company with the contract (s) you originally signed." The guy that gave me that last tidbit is also no longer employed there.

My originl deal was for the Savannah with a detached garage at 100% complete. We now have the Savannah that is approximately 95% complete; with no garage. I paid my first house note last month without my 12% discount and I have yet to sign my final 'completion slip'. When I signed the "Tender acknowledgement" I had written in the problems that were visible and typed a copy of those items for the Contractor. Guess what? When I got my copy of the "Tender Acknowledgement" none of those items were listed! I faxed another copy of the items needing attention and twice workers showed up at my house unnanounced and with no supplies to do any work. A third time a man showed up and proceeded to tell me that the office staff and General Contractor were all liars at JWH Beaumont.

They first told me to find my septic contractor, which I did. They then told me that I HAD to finance $7,000.00 for septic even though my local guy would do it for $4,800.00. The septic work caused damage to my yard (ruts and holes) and the General Contractor/Supervisor said they would have dirt/sand delivered for ME to spread and they would pay for up to $300.00 worth. Then he said the septic guy needed to order the dirt. Of course the septic guy refuses to order it because he has not been paid by Jim Walter Homes. JWH Contractor says he does not know any place local to order dirt.

I made some changes to my floorplan for which I paid them $500.00. The changes were approved by JWH/Florida.included in those changes my outside A/C unit was relocated to the side of the house, as opposed to being in the back center wall [because the unit would be aesthetically unpleasant sitting in the middle of my back patio]. The contractor put a plug in the back for the A/C and when I explained that it should not be there they just cut the wire and left the ugly gray box on the back of the house. When I said that was unacceptable they told me they would take it off, but they would not replace the siding piece so I could have a hole or ugly patch job there instead.

I was told that I needed to hire my own electrician for any additional lighting, plugs, and computer lines. I was given permission to do this prior to the sheetrock installation, but when my electrical guy finished his work their electrician came back the next day and cut the wires that my electrical guy had installed rendering a front porch plug useless (and a fire hazard) and causing two of my light fixture openings to have to be re-located and re-wired.

This company built about 5 or 6 homes in my home town and surrounding area. One family that contracted for a home 100% complete still has multiple items that need to be completed and cannot get JWH to return calls or finish the work.

I am completely disgusted with the double-talk and deception that this company, and it's MULTIPLE representatives that I have dealt with over the past 15 months, have given me. I truly believe a class action lawsuit against them is appropriate. They arrogantly believe that their 'binding arbitration clause' protects them from lawsuits. I hope that they are not protected from suits regarding Deceptive Trade Practices which they certainly employ to convince you to sign off on inferior work because you fear the loss of your collateral property.

Company: Jim Walter Homes
Country: USA
State: Texas
City: Beaumont
Address: 8056 Eastex Freeway

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