My husband and I decided to remodel our home last year and since I am in the building industry, I decided to use the subcontractor that did our builder business (they did get "fired" from doing our builder work and you will understand why once you read on) Carpet N' Drapes to do our tile and carpet.
I was a little hesitant to use this company because I was aware that they sometimes did not do the best job in the world, (piecing carpet together with multiple pieces, bad seams, etc.) but I decided that since me and my husband would be around to see the work being done, we would go ahead with it.
When the representative came out to my house to give me an estimate, I told him that I had a ceiling of $2,500.00 tops in my budget. He said that was not a problem and said that he would definately not go over that.
I was not given a written estimate (yes I know now how stupid that was) nor was I given anything in writing. I picked out the carpet and tile and the job was scheduled. My husband and I decided that he would take off from his job so that he could be there while the work was being done.
I called numerous times to find out when the tile would be in and finally, I was given a date. I asked if they were absolutly sure about the date since my husband had to lose a day of work and was told "No problem".
The day to do the work came and we had moved all the furniture and appliances out of the house ourselves and my husband waited and waited. No phone call.
When I finally got a hold of the representative, he said, "Oh gosh, your tile did not come in. We want to put the tile in before the carpet goes in so that your carpet doesn't get messed up". So I said okay and asked when the work could be started.
I was told that the tile should be in the next day. Guess what, it wasn't.in fact we ended up waiting almost a week and I finally told them to at least go ahead and put the carpet in so we could get our beds put back together and at least try to live in our home.
The installers came, installed the carpet and told me that the tile was supposed to be in the next day. My husband took off yet another day from work.
I finally got a call (about mid-day) and was told that my tile was sent to another city and we could not get it until the next day. The installers had come and waited at my house for a couple of hours that day and was remarking on the fact that they had also wasted a half day when they could be working elsewhere.
My husband took yet another day off the next day (we are up to three days lost by now) and the installers come to my house with their truck loaded with my tile! I came home from my office, took one look at the tile that was being unloaded and guess what? Wrong tile!
By this time I am fit to be tied. I am told that maybe I can go pick out some other tile (I had picked out carpet and grout that would coordinate with the tile I had ordered. Just imagine trying to find another tile within my budget for a replacement tile).
I then had to take off from work to go back to Carpet N'Drapes to try to find another tile. There was nothing at their location so they sent me to another company down the street. Nothing there either. After several frustrating hours, I told Carpet N' Drapes to please just try to get my tile that I had originally ordered.
Finally, the tile came in and two days later the tile was being installed. Of course Carpet N' Drapes apologized profusely and promised that I would be getting a "good" discount for all my problems. I was told that the discount would probably take me to a total cost of $2,100.00.
Well, the work was finally finished and of course my carpet was dirty from the mess from the tile installation and I started asking for my invoice. I also asked if someone could come clean my carpet (they recommended a cleaner that I could use).
Finally, a little over a month after the work was completed, I received an invoice. To my surprise, the amount of the invoice was $2,600.00! Not only did I not get a discount for my trouble, lost time from work and frustration, they increased my price due to "the installers having to be at my house so many times and not getting to work and they lost out on other business".
I'm sorry, but I don't think that I was to blame for their lost wages. I decided to pay the amount that I was told ($2,100.00) and guess what? I was slapped with a judgement, a garnishment was put on my bank account which in effect froze my account.
I couldn't even cash a paycheck. I went ahead and paid the remaining $500.00 but guess what else. I had to pay court costs, attorney fees, interest on the balance due (I never signed an agreement but was told "too bad") and when all was said and done, it cost me $620.00.
I guess Carpet N' Drapes figured that they were going to get a piece of me anyway that they could. Sorry to be so long but everyone should know what kind of company Carpet N' Drapes are and the type of business that they conduct.
Ginger
jacksonville florida
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