On December 5 I signed a contract for a new deck and siding with United Roofing & Construction Co., United Builders. Bob Leitenberger, Senior Consultant, sold me the job for $20,000 and took a deposit check for $8,000.00.
Bob was to bring an architect to our house the following Thursday or Friday (December 15th or 16th) so that plans could be drawn up for our deck and to give a final decision as to the color of siding and shutters we wanted. I made sure Bob was fully aware that I would be going out of town on January 2 until the following month. After a week of unanswered phone calls and lack of communication, I contacted the company and advised them that I no longer wanted to deal with Bob because of his lack of communication. Adrea (secretary) told me that Mike would be in contact with me. Mike contacted me via phone a couple of days later and reassured me that everything was on track. He advised me that while I was gone that he would bring the architect to my house to meet with my wife to have the plans drawn up and forwarded to me for my approval before submitting them to the township for a permit.
Again, after weeks of no communication my wife left a message for Mike regarding the drawings on January 17th. He returned my wife's call on the 18th and had said that he is scheduled to meet with the architect on the 20th and that he would contact or visit her no later than the 24th. Since the 24th has come and gone, she left messages for Mike to call her on the 26th, 29th, and the 31st of January to no avail. On the 31st she drove out to Laurel Springs to visit their office and there was no one in the office. Our contract states that work is to start on or around February 1 and completed on February 22. I called Bob on January 31 and expressed my discontent and told him that I wanted my deposit back and that I would go away quietly. He apologized and offered no explanation other than he would have to talk to Mike and get back to me, which never happened.
As of this date, United Builders did not obtain any permits from Lumberton Township to complete the jobs (deck and siding) by the scheduled start dates, nor could they because an architect was never brought to my house to take measurements or discuss a design. Although Bob wrote in a color a siding that we said we liked, Mike informed my wife and I that we could give the final decision as to the color when he brought architect to our house.
For the reasons stated above, I have lost complete confidence in the ability and the willingness to do the job correctly. I have informed both Mike and Bob, via certified mail, that I am canceling the job I hired you for and that I want a full refund of our deposit of $8,000.00 that I gave in good faith.
Failure to refund the full deposit in a timely matter will result in both criminal and civil charges.
I am surprised that these people are bold enough to rip off consumers like myself who are in law enforcement. Thinking back, Bob asked a few times what I do for a living. Maybe he just heard the military part. I have already consulted with my attorney who has held some very high offices, as well as some other contacts of mine. It just so happens that my Congressman goes to the same gym as I.
Check with your local township construction office before you hire a contractor. I wish i did.
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