I was referred to a general contractor to redo my kitchen, by a friend (at that time) Jose Michael Pagan. Turned out he was not a general contractor so much as a handyman with a business called "Davis Services, LLC" which I did not find out until after he ripped out my kitchen.
He did not draft up a formal contract for the job and being he was referred by a close friend I allowed him to start this way. I gave him $2650 cash in which I was issued a receipt which stated all the work to be done and specified what I paid up front and what was owed. It was supposed to be a 3 days job which was started in August.
On August 13th, he came and did the rip out. He took all my appliances except my fridge, took all my cabinets and countertops and my sink. On August 14th, (I had the day off since I requested off for the 13th, 14th and 15th) Jonathon Davis told me the granite guy was missing in action. Jonathon promised he would reorder all my materials at no cost to me and start the job when everything came in. Yet he did ask me to pay him an additional $500 which would come off my balance so he could repurchase everything. I gave him the money on August 18th. As days passed, he tells me he thinks maybe the granite guy is dead because it is a close friend of his who would never do this but then he admits he paid him in full upfront and he disappeared with all my materials (cabinets, granite and appliances). I asked him during the weeks passing on multiple occasions if he put out a police report on the guy who stole thousands of dollars in merchandise. He said no because it was his friend.
At this time, things did not seem to add up so I ask him for copies of his licenses and what not. He continued to stall on furnishing this information and finally admits he is NOT a General Contractor so much as a handyman. I look on Sunbiz.org and his company is not registered on there. He promises me, he will do the job and get everything done. I tried to work with him as he already had $3300 of my money. He would not give me dates, tells me one day all my appliances are ready then says later that only two of my appliances are in.
In the beginning of October, my patience finally runs thin. My grandfather and I spoke to Jonathon Davis on the phone and told him he had a week to get it together or he would be reported. He promised me my cabinets on a Monday and I heard nothing. Next, I find out he was arrested for violation of probation from Jose Michael Pagan (friend who referred to him and is now currently working with Jonathon Davis on jobs). Finally I get my cabinets on Wednesday, October 28th. They were installed wrong and the excuses began again.By Friday, October 30th he offered me my money back less the actual cost of the cabinets.
I got him to sign a contract stating he would not be conducting any more work on the house, which stated the amount of the refund due and the amount which he paid me right there which was $800. The contract also stated he would pay me the remainder of the refund by end of day Monday, November 2nd 2009. He has yet to pay me the remainder of the $1150 he owes me.
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