On December 14 we signed a service contract for a project with Curtis Total Service, Inc. The project included a retaining wall and a multi-flow drainage system in our backyard and a sump box, containing 2 sump pumps with battery backup in our basement. The payment terms that were agreed upon were 50% down upon signing the contract and 50% upon completion of the project. The total cost of the project was $18,896.00 and the total duration of the project would be 4 days, as stated by Gerald Kresge the construction manager. The project was started on December 18.
By January 24 the project was not completed and we had several issues regarding the work that was done. We made an appointment on January 31 to meet with Richard Price, Operations Manager, and Gerald Kresge. First we discussed the work that was done in the basement. It was a complete mess, with dirt and dust everywhere. One of our electrical extensions was taken and used to plug in the new sump box. A new electrical outlet was supposed to be put in but never was. There was spaghetti wiring between the battery backup and the extension cord. Richard and Gerald did make arrangements for corrections to be made in the basement that day. Also, the dirt and dust went through our entire house because the workers did not make sure that the basement area that they were working in was entirely sealed off. It took weeks to clean all the rooms of our house.
Next we discussed our backyard, which still needed to be graded and backfilled around the retaining wall. Richard and Gerald suggested that we wait until the spring to take care of the backyard. We agreed to wait because the ground was starting to freeze, we were expecting snow in a couple of days and we were expecting the coldest temperatures this winter season. Then we were shocked when Richard and Gerald asked for the balance due on the contract. We were not expecting to pay the balance due until the project was completed and now it was not going to be completed until the spring. We were told that we could hold out $1,000.00 until the grading and backfilling was done. Their contract specifically states that payment is to be made immediately upon completion of the work, unless otherwise noted. Nothing was ever noted on our contract that we would have to make a payment other than at the signing of the contract, which we did and then at the completion of the job. Since we would not agree to pay any further monies until the project was complete, we were threatened that a crew would be sent to our house the following week to grade our backyard and to backfill our retaining wall. We did not believe that this was a good idea at all. At that threat, we were forced to make a payment to Curtis Total Service, Inc., but we did hold out money until the backyard is taken care of in the spring.
We feel that we were lied to by Gerald Kresge, who prepared the original contract for us. Gerald told us that the entire project would be completed in 4 days and it was not. Also, we paid 50% at the signing of the contract, just like the payment terms of the contract specified. Then we had to make another payment on February 2 even though that was not the terms of the contract. We will not ever hire this company in the future and if you do, please be very careful about Curtis being perfectly clear about the contracts payment terms and the length of the project.
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