I hired Mr. Koontz to repair our reproducing piano (a type of player piano) in June. He began the work and asked for half the cost of the total repairs so he could order supplies and cover his labor.
In the ensuing months Mr. Koontz didn't return our calls, missed appointments without notifying us, and never apologized for his inconsiderations.
Then in Aug. Mr. Koontz finally showed up several visits, although he was routinely late, and seemed harrassed by personal problems, like a car breaking down, and being rushed to get to his piano students' lessons.
Nevertheless, he completed about half the work he was hired to do to bring the piano back to working order. At this point I paid him for the rest of the money I owed him which would cover work already done and future work to complete a few minor repairs and a final tuning.
Then we waited another week for him to contact us to set up the last appointment, which was set for Sept. 25th. He didn't show up. We tried to call, but his phone service was disconnected. We left messages at his cell phone, but to no avail.
Finally, we called the Piano Store that had recommended Mr. Koontz to us. The manager their said that in September, Mr. Koontz had ended his association with them. Mr. Koontz had rented the store's studio for piano lessons, but had been delinquent in these responsibilities, too.
And after the store had received complaints about this, the management confronted Mr. Koontz, who at the time was reportedly thinking about teaching somewhere else. Immediately following this confrontation, Mr. Koontz left town with no contact information.
It appears, also, that Mr. Koontz was working with a friend who obtained employment at the piano store and was routinely recommending Mr. Koontz for lessons and piano repair. Once complaints began comming in about Mr. Koontz, the store managements did not include Mr. Koontz on their recommend list. Mr. Koontz's accomplice continued to recommend him and was subsequently fired.
Many of the families that were scammed by Mr. Koontz have contacted the police to locate Mr. Koontz. It is thought that he has moved 8 hours away to perpetrate this con racket again, and has run this racket over and over in the past.
Mr. Koontz is not an impressive business person, although his knowledge of pianos and playing skill is.
Dorothy
Hedgesville, West Virginia
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