Frank Arone from A-1 Home Improvements contacted me last december in regaurds to a project he was working on in Mansfeild Ct. He expressed his ergency to excavate a foundation hole for the garage he was contracted to build. Timing was crutial here and he nearly pleaded for help. He expained how he was a big deal in town and his last excavation contractor won't return his calls.
Eager to get more business for my newly formed company, I jumped at the opportunity. I drafted a quick proposal and made him sign it. He explained how the underground utilities ran right through the very spot that needed to be excavated. I mentioned the dangers to him and also noted it in the contract. I expressed to Frank that the lines will more than likely be hit and because it was an unknown burried utility I wanted no responsibility for them.
The hole was dug in one day and Frank was happy. He called us 4 days later to come and backfill. We backfilled the foundation and left.
When we called looking for a partial payment, there was no answer. Repeated calls latter still no answer. A red flag goes up for me and I decide to just show up at the jobsite. I confront Frank about the phone calls and He says his phone was broken. So I asked for money right there and he says, am not paying you because you broke the utility lines.
I leave angry and all the while thinking of the other projects I have going on so I quickly move on to bigger and better projects. Three months later I get a phone call from my insurance company saying that Frank Arone from A-1 Home Improvements is putting a claim in against my company for a fee of $ 2600.00 in addition to the $4700 we were out in labor and materials.
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