A few months back I placed a call to Mr. Kevin L. Champion of Champion Engineering INC. Of Duluth Georgia. I explained to Mr. Champion over the phone that I had purchased a new home located in Blairsville Georgia that may have some structural issues with its design. I explained to him that I needed a structural Engineer to come out to the home and preform an inspection of the areas in question. Mr. Champion agreed to preform this service and stated his hourly fee that would include his driving time from Duluth to Blairsville. I agreed.
Upon his arrival at the home site we discussed what I would require from Mr. Champion.
First, a complete inspection of all framing members, concrete slabs, basement perimeter walls all floor joist systems and all of the roof framing system. Upon inspection any defects were to be noted and photographed.
After completion of inspection Mr. Champion agreed to compile a written report with photographs showing the defect in question. This report was also to include recommendation's or procedures for correcting faults to bring work into current accepted building code.
At this time he presented me with a bill in the amount of $800.00 dollars to preform the inspection and write up the reports that would be sent to me at a later date. Mr. Champion asked that If I could locate any drawings of the floor joist system and the roof system that would be helpful to him and I agreed to do so. Mr. Champion then stated that I must pay him in full the amount of $800.00 dollars now before he left the site.
I agreed to do so and my wife wrote him a check for the full amount. Several weeks later I emailed Mr. Champion a full set drawing of the roof system in PDF file form and explained that the person who built the home did not have drawings for the floor joist. The builder did provide me with the roof plains and stated that the same company (Loadstar) had also built the floor joist.
After several months had passed I had not heard anything back from Mr. Champion so I called him up at his office. He answered the phone and I stated who I was and did he receive the drawings I had emailed to him. He replied, yes, but I have been trying to forget about that job. I asked why? Well, I think I am a little out of my comfort zone with this one. He goes on, I think you have some serious structural problems with this house. He further states, I do not think the people who built the house knew what they were doing and were just winging it! So I do not feel comfortable providing recommendations for correcting the problems. At this point he states. I am a low end Engineer although I do some residential work I just feel out of my area on this problem.
At this point I ask, Are you going to return my $800 dollars. He replies no, that was my fee for driving up from Duluth to Blairsville to inspect your home. I reminded him that he has also agreed to provide me with a written report outlining recommendations for repairs and correction of all problems encountered. He stated that he was not going to provide me that report because he does not feel qualified to write it up. So he is going to keep my $800.00 dollars and I will receive no report on recommendations for correcting faults in the structure of the home
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