We signed a contract with VIP., inc LLC back in December to remodel our bathroom in our master bedroom. Mr Steve Rice stated that the job would take no longer than two weeks to complete. We corrasponded via email and cell phone, which I have documented records for, as well as a copy of the orginal contract.
Mr Steve Rice contracted a plumber, Mr Chris Watkins, to complete the plumbing for the job.
Nearing the end of the job, before final inspection Mr Steve Rice asked us for the final balance of the monies stating that his company had run low on funds and needed the balance. This was right after the Holidays so we felt that we could trust Mr Steve Rice and his company since he promised to be back to complete the bathroom remodeling. We were waiting for the bathroom vanity to be delivered, and since it was the Holidays, shipping was slow. Mr Steve Rice said that he would be back as soon as the vanity was delivered and that he ordered the shower doors, which were included in the materials price of this job. We called over the course of the next six months over 20 times, with no reply. We then contacted MHIC and the BBB, which we did receive a response via e-mail that he did intend to pay via check. We never received the check so BBB re-opened the case. The BBB told us that there was nothing more that they could do other than mark this as unresolved and place this on file.
I contacted VIP again about a month ago when Mr Chris Watkins showed up at my door asking if he could do a final inspection for the county. I explained that I still had not received the money back from the shower doors, or a final inspection from his company or a final walk through. Mr Chris Watkins stated that Mr Steve Rice also owed him upwards of $1000.00 and has not returned any of his calls either. I told Mr Chris Watkins that I would gladly allow a final bathroom inspection if we received our monies back and or final completion of the contracted job.
I am in the process now of filing a complaint with the MD Home Improvement Commission and the Office of Consumer Protection.
We have had to deal with a uncompleted bathroom for over a year now, and had to pay for not only the shower doors to be installed and purchased in the amount of $1800.00, but we had to pay a licensed handyman to put the vanity in.
I myself am hurt and angry that any company can get away with doing this, but we trusted this company, and Mr Steve Rice. We trusted that he would do right by us the consumer not once but several times, even after he sent the BBB an rebuttle stating that he would in fact repay us for the money owed, although not complete the job, or certify the job done correctly. We again trusted that he would pay us the money since he told the BBB that he would infact do so.
I forgot to add that we had a leak with his orginal plumbing work that leaked through to our ceiling in our bathrooms and basement. He re-did the dry wall for the basement, but never corrected the laundry room ceiling, or the bathroom ceiling which still has water spots on it and may need to be redone. I will take pictures and add them to the file with MHIC, and Office of consumer protection.
I did not know about this website honestly, or that we could do something to get back our money that Mr Steve Rice scammed us out of. We thought he would eventually pay this back and do right by us the consumers/customers, however after reading another negative review we now feel certain that Mr Steve Rice has done this before.
Our only wish now is that we get our money back so that we can move forward and have these things fixed and Mr Chris Watkins can do his final inspection.
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