Home Depot
Windows Ordered Do Not Meet Florida Code, Restocking Fee Demanded
- 04-02-2004
- 5
My mother, who is retired, has had a horrible experience doing business with Home Depot. This matter has been brought up to both managers and their regional SE office in Atlanta. The best they could do, they said, was charge my mom a 20% restocking charge for cancelling a "special order" for windows. Their first invoice, #0281-174405, was cancelled by them because their contractor (whom Home Depot referred to us) told my mom that he could not do the installation because of some "discrepancies" in the measurements.
So the invoice was cancelled and a new invoice, 0281-174405, was produced. Additional materials (windows) were included and brought the price up by several hundred dollars. My mom wanted to get another opinion, so she called AJ's Aluminum, 5441 Spring Hill Dr., 352 6887631. They told us they cannot install these windows because they do not meet Florida code. All windows and glass have to be tempered glass in Florida per state code. For them to install the windows would be totally illegal, and they could lose their license in doing so. The estimate was free. We paid Home Depot for an estimate and still had headaches galore.
When we approached both managers of the Spring Hill store, their answer at first was that it was not their responsibility to know the code, it was ours! They wanted the full amount paid! After some calls, their home office agreed to waive the order, but my mom would have to pay several hundred dollars for a restocking charge! So they "bungled" the first estimate and then ordered windows which did not meet code. We went to code enforcement and filed a complaint. After the investigation, they told my mom they agreed with us, but "there was nothing they could do!"
Now, my mom is 72 years old, and I ask you, how in the heck is she supposed to know the local building code? Even though they (Home Depot) ordered the windows, they are basically saying to her, "Tough doodoo!" My mom has a platinum credit rating and has never had a bad mark on her history. Hernando County code enforcement: (352) 754-050.
Thank you.
Company: Home Depot
Country: USA
State: Florida
City: Spring Hill
Address: 4765, Commercial Way
Phone: 3525967699