Berkich Home Improvement
813 Rossmore Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15226
Scott Berkich, Owner
412-343-7010
cell: 412-537-2632
I have filed reports with the Western PA Better Business Bureau as well as the State of Pennsylvania's Attorney General's office regarding this business here in Pgh. Here's my story, so you don't get ripped off by this otherwise very pleasant individual.
On 10/11/01, contracted Mr. Berkich to purchase and replace 4 windows in my kitchen. Total contract price is $995.65, paid $745.65 by check (which was cashed I have the cancelled check) for materials deposit. Letter from Mr. Berkich states: "... It will take 3 to 4 weeks to get the windows in, as soon as the[y] come in, I will call you to schedule the installation." When 6 weeks had passed and I had not heard from Mr. Berkich, I called to get the status. He stated he had just checked on the windows and they should be in within a week. We did not hear from Mr. Berkich and I finally called and was told that 2 windows were in, but 2 were incorrect sizes and had to be redone.
On 12/13/01 (when I started documentating dates/calls), I called to check on the status of the windows and we agreed that he would install the 2 he had on 12/16/01 and he would arrive around noon.
12/16/01,1:00 P.M. I called Mr. Berkich since he had not arrived and was told that all windows were received and would be installed on 12/19/01 as he was currently busy on a bathroom project for another customer and needed to finish that.
12/19/01 - no call, no show. I followed up and was told that the he had to finish the bathroom project and would install soon.
12/31/01. I left a message on Mr. Berkich's cell phone. I told him that we needed our windows to be installed and that it was way over the 6 week timeline we had agreed to upon hiring him. He left me a message on my home answering machine, even though I had provided him with my direct work phone number many times, stating that the windows would be installed by 1/4/02 at the latest and that he could do the majority of the work from outside the house so I did not need to be there.
1/4/02 - I spoke to Mr. Berkich to see how the installation was going. He stated that he was still working on the bathroom project but would give me a date that afternoon when the windows would be installed. I explained that at this point, I felt I was due a refund if he was not that at the next scheduled date. I went on to explain that this caused me great inconvenience having waited for him to arrive on many different dates, never hearing that he wouldn't be there until I initiated a phone call, I had to move furniture, curtains, etc. Out of my kitchen every time he was supposed to be there, and our order had been placed nearly 3 months ago. He agreed with me and assured me he would be there by the date he would provide later that afternoon after he knew how much longer the bathroom project he was working on would take. He left a message at my home that afternoon that he was still grouting and would let me know a date on Sunday, 1/6/01.
1/7/02 After not receiving a call or message received from Mr. Berkich on 1/6/01 as promised, I called. He was "snowed in" and would be there tomorrow to install all windows.
1/8/02 Called to check on how things were going. Mr. Berkich again left a message at my home number, even though I had provided my direct work number, that his child was ill and he would return my money at this point since he agreed he had failed to do the promised job. He said he'd drop off a check.
1/9/02 Left message for Mr. Berkich offering to pick up check since he had not dropped one off. He left another message on my home answering machine that his child was in the hospital but would be out 1/10/02 and he would drop off a check then.
1/11/02 After no refund was received, and no calls or explanations provided by Mr. Berkich, I left a message asking for a status and stressing that I wanted to resolve this issue, having been very patient to date. He again left a message on my home answering machine that the check from his bathroom job would clear on Monday, 1/14/02, and he would give us a check then.
1/15/02 After receiving no check or explanation from Mr. Berkich, I left a message that if we didn't have a refund, in the form of either cash or a secured type of payment other than a personal check (cashiers check, money order, certified check) by Friday, 1/18/02, that we would take steps to make sure we had our money refunded. Again left my direct work phone number.
Mr. Berkich left a message on my home machine that the check from his bathroom job had bounced, and he didn't want to write us a bad check, but that he should have the refund from the return of our windows in a day or two, so the 1/18/02 date would pose no problem. He stated that he understood our concerns.
It is my belief that Mr. Berkich had been avoiding my calls by utilizing the caller ID feature on his cell phone, so I called him from my cell phone, which I had not done before. This time I was able to reach Mr. Berkich directly and asked if what I said was clearly understood and again stressed that I would take action. He said he didn't blame me and that it would be no problem and that I would have a cash refund by 1/18/02.
To date (1/21/02) we have not received a refund or heard from Mr. Berkich. Mr. Berkich will not take my calls directly, and I have not bothered to leave additional messages.
Hoping to get refund via one of the agencies (BBB, Attorney General of PA) contacted so far, if not, I will be taking this individual to court.
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