I recently posted a thread "Building a new deck - ISO advice" and after much research and planning we decided to squash the deck idea and have a large concrete patio poured. This made more sense as we would be able to get double the living space for the same price, and we would get something virtually maintenance free. I started my search for local contractors and had 6 or 7 out to give estimates on the job. The quotes varied quite a bit, some double the price of others. We settled on one in the middle, a couple who seemed to be very nice, hardworking and have great knowledge. Color us horrible judges of character as it looks like we got duped! I will now post a truncated history of what has transpired but this is not to complain! On the contrary, this is to share with you all what I have found to be a collection of some of the best excuses I have ever come across. Read it all as the grand finale is well worth the wait and gave me a good ten minute laugh!
Timeline -
April 27 - They are scheduled to come out but don't show up. Call later to say they forgot they had plans to take their daughter to a diabetes awareness class. No problem, family is always first...
April 28 - They come out and deliver tools to get things started but are 2 hours late. They say their shop was robbed the previous night. Wow that sucks, I understand.
April 30 - They show up and start forming. I find out later that during this time the wife of the contractor has a conversation with my wife, during which she says that her husband has had liver problems, which they think is due to something wrong with their house, which has just been condemned, so they are in the process of moving! Holy shit all time bad luck!
** I forgot to mention that we paid them 1/3 upfront which they cashed right away. The contract stated that all work was to be done and equipment removed by the end of the day 5/4/07. **
May 1 - Guy shows up and helps demo an existing concrete slab for about 2 hours. Claims he has to go give blood and will be back later that afternoon.. This is the last I will ever see of him.
May 2 - No show, no call.
May 3 - No show but I finally get a hold of them around 6pm. They obviously decided to save the best, and I mean BEST excuse for last.. Allow me to paraphrase our phone call..
The Phone Call -
Jonas - "Hi Tara, it's Jonas. Are you planning to get this job done?"
Tara - "Jonas, so glad you called. We finally found out what was wrong with Dennis' liver."
Jonas - "O reeeheally?"
Tara - "Yes, he has hepatitis A, he got it from Bennigan's!"
Jonas - "...what?"
Tara - "Our daughter works at Bennigan's and brought home some soup. The manager had prepared it and apparently he bled into the soup and gave him HEP A! We have been meeting with the attorneys all day and plan to sue for a ton!"
Jonas - stunned silence...
Tara - "So we will be there tomorrow, 11ish."
Yes you read that right and I am in no way exaggerating.. The next day 11am comes and goes and no sign of them. 3pm my wife calls to see where they are and Tara claims her husband left @ 9am and should be there, she says she will call back in 10 minutes. Since then we have left numerous voice mails and emails with no response. Honestly I am not sure if it is worth going after them for the $850 we gave them. I do have their tools which I estimate are worth around $400 and I am prepared to sell them to recoup that portion of the loss.
Anyone else ever have to deal with a bad contractor and if so what are my options?
Jonas
Timeline -
April 27 - They are scheduled to come out but don't show up. Call later to say they forgot they had plans to take their daughter to a diabetes awareness class. No problem, family is always first...
April 28 - They come out and deliver tools to get things started but are 2 hours late. They say their shop was robbed the previous night. Wow that sucks, I understand.
April 30 - They show up and start forming. I find out later that during this time the wife of the contractor has a conversation with my wife, during which she says that her husband has had liver problems, which they think is due to something wrong with their house, which has just been condemned, so they are in the process of moving! Holy shit all time bad luck!
** I forgot to mention that we paid them 1/3 upfront which they cashed right away. The contract stated that all work was to be done and equipment removed by the end of the day 5/4/07. **
May 1 - Guy shows up and helps demo an existing concrete slab for about 2 hours. Claims he has to go give blood and will be back later that afternoon.. This is the last I will ever see of him.
May 2 - No show, no call.
May 3 - No show but I finally get a hold of them around 6pm. They obviously decided to save the best, and I mean BEST excuse for last.. Allow me to paraphrase our phone call..
The Phone Call -
Jonas - "Hi Tara, it's Jonas. Are you planning to get this job done?"
Tara - "Jonas, so glad you called. We finally found out what was wrong with Dennis' liver."
Jonas - "O reeeheally?"
Tara - "Yes, he has hepatitis A, he got it from Bennigan's!"
Jonas - "...what?"
Tara - "Our daughter works at Bennigan's and brought home some soup. The manager had prepared it and apparently he bled into the soup and gave him HEP A! We have been meeting with the attorneys all day and plan to sue for a ton!"
Jonas - stunned silence...
Tara - "So we will be there tomorrow, 11ish."
Yes you read that right and I am in no way exaggerating.. The next day 11am comes and goes and no sign of them. 3pm my wife calls to see where they are and Tara claims her husband left @ 9am and should be there, she says she will call back in 10 minutes. Since then we have left numerous voice mails and emails with no response. Honestly I am not sure if it is worth going after them for the $850 we gave them. I do have their tools which I estimate are worth around $400 and I am prepared to sell them to recoup that portion of the loss.
Anyone else ever have to deal with a bad contractor and if so what are my options?
Jonas
