We were hired to provide construction estimating services After the information was delivered we were not paid
Report Attachments:
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Angela
Douglasville, Georgia, United States
No Estimate Was Provided! This complaint is frivolous and just a hustle from Beau Manuel!
#2REBUTTAL Owner of company
Fri, December 22, 2017
We retained the services from this individual, Beau Manuel, from a Craigslist ad he posted for providing Estimating Services on the Atlanta CL back in September 2017, hoping that our need for a freelance "turn key" Estimator would be fulfilled. We paid $350.00 for two Estimates that were not "turn key" estimates. Our office had to take a high and a low number provided by Beau Manuel and have an actual Estimate completed using screen shots of information he provided (which took almost an hour to draft because we didn't have software for this).
We also had referred another Contractor to use his service for the same project to bid on drywall. This turned out to be horrible for her because Beau Manuel left out ceilings and an entire wall. She had submitted his Estimate, believing he was competent and reliable. On November 19, 2017). While we both realized his estimates were not actually estimates, just use of PlanSwift to do "Take Off," I decided to try him out again. Then after talking with him, Beau Manuel advised against my firm submitting a bid on the demolition via email and a phone conversation.
I responded with asking him how should I go about getting out of this bid altogether? He responded and I quote: "I think I would respond by saying "because of the size and scope of the demolition we would require a site visit" like in the earlier email: "this guy John is only concerned about himself - he's from Syracuse New York - he's never even seen the hotel and he probably has no idea about the demolition his job title is estimating coordinator but we don't even know if he has a background in commercial and hotel construction It's all about being tactful. Besides the site visit reference, I would be completely honest and say it would be "too risky and unwise to rush in a bid" He made it a point that it's their job - things change maybe he will extend another week or two - and if you wanted to pursue it you can get a demolition contractor to visit with you?
I'm not sure what your angle is on jobs this size. When you wrap this up give me a phone call please. I would love to help you and work with you down the line but like I said it's all about being smart and having the right approach because this is a big time job just like the last one changed it to a discussion on just doing an Estimate/Bid for demolition." Based on this email from Beau Manuel and talking with him, we decided not to move forward. Both Beau Manuel and I ended this unfulfilled estimating project on demolition understanding we'd work on the next project together. This was on November 19, 2017.
Now, while Beau Manuel did perform some informal consulting, based on us working together and his so called "help whereas I can call and discuss anything about construction and estimating," we never established he was to be paid for looking over the plans (as that's all he did) using his tool of the trade "PlanSwift." In fact, Beau Manuel never even said he was invoicing or owed anything on this one that we just didn't move forward on. We agreed to pay him $50.00 in lieu of the invoice he sent for $87.50 on December 19, 2017 (first time he ever presented an invoice for this). He had NEVER sent an invoice prior to December 19, 2017.
Based on the fact that two first time estimates he provided back in September were not "turn key" as he assured they'd be, we still paid him the $350 he invoiced. He presented that invoice upon completion of the Estimate he provided. However, presenting an invoice on December 19, 2017 for something that never actually happened back on November 19, 2017 seemed a bit of a "hustle." We offered to pay him $50.00 on December 19, 2017 and then again on December 20, 2017. Instead he rejected the offer to settle this. Lastly Beau manuel sent this last email and I no longer responded: "I don't work for $20 an hour. I bill at $35 an hour and you owe me $87.50. You're making a foolish mistake.
How much is your online reputation worth? This is going straight to a debt collection agency. I'm contacting the 2 general contractors and I will mass email General Contractors throughout Atlanta warning them about your business practices. Then I sent Beau this: "Beau, while I shared with you my lack of knowledge reading plans for establishing an Estimate for bidding, I do understand business and numbers. I have offered to you $50.00 for the time you indicated. Outside of that, I must accept your declining the $50.00. Let me know today.
If you can accept this offer, send me a revised invoice, I will pay it, and we will sever ties. My final words: I don't like to be "hustled." As a woman in this business, I find that people like Beau say they are helping and want to work with my firm but it's usually an opportunity to do just the opposite. I do pay for services rendered, always have. I don't give in to people's threats. I despise someone who throws up threats and tries to force you into a thing! There is always two side to a story.
I do not agree to with his invoice of 2 1/5 hours and NO INVOICE was provided. I take that back, he was slimy to send an invoice on December 19, 2017 dated for December 19, 2017. First time one was sent regarding the November 19, 2017 plans he reviewed. He wants $87.50; I offered to pay $50.00. As a reiteration, no Estimate was ever provided. At the advisement of Beau, my firm decided against moving forward on this project to bid on the demolition. I'm still open to pay him the $50.00 I offered (for his time), nothing more. These methods of his retaliation for the fact that he won't be paid $87.50 are just examples of poor business ethics! Speaking of being a LIAR, as he posted, he advertises that he provides Estimating Services, but what he provided to my firm was just a "Take off." I needed a full "turn key" Estimate prepared. Never got this, even back in September. After contacting a long time, highly recommended firm here in Atlanta, I now have what I need. My business is doing well. I'm excited about being in construction business, I love it, and I treat people with fairness and ethical business practices.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Angela
Douglasville,Georgia,
United States
No Estimate Was Provided! This complaint is frivolous and just a hustle from Beau Manuel!
#2REBUTTAL Owner of company
Fri, December 22, 2017
We retained the services from this individual, Beau Manuel, from a Craigslist ad he posted for providing Estimating Services on the Atlanta CL back in September 2017, hoping that our need for a freelance "turn key" Estimator would be fulfilled. We paid $350.00 for two Estimates that were not "turn key" estimates. Our office had to take a high and a low number provided by Beau Manuel and have an actual Estimate completed using screen shots of information he provided (which took almost an hour to draft because we didn't have software for this).
We also had referred another Contractor to use his service for the same project to bid on drywall. This turned out to be horrible for her because Beau Manuel left out ceilings and an entire wall. She had submitted his Estimate, believing he was competent and reliable. On November 19, 2017). While we both realized his estimates were not actually estimates, just use of PlanSwift to do "Take Off," I decided to try him out again. Then after talking with him, Beau Manuel advised against my firm submitting a bid on the demolition via email and a phone conversation.
I responded with asking him how should I go about getting out of this bid altogether? He responded and I quote: "I think I would respond by saying "because of the size and scope of the demolition we would require a site visit" like in the earlier email: "this guy John is only concerned about himself - he's from Syracuse New York - he's never even seen the hotel and he probably has no idea about the demolition his job title is estimating coordinator but we don't even know if he has a background in commercial and hotel construction It's all about being tactful. Besides the site visit reference, I would be completely honest and say it would be "too risky and unwise to rush in a bid" He made it a point that it's their job - things change maybe he will extend another week or two - and if you wanted to pursue it you can get a demolition contractor to visit with you?
I'm not sure what your angle is on jobs this size. When you wrap this up give me a phone call please. I would love to help you and work with you down the line but like I said it's all about being smart and having the right approach because this is a big time job just like the last one changed it to a discussion on just doing an Estimate/Bid for demolition." Based on this email from Beau Manuel and talking with him, we decided not to move forward. Both Beau Manuel and I ended this unfulfilled estimating project on demolition understanding we'd work on the next project together. This was on November 19, 2017.
Now, while Beau Manuel did perform some informal consulting, based on us working together and his so called "help whereas I can call and discuss anything about construction and estimating," we never established he was to be paid for looking over the plans (as that's all he did) using his tool of the trade "PlanSwift." In fact, Beau Manuel never even said he was invoicing or owed anything on this one that we just didn't move forward on. We agreed to pay him $50.00 in lieu of the invoice he sent for $87.50 on December 19, 2017 (first time he ever presented an invoice for this). He had NEVER sent an invoice prior to December 19, 2017.
Based on the fact that two first time estimates he provided back in September were not "turn key" as he assured they'd be, we still paid him the $350 he invoiced. He presented that invoice upon completion of the Estimate he provided. However, presenting an invoice on December 19, 2017 for something that never actually happened back on November 19, 2017 seemed a bit of a "hustle." We offered to pay him $50.00 on December 19, 2017 and then again on December 20, 2017. Instead he rejected the offer to settle this. Lastly Beau manuel sent this last email and I no longer responded: "I don't work for $20 an hour. I bill at $35 an hour and you owe me $87.50. You're making a foolish mistake.
How much is your online reputation worth? This is going straight to a debt collection agency. I'm contacting the 2 general contractors and I will mass email General Contractors throughout Atlanta warning them about your business practices. Then I sent Beau this: "Beau, while I shared with you my lack of knowledge reading plans for establishing an Estimate for bidding, I do understand business and numbers. I have offered to you $50.00 for the time you indicated. Outside of that, I must accept your declining the $50.00. Let me know today.
If you can accept this offer, send me a revised invoice, I will pay it, and we will sever ties. My final words: I don't like to be "hustled." As a woman in this business, I find that people like Beau say they are helping and want to work with my firm but it's usually an opportunity to do just the opposite. I do pay for services rendered, always have. I don't give in to people's threats. I despise someone who throws up threats and tries to force you into a thing! There is always two side to a story.
I do not agree to with his invoice of 2 1/5 hours and NO INVOICE was provided. I take that back, he was slimy to send an invoice on December 19, 2017 dated for December 19, 2017. First time one was sent regarding the November 19, 2017 plans he reviewed. He wants $87.50; I offered to pay $50.00. As a reiteration, no Estimate was ever provided. At the advisement of Beau, my firm decided against moving forward on this project to bid on the demolition. I'm still open to pay him the $50.00 I offered (for his time), nothing more. These methods of his retaliation for the fact that he won't be paid $87.50 are just examples of poor business ethics! Speaking of being a LIAR, as he posted, he advertises that he provides Estimating Services, but what he provided to my firm was just a "Take off." I needed a full "turn key" Estimate prepared. Never got this, even back in September. After contacting a long time, highly recommended firm here in Atlanta, I now have what I need. My business is doing well. I'm excited about being in construction business, I love it, and I treat people with fairness and ethical business practices.