Blue Haven Pools lousy customer service, sloppy work false promises the business that doesn't give a dam West Palm Beach Florida
I contracted with Blue Haven in May 2002 to build me a pool. They promised me 3 things---I would be swimming in less than 6 weeks, the work would be neat, and when they were finished my property would be returned to normal. None of this has proven to be true.
It is November and my pool is still not completed. During the heavy construction phase my yard was turned into a port a john with contractors actually taking a crap in my yard. Beer cans, garbage, construction debris, lunch wrappers, and human fecal waste was left all over. They came with a truck that spewed oil all over the street and I was made by my HOA to clean up.
Prior to dig Blue Haven told me to remove a 10 foot portion of my fence--which I did. They came through here with a backhoe and ripped up 20 more feet of the fence. They destroyed a portion of my neighbors hedge and when he asked them to please move the dirt he was told to f*ck off.
For months we begged them to get a huge pile of dirt out of our yard--to no avail. When they finally removed the dirt--they left the construction debris and crap all over. WE asked them to please clean it up. It was the middle of the summer---we were daily losing plants and shrubs as our sprinkler system was torn up by the installation of the pool. We needed to make repairs and the pool company would not clean up their garbage to allow us to make repairs. We moved all their garbage to one part of our yard to make the repairs and called them and told them to NOT BRING heavy equipment in the yard any more as we had repaired the sprinkler. The following day they showed up with a Bob Cat and ripped our entire sprinkler system that had just been repaired.
The worst part of this nightmare has been the abusive general manager has threatened to sue me because I will not pay him until this job is done. I am still holding 20% of my money. He told me I must pay him and if I am not satisifed then I could sue him. They are the most arrogant, non service oriented company I have ever dealt with. It appears this is the way the West Palm office operates. Anyone I know of that has had experience with them all say the same thing---STAY AWAY. This was supposed to be a pleasant experience and instead it has been turned into a nightmare at the hands of these crooks.
They will not return calls to the BBB or Consumer Affairs. My neighborhood homeowners association is furious with me--they say I should exercise some control over my contractors. I am sure that once this pool is done--if it ever is--I will have to go to great lengths to repair my relationship with all the homeowners in this neighborhood. Blue Haven does not care about their reputation--they figure they are big enough that they do not need repeat business.
They have no integrity. The one good thing is that at least 4 homeowners in this developemtn are aware of this situation and have opted to have their pools built by REPUTABLE builders. I did not have to say a word--they all saw for themselves how bad BLue HAven really is.
Suellen
West Palm Beach, Florida
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Mary
Denver,Colorado,
Suggestions To Consumer
#2Consumer Suggestion
Wed, November 06, 2002
It is strontly suggested that you take the following steps ASAP:
1.Go to website of Florida Secretary of State and search the officers, member directors, registered agent and agent for service of process. Go to http://www.geocities.com m/l_pope
for quick links to what you need.
2.Search the Internet and find a sample Consumer Legal Remedy Act (CLRA) letter and a Song-Beverly Act letter. www.ucan.org website has these and a a combination of the
2b. Use either or the combination one; depending on what applies to you. Song-Beverly is basically for warranties and is an excellent tool for senior citizens. Send it certified return/receipt to all names listed above and the names of all corporations connected with your state's pool office. Send photos that prove your point and where contract was violated, how you were misled (company's misrepresentations), any false advertising, fraud, etc. Provide copies of payments, contract, any addendums, witness names to salesman promises, any threats to force you to go away and by whom; everything.
3.File online complaint with your Attorney General office and if you know others in your area, have them do the same. Write objectively and to the point; citing only the specific violations so the agency doesn't need to wade through your emotional frustrations; although they are understandable. State proof you have.
4.File complaint with your District Attorney if you have evidence of criminal actions by the company; keeping in mind this agency typically acts when it has about a million dollars of damages to consumers; meaning you will get no action unless many others do the same & you've done your research homework.
5.File online complaint with the BBB and include your evidence. With enough reports, they are forced to act; paid by the companies or not!
6.This office is not a franchise in the true sense of the word; only on paper. It is owned and run out of San Diego, CA from 636 Broadway, Ste 310 92101which will get the people listed on the state SOS report--Ronald Zaberer and Chris Waters; employees of the 51% owner Alvin G. Eisman in SD, CA at a CA corporation called Z&E Management, Inc. None of the people live or work in your state. The 49% is owned by Felix Zamel in West Covina, CA--Look up Golden State Industries, Inc. California with CA SOS online. If you continue to search BH in TX,NV & DE, you will find P&A Holdings, Inc.(TX), Golden State Industries, Inc. NV--franchisor name that also needs a CLRA or combination letter noted above.
7.Questions--Are your 3 promises in writing? If not, were there witnesses to write Affidavits or Declarations to support a verbal contract? Was it raining during time or other acts of God taking place during the construction time you were promised you would be swimming? Did your pool pass inspections? Make sure to check the city on all permits, as well. You can respond to nowhat09@yahoo.com. Does your contract say you must pay prior to plaster? If so, why did they go ahead and plaster? That's their problem. Did you get patio furniture claimed IN WRITING on an ad to be worth $1200 when you can buy it in Target or other places for a total of $120 max?They may put a lien on your home against the job if the contract is explicit about erms and conditions of payments. But, if they plastered, contract terms were not adhered to by them or you made a written side agreement to pay when satisfied or totally completed?
8.Remember there is power only in #s and nothing happens without an organized effort. Make sure o also check the city and county records to see if the office is operating under other names that you will need to include. The general manager and salesman are NOT people worth your time and frustration except in documentation. They have no interest and do not run the operation. This company beats its actions because people won't organize themselves state by state, divide up the work and go for it.
9.File suit in small claims court and get everyone else to do the same for damaged plants, clean-ups and any other issues for which you have proof and get everyone else on this website to do the same. They can't fight everyone.
10.All people need to find a specialized attorney who will do a class action suit for everyone in your entire state. You could also think about getting all Complainants to file a federal suit; encompassing every state. It would be big-time rewards for an attorney and would solve the entire problem. Don't forget to also notify your Secretary of State that this same company was forced out of Miami for an illegal registration in FL. They say it was different people--franchise owners, but not true! Terri Tuttle was the officer of the corporation and she is the general manager of the Ontario, CA office. Think only strategy, facts and above actions and any company would not be able to fight such proactive measures.