Complaint Review: Derek Webster

***I WAS PAID*** A headache, but issue resolved.

So after a tedious, stressful, and sleeplessness Friday night, not getting payment. I managed to locate his Facebook account around 5am. Countless Live stream videos of him doing work and even a video with special guest appearence by me. I commented on a few of the threads and fell back asleep until 830am. When I woke up, checked FB and I was blocked on my 1st FB account. I hop on my other account and he deleted all my comments too. I comment on the same threads, on the other account, (I made it clear who I was every time, saying I can make FB accounts all day, just to assure I get payment). Blocked again.

At 9am-ish, I call him immediately thereafter 3 times and each time my call was declined. I call from my house number and he calls me back a few minutes later, thinking it's a potential job. Acting surprised, he engages conversation, trying to express his egotistical masclinity and athleticism. When I ask for payment, he responds with "My accountant will contact you shortly." I receive a call about 45 minutes from the accountant. Confirms my identity and says she's going to mail the check to me. I kindly tell her my side of the situation and basically say, "I'm going to be like those JG Wentworth commercials. It's my money and I need it now!" I ask where she's located. Deptford? Alright cool, I live within 15 minutes of Deptford. I can be by whenever it is conveinent for you.

Its about 10am at this point and she tells me that I'll be hearing from her by noon. I waited til 1pm, texted Derrick with, "Any update on payment?" He responds around 2pm with,  I have to link up with you to pay you. He's in Sicklerville, I'm in Mantua. a good 30 min drive plus. I was also in the middle of a grocery store with half a basket of food. I tell him I can be there by 3pm. I finished shopping and while in route to Sicklerville, he calls me and tells me that he left Sicklerville and gave my money to another (former) co-worker...

I had to contact him on where to meet up for payment. I call him, he's at the barber shop and to meet at Deterding's Supermarket in Gibbsboro at 3pm. Arrive on time, I wait in the parking lot of supermarket for 45 minutes, calling him back at 15 minute intervals, just to assure I wasn't getting played. First call, still in barber shop. Second call, still in the barber shop. Third call and Fourth call, back to back, from different phone numbers, no answer. Sigh. Go to leave, aggravated, finally shows up right as I'm leaving the parking lot and finally, payment received. Yay!

TL:DR Version: I got paid, in full. No ill feelings. A bit of a chase, but issue resolved. I don't want this encounter to directly affect his or my own livelyhood, career, etc. We live, we learn, and move on. I'm not a hateful person, but I asked him to lose my number..

I worked for 2 days with Derrick and was paid for those two days that Friday. $250. He seemed please with my work and asked me to come back the following week.

The following week I worked 4 days total, Monday thru Thursday. Monday and Tuesday, went great.  Wednesday, he leaves the job in the morning and comes back near the end of the day. He ultimately bashes my work and says I didn't do enough. I really bit my tounge because my skillset and workmanship is top notch. I'm definitely not a slacker. Been doing residential framing/remodeling for almost two decades. To be honest, I've performed more work myself at the jobsite than he did himself. Nonetheless, the following day (Thursday), he leaves me at the jobsite by myself and says "I need all this drywall done today, ready for paint." Take in mind, I still needed to frame a 15' L x 8' H master bedroom wall first, before proceeding with the drywall. As much as I love a challenge, I got right to work, but with my personal experience, I knew it wasn't feasibly possible running solo. Unless I was working a 10+ hour day. Anyhow, Framed the wall, drywall'd, taped and 1st coat finish. Had a few misc patches from the previous tenants kicking or punching the walls. Hung and finished a couple sheets in the kitchen. Roughly 8 drywall sheets total. I also sanded all the areas through-out the entire apartment that I 1st coat'd on Wednesday. roughly another 12-14 sheets. 3 pm he returns with the homeowner, furious, saying stuff like, "What have you done all day?". 

Like wow, Seriously? Continues to blame me saying the homeowner just denied paying him a check for $18,000. No offense, but if I was a contractor and I had a $18,000 check on the line, I would resource all my employees to assure that the job is completed. I tell him, "If you dont appreciate my work, just let me know. If you don't want me to work for you, tell me or fire me. He doesn't say I'm fired or no. He tries to intimidate people because he's a "professional boxer", I just wish he would handle his employees, professionally. It's now Friday, I show up like I'm supposed to at 9am. No one is there. I wait at the job for 45 minutes, continously calling and texting him. I finally decide to go to the local hardware store, and pick up some tools I needed. He finally calls me back about 50 minutes later and tells me he's at a job in Burlington and that the other guy who was working at the jobsite on Monday and Tuesday is there. I call him and he's in Delaware that apparently Derrick sent him too. I believe he didn't get paid this week as well. I will follow up on this soon.