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Everdry Waterproofing of Michiana Elder Abuse and Exploitation - Salesman convinced 93-year-old that her home was about to collapse, and only everdry could save it! South Bend, Indiana
The salesman called my Grandmother, then came to her house around 6pm that same day. He stayed until 10:00 pm and would not leave until she signed a contract for well over $18,000 in unnecessary repairs.
My Grandmother owns her home, which is a modest sturdy single-story home with a full (dry) basement. This salesman told Grandma he was an "architect". (I later checked, he has never been licensed as an architect in any of the 50 states.) This man convinced my Grandmother that her "beams were dry-rotting" and her "walls could fall in" at any moment. He convinced her that the problem was so urgent that she needed to sign his contract to let them get to work immediately! He wanted a $500.00 deposit, however Grandma did not have $500. She told him that she only had $50, so HE TOOK IT. She would have to take out a LOAN to pay the contract fees.
After the contract was signed, the salesman told Grandma that his "crew of Mexicans" would be at her home the day after Christmas to start the job. He went on to say that "the company has to hire Mexicans because no Americans are willing to do this kind of work, but don't worry - they're all legal I promise".
About a month later, Grandma was still troubled by what the salesman had said about her house. She contacted family members who came and inspected the house. There is nothing wrong. The house has more than sufficient drainage systems in place already. The salesman's line was all LIES.
We then contacted Everdry. The company is willing to cancel the contract - however they demand payment of a 28% cancellation fee! That is over $5,200.00 for doing NOTHING.
WHAT A RACKET! The salesman goes to the home of elderly americans, then FRIGHTENS THEM into agreeing to a contract with exhorbitant fees so they make a KILLING on work that is not even necessary! In the event that someone cancels - they STILL make a HEFTY SUM off of the cancellation fees.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Mark
St Clair Shores,Michigan,
USA
Everdry err umm Neverdry scams
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, February 15, 2013
Everdry Michiana and elsewhere is full o crap. Can't speak of the story above other than to honestly say these companies talk homeowners into unnecessary work,especailly the inside/interior systems. They are almost always incompetent and/or fraudulent, yep.
Everdry, that BBB rating stuff is absolute crrrap. You knotheads have had plenty of homeowner complaints. How about the 'Edwards' job where you morons were breaking up the basement floor and the basement wall collapsed,lol...real professional! And you overcharged,as usual.
You PAY the Better Business Bureau Butheads to keep compalints OFF your stupid BBB record. Many companies,especially in this-business do this,complete bs,scam,false and misleading information...oh yes!
Homeowners out there, sheesh, you peeps really need to stay CLEAR of any Interior System companies, i'm not kidding. Everdry of Fort Wayne, this Everdry/Michiana and all the others use false,misleading info and talk people into lots of unnecessary JUNK....any day Everdry in any courtroom baby!!! Bring it. That goes out to the BBB as well!
Everdry of Michiana
South Bend,Indiana,
United States of America
Elder Abuse and Exploitation Allegations are untrue
#3UPDATE Employee
Thu, February 14, 2013
The allegations of elder abuse and exploitation in the complaint are false.
First, the appointment was set with the homeowner by one of EverDrys canvassing team on a Saturday. The inspection appointment was set for the following Wednesday. EverDry called the day prior to confirm the appointment was still convenient for the homeowner and for her daughter and son-in-law, who live with the homeowner. The inspection appointment was confirmed on Tuesday for a Wednesday appointment, not set, confirmed and performed on all the same day as the complaint alleges.
Secondly, the author of the complaint was not present for the inspection, analysis and discussion. However, the complaint is written as if EverDrys representative met only with the elderly grandmother, who is the homeowner. It omits the fact that the homeowner, her daughter and son-in-law, who all live in the home, were present for the analysis and discussion, and the ladys son-in-law accompanied our representative during the entire 27 point inspection. The title of the complaint alleges elder abuse and exploitation, which is simply not true. EverDry consistently requests that homeowners have more than one family member present at the inspection so any questions that arise may be answered at the time of inspection.
The inspection results were presented clearly, without sales tactics or fabrications. The presentation included photo documentation of the findings using photos which the son-in-law witnessed being taken. The construction knowledge and experience of EverDrys inspectors provides exceptional qualification for analyzing residential foundations and the effects of water, pressure and moisture damage. That is precisely what was done in this case.
A hydrometer (moisture meter), surface lift tests and EMT environmental mold tests were all part of the tools used during the inspection of the grandmothers, her daughter and son-in-laws home. Hydrostatic pressure fractures were found in the slab floor, resulting in water seepage in the middle of the finished basement, where the daughter and son-in-law live. The water/moisture content within the concrete block cavities was so high that seepage had occurred where the wall, footing and slab floor meet.
The humidity and moisture levels were so high that dry rot fungus had developed on the joists and sub-floor. Additionally, the wood paneling on the walls of the finished section of the basement had both dry rot and mold spreading due to moisture. All of these issues are documented in the photographs taken during the inspection process.
The block walls also experienced the effects of soil saturation and frost heave pressure. Long, horizontal cracks/fractures have developed in the mortar joints and showed signs of increasing. These are the precursors to fractures that evolve into buckled block walls. There was no existing waterproofing on the exterior walls and no existing water prevention system (i.e. drain tile) to prevent both the surface water and the ground water from surrounding the walls and floor slab.
After presenting all of the information, the homeowner, her daughter and son-in-law made the decision to contract with EverDry for our full-service waterproofing. There were no high-pressure tactics the decision was based entirely on the results of the 1.5 hour inspection and analysis. Because of the size of the house, the total of the work was over $18,000.
However, this price includes:
A) Excavation, drain tile, sealing/tarring and regrading of the entire exterior
B) Demolition, digging, drain tile, pumps, equipment and concrete for the entire interior
C) An air-exchange ventilation system for air quality against mold and fungus
D) A true lifetime warranty that guarantees complete satisfaction and prevention of any further damages which is transferrable to anyone that owns the property
Lastly, EverDry is proud of our commitment as an Equal Opportunity Employer. We have extremely low turnover of our production crew all of which are salaried employees because they are treated with respect. The comment made in the complaint about our crews is absurd and used as a way to draw attention away from the real issue
A thorough and qualified inspection was performed with the elderly homeowner and her family. The results were documented, verified through testing, and presented in a formal, professional discussion. After evaluating the information, the homeowner and her family chose to enter into an agreement with EverDry for services. As per any contractual agreement, a deposit was required and, in this case, a waiver was given to accept a smaller amount as a courtesy to the family.
The installation was set for six weeks after the inspection. The installation date was confirmed with the homeowners daughter, again, who also lives in the home, five days after the contract was signed. EverDry proceeded with the allocation of materials, the process of obtaining all necessary building permits had begun and EverDry had the project locked into our production schedule, with space, materials and time reserved specifically for this family.
It was nearly a month after the contract was signed that EverDry received a cancellation call from the author of the complaint who misrepresented herself as a lawyer, not the homeowner who was the signatory of the contract. Contract law states the person who signs a contract is the only one who can cancel that contract. Also, the three-day right of rescission period, given to all our customers in case they change their minds about the work, had long since passed. The author of the complaint, also the grandchild, was claiming elder abuse and exploitation as a way to renege on the contractual obligation.
The 28% cancelation fee that was charged, and that is explained in the original contract, is similar to a re-stocking fee used by retailers. As a production company, EverDry had dedicated the time in our production schedule to this family, and planned for it, both in terms of legal permit requirements, allocation of materials and reserving the crew for the set dates. Backing out of an agreement and forcing a change in the companys production schedule is not an easy thing to absorb for a company with multiple crews and a broad geographical territory.
EverDry has not earned and maintained our Better Business Bureau A+ rating by taking advantage of our customers. We have a great reputation and thousands of happy customers. Our goal and mission is to provide the highest professional products and services through helping people with water and moisture-related problems and damages.