Complaint Review: Houston Repair and Remodeling Services

I contacted Houston Repair and Remodeling Services based upon potential fabricated reviews from Angie's List. Having just moved to the area, I needed some handyman work at my residence. If I only knew then, what I know now about Angie's List and how providers can pay for favorable listings and preferential postings, I never would have signed up for this service.

Mr. Warwick reported to my residence after failing to show up for an initial appointment.  After spending a full day at my residence, verbally berating his employees (in my opinion), making racially offensive remarks about one of my neighbors, and destroying a golf ball display rack in my residence, Mr. Warwick failed to sufficiently complete, or adequately complete the work that I requested.  Mr. Warwick collected over $1,850.00 for his feable attempt, and promised to return to complete the requested work, and to complete what he did not do properly the first time.

Mr. Warwick returned a second time and charged me $500.00 for a piece of audio/visual equipment, specifically, a Peerless-AV, HD Flow, Pro Wireless Multi-media kit, model number HDS200.  This equipment retails for as little as $351.44, and nowhere does it retail for $500.00.  The installed equipment does not work.  When confronted, Mr. Warwick offered to return to, hit the reset button.  I explained that I already did this, and if he would provide the receipt, I would gladly exchange the product.  I also requested the receipt in order to get warranty information on the product.  Mr. Warwick refused to reimburse me for the equipment, and refused to provide a receipt, because in my opinion, he over-inflated the costs.

After his second visit, Mr. Warwick charged me an additional $1,255.00 for his work.  At this point, I had already paid over $3,500.00 for incompetent work.  I wanted to cut my losses and find a provider who could actually complete work to a small degree of satisfaction.  Mr. Warwick hung a closet door, which was done so poorly, that there is a noticeable gap and the door is not even straight.  Mr. Warwick patched drywall that is embarassingly noticeable.  Mr. Warwick failed to install surround sound in the living room with any degree of competency.

Even though Mr. Warwick verbally solicited a favorable reply on the Angie's List website, I was willing to overlook his inadequacies.

In the course of his work, Mr. Warwick discovered that I had a sofa and loveseat that was less than two years old, and in perfect condition.  It was my intention to donate this furniture to an IRS recognized charity for tax purposes.  Mr. Warwick requested my furniture for his church.  I explained that the furniture would be donated for tax purposes.  Mr. Warwick offered to provide a receipt from his church, which he claimed was a recognized IRS Charitable Organization in exchange for the furniture.

On October 5, 2013, Mr. Warwick arrived at my residence to pick up the furniture.  On October 6, 2013, I contacted his office to inquire about the receipt for the furniture.  I was advised that the office would contact Mr. Warwick the next day.  Three days later, I was contacted by Mr. Warwck who wanted to know the value that I placed on the furniture.  I advised Mr. Warwick that a receipt for $125.00 would suffice.  On October 10, 2013, Mr. Warwick responded via e-mail, "Ok thx". Six days later, on October 16, 2013, I sent another message to Mr. Warwick's office reminding them about the receipt.  On October 17, 2013, Mr. Warwick responded via e-mail that his minister was out of the country and would not return until after Thanksgiving.  Mr. Warwick offered to give me a fraudulent receipt for energy efficient upgrades worth $375.00, in order for me to use fraudulently in a tax claim with the IRS.  I advised Mr. Warwick that this was unacceptable, and demanded the receipt, as I was certain that his church was still operational and that there was another minister available.  I did not hear from Mr. Warwick in regards to the receipt again.

I completed my review of Mr. Warwick's services, or lack therof, on Angie's List.  The review was an honest assessment of his poor quality of work, and I assigned him an overall grade of, "C".

After the review was submitted, Mr. Warwick sent an e-mail to me in which he threatened me.  I brought this to the attention of Angie's list, and their response was laughable.  Representatives from Angie's list received a rebuttal from Mr. Warwick in which he threatened me a second time.  I explained to the representatives from Angie's List that I was in fear for my personal safety.  Their response was that I should open a Dispute Resolution case against Mr. Warwick.  They took no action to censure this individual and only threatened to put him in their, "Penalty Box", if he did not respond to the Dispute Resolution. 

As part of the Dispute Resolution, I only requested a refund for the audio/visual equipment that Mr. Warwick overcharged me for, and which did not work.  I requested that Mr. Warwick compensate me for the golf ball display rack that he destroyed.  Finally, I requested that Mr. Warwick provide me with $125.00 for the furniture that he stole from me.

Mr. Warwick refused my settlement and offered another threat in his response not to settle.  Representatives from Angie's List still have not taken action against one of their sponsored providers, other than advising me to change my demands.  

A police report has been filed against Mr. Warwick for his theft of my property.  Additionally, a complaint has been filed with the Better Business Bureau.

I find Mr. Warwick's actions to be deplorable.  I also find that Angie's List does nothing to protect their customers from providers and even go so far as to censure customers from providing accurate and honest feedback, which is the crux of their website.