Complaint Review: Joe Trevino and Marcella Torres

I located Mars Construction on Craigslist.  I called for 3 quotes from 3 different contractors for a bathroom remodel.  Joe Trevino's quote was middle of the row of the quotes.  I chose to accept his offer seeing as he stated he could do the job quickly and start the next day.  

Joe arrived with a contract in hand and requested a 1000 dollar downpayment.  He asked me to write the check to Marcella Torres his fiancee.  This should have been a red flag for me but I gave him the benefit of a doubt.  

Workers began tearing out the bathroom.  We had agreed the demo would be 500 dollars and that trash would be picked up every 2 days.  The guys worked hard for 2 days and this is when Joe began making excuses about everything.  We had scheduled for them to work the weekend.  Joe called and said they would not be working the weekend after a lot of back and forth.  Monday arrives and so do the workers.  They state they wanted to work the weekend but Joe told them I didnt want them to.  Lie number 1.  The workers finished the demo on Monday August 5th.  That same day Joe arrives and he was supposed to bring a nail gun for the construction guys to begin framing.  He states he is bringing the gun, his dad is bringing the gun, and lastly his brother is bringing the gun.  Well no one ever arrives with a nail gun.  On Tuesday, the construction crew is complaining that Joe has yet to pay them.  Joe arrives.  I ask about the gun and he tells me I need to help him rent a gun.  I tell Joe that is weird and im not helping his construction company with tools they are supposed to have for a job.  So Joe lies some more and tells me he is going to go and get a gun. No electrician ever shows up. Joe makes excuses about this for two days about the electricians.  At 2 p.m. on Tuesday the workers quit and leave the job site stating they have not been paid.   He never cleaned up any of the trash from the demo.

In the contract his company was also to paint the entire house.  For 3 days i got excuses as to why the painters could not arrive.   It was apparent he does not know anything about construction, what it takes to do the job, how to bid a job properly, or how to keep his word.  I fired him on Tuesday after his workers left because he had not paid them or given them the equiptment neccessary to complete the job.  I have a lot of experience in this type of work.  This was to be the first time i ever hired someone to do it for me.   If you want a job done right you're better off doing it yourself instead of calling Mars Construction or Joe Trevino.  Joe Trevino, and Marcella Torres can all be found on facebook.  

I offered Joe the chance to return half the money paid to him since most of the demo was complete.   I had to haul 2 trailers of trash to the dump at a cost of 120 dollars. I wanted to be done with the him.   Joe agreed to this and then never made good.  I am currently filing a lawsuit against him and M. Torres for the majority of the deposit.