Complaint Review: Petra International Stone

These people have signs all over west Houston promising to beat any price.  I had a bid from a legitmate company.  I went to them, to see what they offered.  The guy talked on the phone with Monica Marchetti Khanouf, the owner and said it was true.  They beat any price.  We went to the house and measured.  He said it would be several weeks as they had to fabricate the counters.  I waited several weeks and never heard from the company.  When I called, Monica said the job was scheduled.  I had to reschedule to the day before Thanksgiving.  On that date, I waited and when I finally got hold of Monica, she told me they were really behind and it would be really late.  They could do it on Friday after Thanksgiving.  Friday, she called and said they needed to reschedule again to Monday.  Finally, after 4 times, the job was rescheduled for the following Thursday. 

On the day of the installation, I was informed by "George" that there was a problem.  The existing counter was 44 inches, but the counter he had was 39 inches.  When I pointed out to him that was not the agreement, he said he was "Just doing what the company told him to do."  He kept saying he was just the installer and if there was a problem, I needed to talk to the company.  He told me the guy at the company who wook the order was an idiot.  They guy who took the order didn't know what he was doing and stole money from the company.  The company was losing $400.00 on the job and they fired him.  He said he could reschedule the job again and fabricate the counter at the house but it was going to be really messy, etc.  This was the first bait and switch.

To make a long story short, they failed to install backsplash as promised.  George insisted he was just doing what the company tells him to do.  When I told him I was going to go and speak with the woman at the company, he told me she did not want to speak with me.  He pretended to be just a contractor.  At no time did he ever disclose that he was married to Monica, the owner.  They  then left the old counters sitting on the driveway.  He refused to remove the trash and told me that was the homeowner's responsibility. 

He refused to provide the backsplash as originally promised.  He said there was nothing in the contract.  When I told him I was going to sue the company he told me that I didn't know this company.  They got "lots of lawyers."  I told him I wanted the backsplash.  He told me it would cost me another $110.  Essentially, you are left with counters and no matching backsplash.  I told him I was tired of dealing with him and asked him where to purchase the granite backsplash.  George said it was in his "warehouse."  He was the only one who had it.

The next day, I did research and figured out that Monica was George's wife.  I also contacted the first company I had dealt with to see if they had the color of granite used.  In fact they did.  I asked how much the backsplash was and they told me that it was $40/per piece and came in 108 inch pieces.  I also asked them if they had kitchen Islands of the same granite.  They said they did.  The largest was 39 inches.  I asked how much it was and was told it was $340.00 per piece and was 39x108.

I called George(who up until this time was simply "George") back and informed him that I knew what his name was and that he had not informed me that he was married to Monica.  He then stated that they were separated.  I also informed him that I figured out where he got the granite, that the prefab island he substituted for what they were supposed to do was $340.00 and that the backsplash he was trying to charge me for was a $40.00 dispute.  He still demanded money and then told me "You are harassing me.  Don't call me again.  Don't call my wife or go by the store."  He called me a couple of minutes later to tell me he contacted his attorney and his attorney will be calling me on Monday.  I checked out the name he gave me.  It's some guy that works out of his home.  I'm anxiously awaiting the call from the attorney.  I will file with the Attorney General and will pursue a Deceptive Trade Practices Act claim against them.  These people are grifters.  They have about 20 assumed names.  Avoid them like the plague.  Do not pay them any money.  I made that mistake.