Complaint Review: Chikwendu N. Ikeri Dba IKE Construction Ent. - Los Angeles California

Hired IKE Construction from a list of contractors offered by Los Angeles Housing Department/LAHD in 2005 to remodel/rehab a three bedroom house. Problem started from the beginning when IKE Constructin crew started tearing down walls without drop clothes. Throughout the process they never wanted to clean up after working. 1. Dismantled retaining walls that weren't part of the contract, then refused to repair/replace them according to city requirements. Chikwendu N. Ikeri, contractor of IKE Construction, Ent., never acquired the necessary permits or submitted plans to the city, to build a retaining wall. 2. IKE Construction Removed lighting fixtures to rewire home, but never put them back up; because when inspected by Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety/LADBS, IKE Construction refused to make the corrections identified. IKE Construction didn't replace/rehang the light fixtures. Currently (3 years) without ceiling lighting in living room, two bedrooms, three closets, doorbell, front and side porch lighting removed without any attempt to correct damages. Various problems with electrical outlets that have to be corrected, as well as all covers having been removed. 3. When IKE Construction was repairing the roof, the sub contractor removed all the wood sheathing and didn't replace it. They only put paper down, which has been leaking for the last two years. This had been brought to Chikwendu Ikeri's/IKE Construction attention and he has done nothing to correct it. IKE Construction used nonlicensed roofers, without supervision, performing improper work, such as placeing new flashing on top of the old, leaving visible spaces in the paper, allowing further damage to the roof during any rains, the downspout that was supposed to be replaced, Ike Construction had his workers pull it away from the wall of the house and paint it with black lead based paint. 4. Sub contractor/plumber mvoed the water heater from the house (per city requirements), but it did not attach the exhaust piping and it wasn't strapped correctly. LADBS noted the errors, but Ike Construction refused to make the corrections. Because I continued to bring to his attention the substandard work and work practicies of his crew, he removed his crew from the site 6/10 - 7/14/05; and only returned because I had complained to the LAHD regarding his performance. A meeting was scheduled, where problems were discussed and recorded, LAHD/Jorge Alcantar stated they would monitor the work more effectively (which they didn't) and that IKE Construction would correct the dificiencies noted. 5. IKE Construction agreed to repair windows. His crew removed lead based paint, left it on the ground, (it is supposed to be bagged and disposed of), bars removed from the windows and not replaced. None of the 27 windows have been repaired to date. 6. IKE Construction built a carport without plans or permits necessary for the city, which opens the opportunity of the city to have it removed at a cost to myself/owner. IKE Construction agreed to sandblast, scrape and wire brush all surfaces for new stucco and color coat, without the reqired permits to do the job, allowing for inspection by LADBS. Repairs were supposed to have a paper-backed welded wire lath underneath. None of this was done. IKE Construction didn't follow any of the city requirements or the contract requirements. He didn't notify me of the day the sandblasting was to occur, so sand was throughout my home, because his crew didn't cover any of the windows or doors. Neighbors property was also effected by the sandblasting. LAHD/Jorge Alcantar was there and said nothing to the workers that covering was necessary. Chikwendu Ikeri, owner of IKE Construction wasn't there to direct his crew on the correct way to protect my property and they didn't care. None of the color of the stucco matches, the swirl differs on various parts of my home. I complained to Chikwendu Ikeri/contractor IKE Construction, Ent.; as I did regularly based on the substandard (and incomplete) workmanship which he ignored. As I photographed the rebuilding of a retaining wall without benefit of rebar, he removed his men for the second time 9/8/05, never to return. According to our contract, we had to settle our dispute through arbitration. It took 8 months of calling and leaving messages on his phone to meet with Chikwendu Ikeri dba IKE Construction (8/06) to sign the papers for filing, which he refused to do, asking for a copy to take to his business partners. I allowed it and had to continuously call to have the signed paper returned. It/signed paperwork was never returned because he (Chikwendu N. Ikeri) submitted it to his attorney, which I found out 1/07 when the American Arbitration Association sent me notice of the filing. It went to arbitration, because his attorney filed the paperwork, he (Chikwendu N. Ikeri) was identified as the claimant and the arbitrator was concerned only with damages and refused to investigate any of the visible damages that IKE Construction caused my property. All the letters, photos and tape recorded meetings the arbitrator (Glen Hickman) refused to accept as evidence. He won the case and I am still in the process of trying to overturn the injustices that he created within the judicial system as well as the destruction of my home. The court does not want to review the evidence, preferring to accept the decision of the arbitrator assuming that he reviewed any of the evidence that I provided, but I continue to fight for justice and to make sure that not one other person's property is ruined by IKE Construction, Ent. This is a company (IKE Construction, Ent.) that should not be trusted for constuction or any other business enterprise. He currently has a rating of D, based on my factual complaints. More importantly, if you find arbitration in any contract as the way to resolve a dispute, make sure that you write OMIT across that section. Take the contractor (or business) to court for trial with a jury, (which is what i continue to fight for). For all those reading my report, avoid IKE Construction, Ent., owner/contractor Chikwendu N. Ikeri;

license #: B563470

Aaron

los angeles, California

U.S.A.