Complaint Review: Chris Kelley - Internet

Chris Kelley A.K.A. “Mr. Tomorrow”

(214) 304-1112

It has been 46 days since I paid Chris Kelly $2,425 to weatherproof 390 square feet of roof, install flashing and drip edge around that roof, and install a fireplace. To date, Chris has left me with a roof that leaks when it rains, no drip edge or flashing installed, and no fireplace installed. I would estimate that the job is 50% completed. I have reached out to Chris through text on 14 different days and through phone calls on numerous other days. During those conversations, Chris almost always promised to finish the work “tomorrow.” Tomorrow always came, but Chris Kelley never showed.

I first contacted Chris Kelley after finding his ad on craigslist on December 7^th 2015. He was one of a dozen others I called for a quote for a roofing project. His quote of $1,425 to weatherproof 390 square feet of flat plywood roof and apply drip edge and flashing was one of the more reasonable quotes so I decided to hire him. Chris showed up the same day with supplies for the job. I explained to him the scope of my entire project which included buying and installing an exterior fireplace. I also expressed concern that I had just painted many other areas of the project and needed the roofers to be neat when applying their epoxy. Chris gave me assurances that the roofing would be done in one day and my concerns about messy application were unwarranted. After these assurances, I paid Chris $600 as a deposit. Chris texted later that same day saying he had found an appropriate fireplace and would purchase and install the unit for an additional $1,200. I agreed to the additional expense. On December 8^th 2015, Chris showed up with two workers and the workers began to weatherproof the roof by putting down two layers of white epoxy. After checking the work, I noticed the epoxy had been spilled all over my freshly painted walls and rails. I complained to Chris and he promised his roofers would touch up my paint after finishing the roof epoxy. On December 9^th, Chris returned with the workers and the fireplace. His workers applied two more layers of colored epoxy. Afterwards, Chris asked to be paid the remaining balance for the project explaining he needed the money. Against better judgment, I paid Chris an additional $1,825 leaving a balance of just $200 owed to Chris. This was the last time I ever saw Chris Kelley. 

The following is a brief summary of my attempts to get Chris to finish the work.

 December 10^th 2015: Chris no called no showed. I called Chris and he explained that he would be at the job site “tomorrow.”

December 11^th 2015 (“tomorrow”): Chris texted that he wouldn’t be able to make it, but would be at the job site “Monday.”

December 14^th 2015 (Monday): Chris no called no showed. I texted my concern to Chris and Chris did not reply.

December 15^th 2015: Chris texted that he had a “family issue” that was preventing him from working.

December 17^th 2015: I asked Chris to send roofers to finish the work and he said that would be impossible as they needed his supervision. He explained he was still having a, “family issue” that was preventing him from working.

December 19 2015: I told Chris I was going to start looking for someone else to do the job and to please refund $600 for labor that was never done. Chris did not reply.

December 21 2015: Chris assured me that he would finish the work as agreed. I asked him when he was available and he told me “today.” Chris never showed to the job site.

December 27 2015: I texted Chris asking about when the job was going to be completed. I complained that it had been raining and the roof was leaking everywhere. Chris never responded. I told him I would post about the experience online as a warning to others who might hire him and he still didn’t respond.

January 17^th 2015: I texted Chris and asked when he was going to finish the work. He claimed to have called me three times and been unable to reach me. I had no voicemails or missed calls. He promised to be there “tomorrow afternoon”

January 18^th 2015 (“tomorrow afternoon”): Chris never showed up at the job site.  Chris called later in the afternoon and promised to be at the job site “tomorrow”

January 19^th 2015 (“tomorrow”): Chris never showed up at the job site. Chris texted and said other work was preventing him from finishing the project. Chris texted that “day after tomorrow is wide open” I refused the offer and asked for a $600 refund.  Chris promised when he was “out that way” he would refund the money. I offered to drive 1.5 hours to him and he refused.

January 20th 2015: I texted to meet Chris as he had told me he was available today. He texted back that he didn’t have the $600. I told him to come by tomorrow to do the job. He promised he would get it done “tomorrow.”

January 21^st 2015 (“tomorrow”): I texted Chris at 9 am he said it was raining and he would be unable to do the work today. I texted him to just drop off the remaining material, move the fireplace up a flight of stairs, and we would call it even.  In exchange, I would not ask for a refund or post the experience online. Chris never responded.  I beg Chris to come by the project to simply move a fireplace twenty feet and drop off the remaining material valued at no more than $100. Keep in mind I don’t expect him to perform any of the remaining installation which would take at least a day to accomplish. I’m hoping that he will just make an appearance. Chris never shows.

January 22^nd 2015: It has been 46 days since I paid Chris Kelly $2,425 to weatherproof 390 square feet of roof, install flashing and drip edge around that roof, and install a fireplace. To date, Chris has left me with a roof that leaks when it rains, no drip edge or flashing installed, and no fireplace installed. I would estimate that the job is 50% completed. I have reached out to Chris through text on 14 different days and through phone calls on numerous other days. During those conversations, Chris almost always promised to finish the work “tomorrow.” Tomorrow always came, but Chris Kelley never showed.