My mentally disabled Nephew who lives soley off his SSI owns a small 2 bedrrom house he paid $7000 for. That is $7000 total for the entire house.
The outside of the house was in really bad shape so I suggested to my Nephew that we get a few estimates. The first company I called was Continental. Their salesman good ol' Jimbo came out and laid out his razzle dazzle sales pitch that had my mentally disabled Nephew ready to sign anywhere about anything.
That is of course exactly what he did. The price was $15000 for siding around this small house with no windows, gutters or fascia boards included. I was really taken back at the price and good ol' Jimbo explained to me that most of the cost was labor. He said the highly skilled employees who have been with the company for years do great work but that skill and company dedication cost a lot.
I am not sure what kind of papers good 'ol Jimbo had my mentally disabled Nephew sign. I really kick myself because I should have read everything in detail before my Nephew signed but my Nephew was really excited after good 'ol Jimbos sales speel and wanted to get started right away.
So they got my menatlly disabled Nephew financing. My mentally disabled Nephew who lives soley off of his SSI now owes over $30000 on a $15000 loan.
Now what did my mentally disabled Nephew who lives soley off of his SSI get for $30000?
(I am not joking or exaggerating even a little about the work or workers.)
A truck load of 5 non english speaking non Continental employee Mexicans 3 of whom were under the age of 19.
They slopped that siding on in 2 days. I had to keep going out there and telling them to stop and do the job right. I couldn't even speak with them. I had to use hand gestures. The day before the "highly skilled employees who have been with the company for years" showed up some guy named Gary came around and said he was the job foreman.
Gary said he would be supervising the job and if my mentally disabled Nephew had any questions to call him. We of course had questions once the job started so we tried to call him. No one ever picked up the phone and voice mail always full. Same thing with good ol' Jimbos number. Those are obviously dumby numbers given to their dumby customers.
Garys job supervision was him showing up for less than 5 minutes to stick their sign in the grass the morning the "highly skilled employees who have been with the company for years" showed up.
My mentally disabled Nephews house does look better with the siding but anything would have been an improvement.
$10000 OK. Fair enough. $15000 OK. Way too much but OK. $30000 They took advantage of my mentally disabled Nephew for a quick buck and didn't even blink doing it.
I have a couple of ideas for company slogans Continental good use in the future to better discribe the services they offer.
First is: "We will rip the candy out of a crying babys mouth for a plug nickel!"
Next one is: "Mejor que la recogida de fruta!"
Hey Continental! You can have those two for free!
FloridaNative
Palm Beach Gardens,#2Consumer Comment
Sat, August 22, 2015
First, I do not work for this company but I am familiar with how these types of companies operate. Read the contract. I would wager that it has a clause in there that attaches a lien to the property and if your nephew fails to pay the monthly payments, the finance company will foreclose on the lien and the house.
It would be even better for you to find an attorney - right now. If your nephew doesn't have the capacity to sign a contract, then you may be able to do something about it. I don't know the situation for sure, but if I were in your shoes, I would be looking for an attorney to help. Don't risk your nephew's house out of embarassment.
#3Author of original report
Sat, August 22, 2015
After looking at my mentally disabled Nephews (that would be 11 times I guess) financial state, any company with a human conscience especially after knowing my Nephew was mentally disabled (12) would have called and said we got the financing but the $15000 loan will cost you $17000.
But Continental Siding Supply did not care about that as long as they got their $15000.
If my mentally disabled Nephew (13) had to pay $100000 on that $15000 loan then process it and move on to the next job no big deal. Just get that money!
Hey could you do me a favor? Please pass on this message to your "highly skilled workers who have been with the company for years".
Las esquinas de revestimiento ya est'an sueltos.
Robert
Irvine,#4Consumer Comment
Sat, August 22, 2015
Do you realize that including the title you used the term "Mentally Disabled" a grand total of TEN times. Let me ask you this do you go to the grocery store and saying you are purchasing food for your your Mentally Disabled Nephew? Do you go to your local Fast Food resturant and tell them you are placing an order for your Mentally Disabled Nephew. Do you walk down the street saying that is where my Mentally Disabled nephew lives?
Yes, we get it...we got it the first time you wrote it. Your Nephew is mentally disabled. But after this many times it is obvious you are using it strictly as a way to gain sympathy. How do I know that...simple.
YOU were there when they came over and gave you the estimate. YOU were there when your "Mentally Disabled" Nephew signed the contract. But YOU failed to read the contract. So sorry, even if(and that is really a matter of opinion) they took advantage of anyone, it was you because you should have protected your Nephew.
By the way for future reference, you NEVER sign any contract on the first visit. Even if they give you a "special price" for doing it right then and there. If after you go through other estimates you want to go with them, a majority of the time you can still negotiate with them back to that special price. Remember...they need you more than you need them.