- Report: #25226
Complaint Review: DR Horton - Arlington Texas
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DR Horton
1901 Ascension Blvd., Suite 300 Arlington, 76006 Texas, U.S.A.
Phone:
817-436-6060
Web:
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DR Horton Disaster fraudulent ripoff business Arlington Texas
In March I signed a contract to buy Waverly in the Lake Cunningham subdivision. During the sales pitch for the subdivision we stated our concerns about being in the house soon enough for kids to attend the neighborhood schools. This is a huge deal in Fl because the school requires that the house be at certain point of construction before they can be enrolled. We were assured that this would be of no concerns due to the fact that we would be closing in Aug or Sept of 2002.
During the purchasing process I was offered the chance to make changes that would of course, increase the cost of my house. I had my upgrades in writing and a contract was signed. I was assured that the house I wanted could be built by D R Horton. 1 1/2 weeks later I was contacted by Frank Moran and was told that the garage could not be built due to Fire Code restrictions. Being of an arch. background I knew that this was incorrect.
Confronting Mr. Moran of his error I learned it was just because D R Horton did not want to do it and I was owed no explanation. Continuing the conversation with Mr. Moran he explained how I was just a plan number to D R and they could turn the lot over the next day. I let him continue, I further learned that D R financially benefits if houses are built according to plan.
I then contacted you, Donna, to explain my problem. You gave me Andy Fermento's name and assured me D R was in the business to build what the customer wants. I began to try and contact Mr. Fermento. I left him 2 messages and my realtor left him 1. My realtor and I to this day have not ever heard from him. . During all the messages I pulled out my pencils and erasers to show D R that they could do the house with one simple window movement.
Again with my plans, Frank called with a very stern no they won't do it. With no return call from Mr. Fermento, I called you back asked to speak to his manager in Dallas. This gentleman listened to my concern and would call Mr. Fermento directly and ask him to contact me. Again, I have not heard from Mr. Fermento
Using the plans I updated (that you were charging me 500 dollars to do) Mr. Moran took my plans back to D R and the archs approved them. Why did it take my plans to get the updates approved? Now that the plans were approved I was again assured by Mr. Rowe that we would still have no problem being within the Schools guidelines and would still close in Aug or Sept.
April rolled around and I had been in contact several times to discuss how the process works. I believe I spoke to Bill or Frank 3 or 4 times in late March and April, which phone records show. I was assured the process was moving and that we are still closing in Aug or Sept. Different conversations showed my plans in trusses, engineering, etc...... This was fine because I was under the impression that the plans were moving along.
I personally relocated the first of May and immediately contacted Bill and Frank to see if the plans had been submitted to the county. They were unable to tell because they needed to contact someone at the office to find out the information. At this point I was 2 months into my contract and would think that some positive answer was coming. After 2 days and 2 more calls by me. Frank called me back to say that they were still with D R and offered no explanation. Again stating there was not one needed.. This is normal and the plans need to take the proper course.
I contacted Bill and Frank several times in May was told something different every time but one thing remained the same.... They had not gone to the county and this was all normal. I recall one conversation that Mr. Moran said....the build time was going to be delayed and D R was under not obligation even though my contract said that my house would be done within 7 months. Again I began asking whether or not my plans had gone to county.
On May 29th I received a call from Mr. Moran and he stated that my plans had gone to the county on May 13th. I was first shocked that it took 3 weeks and several calls during these 3 weeks for someone to find out this information.
I slowed my calls to Frank and Bill because I thought things were moving along. My wife and kids arrived in Fl. June 3. We began right away asking for the address so that we could start the school enrollment process. During this I was told that having windows in my house by the time required would still not be a problem. I was never given the address but yet everybody tells me that I should have it.
I heard by the vine and Frank confirmed that St. Johns County had contacted out someone to help review the plans. I immediately ask Frank to find out if my plans were in that bunch..... He called on June 15th and left a message that said that they were sent on the 13th and that it was not part of the plans that went to Orlando.
This is now twice someone had the opportunity to fix a HUGE wrong that will soon surface. I told Frank that I would call again on June 21 if I had not heard anything. Things at this point began to get real quiet from the D R side.... I began to call the county to try and get a status myself. Without an address I was unable to locate any information.
I then had my wife go over to the model house several time to get the address....We finally got the address on June 26th from Bill Rowe. We immediately called the county and realized that plans were not submitted until June 25th. I was irate....this means I was lied to twice and defrauded by D R twice over a months time. I found the error NOT DR...... I am sure if we pulled records....my plans were the only ones submitted by D R on the 25th.
This shows that if I had not been calling my plans would be still sitting on someone's desk. Further investigation of my own revealed that the couple who signed a contract a few days prior to me had been permitted and would be pouring a foundation the week of July 1. What happen to my plans?
At this point I was done dealing with salesman..... I went to the D R office and asked to speak with Andy Fermento who was unavailable at the time. I spoke with Christie G the sales manager. She openly admitted that I had been lied to and that she was going to find out how and why...... I will be speaking with her today....
As you can imagine several things have gone through my mind and I have come to several conclusions.... I was defrauded into signing a contract that could possibly jeopardize the enrollment of my children in the school that they need to go to. I believe me addressing the customer services issues in March lead to my file being "misplaced" for 2 months. I also believe that D R showed very gross negligence in the way that it has handled my house and my life. This situation has turned my life upside down and has cost Merrill Lynch and myself a lot of money.
Josh
Jacksonville, Florida
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on DR Horton
During the purchasing process I was offered the chance to make changes that would of course, increase the cost of my house. I had my upgrades in writing and a contract was signed. I was assured that the house I wanted could be built by D R Horton. 1 1/2 weeks later I was contacted by Frank Moran and was told that the garage could not be built due to Fire Code restrictions. Being of an arch. background I knew that this was incorrect.
Confronting Mr. Moran of his error I learned it was just because D R Horton did not want to do it and I was owed no explanation. Continuing the conversation with Mr. Moran he explained how I was just a plan number to D R and they could turn the lot over the next day. I let him continue, I further learned that D R financially benefits if houses are built according to plan.
I then contacted you, Donna, to explain my problem. You gave me Andy Fermento's name and assured me D R was in the business to build what the customer wants. I began to try and contact Mr. Fermento. I left him 2 messages and my realtor left him 1. My realtor and I to this day have not ever heard from him. . During all the messages I pulled out my pencils and erasers to show D R that they could do the house with one simple window movement.
Again with my plans, Frank called with a very stern no they won't do it. With no return call from Mr. Fermento, I called you back asked to speak to his manager in Dallas. This gentleman listened to my concern and would call Mr. Fermento directly and ask him to contact me. Again, I have not heard from Mr. Fermento
Using the plans I updated (that you were charging me 500 dollars to do) Mr. Moran took my plans back to D R and the archs approved them. Why did it take my plans to get the updates approved? Now that the plans were approved I was again assured by Mr. Rowe that we would still have no problem being within the Schools guidelines and would still close in Aug or Sept.
April rolled around and I had been in contact several times to discuss how the process works. I believe I spoke to Bill or Frank 3 or 4 times in late March and April, which phone records show. I was assured the process was moving and that we are still closing in Aug or Sept. Different conversations showed my plans in trusses, engineering, etc...... This was fine because I was under the impression that the plans were moving along.
I personally relocated the first of May and immediately contacted Bill and Frank to see if the plans had been submitted to the county. They were unable to tell because they needed to contact someone at the office to find out the information. At this point I was 2 months into my contract and would think that some positive answer was coming. After 2 days and 2 more calls by me. Frank called me back to say that they were still with D R and offered no explanation. Again stating there was not one needed.. This is normal and the plans need to take the proper course.
I contacted Bill and Frank several times in May was told something different every time but one thing remained the same.... They had not gone to the county and this was all normal. I recall one conversation that Mr. Moran said....the build time was going to be delayed and D R was under not obligation even though my contract said that my house would be done within 7 months. Again I began asking whether or not my plans had gone to county.
On May 29th I received a call from Mr. Moran and he stated that my plans had gone to the county on May 13th. I was first shocked that it took 3 weeks and several calls during these 3 weeks for someone to find out this information.
I slowed my calls to Frank and Bill because I thought things were moving along. My wife and kids arrived in Fl. June 3. We began right away asking for the address so that we could start the school enrollment process. During this I was told that having windows in my house by the time required would still not be a problem. I was never given the address but yet everybody tells me that I should have it.
I heard by the vine and Frank confirmed that St. Johns County had contacted out someone to help review the plans. I immediately ask Frank to find out if my plans were in that bunch..... He called on June 15th and left a message that said that they were sent on the 13th and that it was not part of the plans that went to Orlando.
This is now twice someone had the opportunity to fix a HUGE wrong that will soon surface. I told Frank that I would call again on June 21 if I had not heard anything. Things at this point began to get real quiet from the D R side.... I began to call the county to try and get a status myself. Without an address I was unable to locate any information.
I then had my wife go over to the model house several time to get the address....We finally got the address on June 26th from Bill Rowe. We immediately called the county and realized that plans were not submitted until June 25th. I was irate....this means I was lied to twice and defrauded by D R twice over a months time. I found the error NOT DR...... I am sure if we pulled records....my plans were the only ones submitted by D R on the 25th.
This shows that if I had not been calling my plans would be still sitting on someone's desk. Further investigation of my own revealed that the couple who signed a contract a few days prior to me had been permitted and would be pouring a foundation the week of July 1. What happen to my plans?
At this point I was done dealing with salesman..... I went to the D R office and asked to speak with Andy Fermento who was unavailable at the time. I spoke with Christie G the sales manager. She openly admitted that I had been lied to and that she was going to find out how and why...... I will be speaking with her today....
As you can imagine several things have gone through my mind and I have come to several conclusions.... I was defrauded into signing a contract that could possibly jeopardize the enrollment of my children in the school that they need to go to. I believe me addressing the customer services issues in March lead to my file being "misplaced" for 2 months. I also believe that D R showed very gross negligence in the way that it has handled my house and my life. This situation has turned my life upside down and has cost Merrill Lynch and myself a lot of money.
Josh
Jacksonville, Florida
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on DR Horton
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Susan
Taylors,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
Dobson has been bought out, and policies concerning that company have changed
#2UPDATE Employee
Fri, May 14, 2004
First of all, Josh- I am so sorry that you had to go through such hoops. I hope that things have smoothed out some. Second of all, perhaps you hsould have opted for a custom home if you had wanted to change the plans. For the woman that worked for Dobson in Virginia, Dobson has been bought out, and policies concerning that company have changed. I'm sorry that you had such a hard time being a sub for that company.
J.
Senecaville,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Ex-Subcontractor Knows In Other States
#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, December 30, 2002
My husband and I worked as a subcontractor for D.R. Horton (aka Dobson Builders) out of VA. Believe me, I know first hand how AWFUL they are. As a builder on site and office work. When we first started working with them, the 2nd house we were at, one whole side of the upstairs floor had a huge hump in it. We were able to get it leveled somewhat for them, but there still is a hump in the floor. Of course new homes have flaws, all man-made items due, each has it's own characteristics due to the material involved. However, many, many mistakes were made on their job sites due to lousy subcontractors. Do you know how hard it is to try to do your job when the person in front of you didn't do theirs correctly? Then the superintendent tells you to just "go over it the best you can". Mistakes upon mistakes are covered over and some just barely enough to pass inspections. In fact, there were a couple times where things were put together just to pass inspection and then taken apart right after. Many of the subcontractors have their own agenda as well, and that does not help. But it is hard to work for a company and do good work when the company itself finds ways to cut your paycheck short. The finger pointing begins and no-one wants to complete their job until it is settled. And we can be talking thousands of dollars. That in no way excuses the lousy work some contractors do, but it is up to D.R. Horton to be sure of who they hire and the quality of the work. After just a few months, we left. It was an awful circumstance to be in when you can see the lying and cheating going on all around you. If you think an all-girls office can be "catty" you haven't been on a job site of cut-thoat, money hungry guys. They really get into the backstabbing. And when a homeowner calls into the office to complain on warranty items that are still not taken care of.....well, let's say I was present on a couple occassions in the office while that topic came up. Once, the General Manager told the secretary "I'm not here" and walked off. Yes, that happens, but this was a customer who has had a problem for 5 months and should have been taken care of before closing. That's why they were putting them off, if they were able to close w/the problem at the time, they can manage.... another time I overheard "I don't care what they say, we are not going to waste any more time on them. Tell them it's not covered on the warranty or we can't get it fixed." After all, time is money and a builder hates to loose money. They are one of the most disrespected companies we have ever worked with.
