Complaint Review: HAR - BRO INC. - Signal Hill California

I suffered a burst pipe at a building I own and someone called the fire department to come help get the water turned off and contain the mess.  Not that much water leaked out and only minimal damage was caused to my building.  

Simultaneoulsy with the Fire Dept showing up, agents from Har-Bro showed up - the project manager was David Ross.  They said they were sent by the insurance carrier and that they had been approved to do the work.  They told this to several people.  I tried to confirm with my insurance company that they had sent Har-Bro but was told that I could not speak to an adjustor until the following day. Meanwhile, Har-Bro assured me they were the approved vendor sent by my insurance company and that I would be putting my claim in jeopardy if I did not sign their contract and agree for them to do the work.  Relying on their representations, I signed a service contract.  

Har-Bro then spent the next several hours setting up big fans to dry out my carpet.  This was about 3:30 in the afternoon. AFter the project manager left, he had 3 guys sit around until 9:00.  Har-Bro billed me at OVERTIME rates for all this work. Their rates ranged from 82.50 per hour for those just watching the fans to 148.50 per hour for David Ross who was the project manager.  Essentially, all of the work they performed was billed at overtime rates.  None of this was discussed with me.  

The next day, when I spoke to my insurance company, they confirmed that they had NOT sent Har-Bro and that they were not resopnsible for the charges Har-Bro had run up.  I called David Ross the project manager and he again assured me that they were sent by my carrier and approved to do the work.  I again called my adjustor and  he again told me that har-Bro had no contact with them and that I was on my own with their contract. 

The Har-Bro bill reveals not only outrageous rates but also that they've billed me for many more hours than they actually worked.  In short, Har-Bro monitors the emergency police and fire channels.  When someone has a property loss, they go out to the scene and lie to the property owner claiming to be sent from the insurance company.  They then rip you off by excessive overcharging and chruning their fees to make the bill unreasonably high.  

My insurance company ultimately sent me a check for some of the work required to fix my building but not for all of it.

When I got my check, to avoid a dispute, I thought, I sent Har-Bro about 85% of the total amount they alleged was due - this was 5K out of a total balance of 6K.  It was inconceivable to me that they would not be giddy with  happieness having tricked me into a job and getting paid almost all of what would be a highly questionable invoice even if it had been based on a proper contract not procured by fraud.

Har-Bro is now suing me in small claims court for this one thousand dollars.  I will have the case moved to a regular court where I will have a chance to put on all my evidence of Har-Bro's unfair and fraudulent practices and will provide updates to this post to let you know the status of that matter.  I was lied to and defrauded into signing an agreement based on a false representation that they were sent by my insurance company when in reality they were chasing fire trucks.  They then ran up a huge bill based on overcharing, excessive rates and charging for hours not performed.  Next they sued me not being willing to make any concessions on the bill notwithstanding their immoral behavior and the fact that they fraudulently induced me to contract with them.  

Bring it on Har-Bro - You've monkeyed with the wrong consumer and I will expose you for your fraudulent business practices and those which are unfair and violate California Law.