Complaint Review: John Ainlay / Turnkey Contracting - McHenry Illinois

John Ainlay's rambling denial flies in the face of the facts in the public record.

We sued Turnkey on 12/2/2008 and won a judgement in the amount of $43,175.90 on 6/17/2009.  Though we tried, we were not able to collect on the judgement since he had apparently fled the state of Illinois.  Ainlay never showed up in court to defend himself.

Here is a link to the court records on the case:
Case Information Summary for Case Number
2008-M3-004188

https://w3.courtlink.lexisnexis.com/cookcounty/Finddock.asp?DocketKey=CAAI0MD0AAEBII0SD

You can also go to the Cook County Court website and search for defendant AINLEY JOHN R to see other cases on record.

http://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/?section=CASEINFOPage&CASEINFOPage=2400

You can also go to the Mchenry County Court records site http://68.21.116.46/wow65/runApp?id=0 and do a search for John R Ainlay and Turnkey.  

In addition, a Mechanic's Lien for over $8000 was placed on our property by one of Ainlay's sub-contractors whom he did not pay for the work that was completed on our project.  This is also a matter of public record.

Originally when I saw this complaint, I didn't even want to give it any credit at all by responding.  However, after hearing several other problems from other contractors regarding this person over the past year and also hearing a couple of friends ask about it, I thought I should go ahead and respond.

I used to own Turnkey Contracting Inc.  Unfortunately, with the downturn in the economy and construction being hit the hardest, we decided to close up shop after being in the construction business for over 25 years.

In that 25 years of doing residential construction, I have never had a complaint lodged against me or my company by any other company or person except Rick Vines.  What Rick doesn't say in his complaint is that everything we did was according to the contract that he signed.  He also doesn't explain that his wife did not even know what was in the contract from the beginning.  This "not knowing" was one of the main problems of our relationship.

Rick would approve the drawings and many many changes along the way only to have his wife come in and say that this was "not the way she wanted it".  Unfortunately, to make a long story short, Rick was not communicating with his wife about the project and he was telling her one thing and me another.  This of course lead to many issues that he does not explain.  Please keep in mind that everything was done according to the contract with change orders.  The contract contained periodic payouts that were based on milestones being met in the work.  If Rick didn't agree with what was being done and completed, then he had every right in the contract to not pay for it. BUT HE DID.  He doesn't explain that he signed the contract and he wrote the checks to us for each and every step and change that was done along the way.

As for the framer on the house not being paid, I know nothing about that as we paid our framer to do exactly what he was contracted to do.  I would guess that Rick had the framer come back after we withdrew from the project and had him change the framing again because he and his wife could not make up their minds as to what they wanted.

I gave Rick Vines all of the documentation and waivers of liens that are required by law and then some. If you look up in the Barrington Hills Building Department Records, you will find that after my framing was completed, it was approved by the city inspector.  His complaint also gives the impression that the bulk of the project was paid for but only finished up to the framing.....He doesn't explain that there were many changes to the contract for additional things he wanted and changes on what his wife continually kept changing because of their lack of communication.

This brings me to another subject....I have never in 25 years walked off the job without resolution.  This should explain how the atmosphere was in the project and why we would walk off the project as never done before.  The straw that broke the camels back for us was when I had my electrician schedule 3 separate trips to meet with Rick and his wife (by this time I was done talking to only him).  On all 3 occasions his wife did not show up.  One of the times neither one of them showed up and each time, I had my electrician there at my cost and time and effort.  Believe me, if this was the first time there had been issues like this, I would have worked through each of them. Unfortunately this was one of many issues that this husband and wife could not agree and communicate their wishes to me.  It continually caused an atmosphere of conflict.

It was very obvious to me and my workers that there were problems in their marital relationship and that Rick and his wife do not know how to communicate.  This actually manifested itself on one occasion when Rick had just gotten off the phone with his wife....hung up abruptly and then kicked his poor dog half way across the family room floor in anger.  For me, this told me what type of guy he was and that I was never going to find a way to make these folks happy.  It was after his 3 missed appointments with my electrician and his aloof attitude towards our time and effort that I decided to pack up and leave.  He knew it was coming and never did anything to stop it.

I tried everything in my power and more to make this project work out but like they say, you can't please all of the people all of the time.  We had a great run over 25 years and built many folks some great homes and renovations.  I hope that Rick and his wife found a way to work through their marital issues and I hope there dog and other animals didn't have to bare the brunt of Rick's temper anymore.

One more important fact.  Rick did try and sue me and the case was thrown out against him.  He never tried to refile against us....So what does that tell you???

in Koshkonong MO

Typo in original report