Fred
Shrewsbury,#2Consumer Suggestion
Thu, December 05, 2002
The home improvement industry has been tarnished by a number of unscrupulous degenerates who, "by throwing a hammer in the trunk of their car" have the gall to call themselves, "qualified and reputable Contractors". Its time for Consumers to send a message to these "bottom-feeders". Get at least 3 prices, from 3 different contractors for the work. Do background checks. Ask for (AND CHECK !) at least 5 references. If the contractor can't provide these, go on to the next one. Demand written proposals/contracts, detailing the scope of work, the materials being used, and start and finish dates. If the contractor can't provide this, find another one. Never give cash. If the contractor will only accept cash, find another one. Don't give a large deposit. Instead of a large deposit, negotiate a lesser amount, and offer paying for the material C.O.D. when it arrives. If the contractor wants too much money up front... find another one. Keep all subsequent payments in line with the amount of work completed. In other words... Don't overpay. Try to figure out how much it might cost to have someone else come in to finish the work if necessary, and "retain" that amount. Don't allow yourself to be "bullied" into paying more than what is fair. Keep daily logs. Include date, weather conditions, how many workers were on site, which subs were on site, what work was performed, and what materials were delivered. Take "progress photos". Have the contractor sign "Partial Lien Waivers" in exchange for every payment. Don't "piss" the contractor off, unless you don't want him back. And despite responses which recommend only using "licensed" contractors... New Jersey only requires licenses for electricians, plumbers and Home Builders. "Remodeling" contractors are often required to purchase a "permit" to conduct business in certain municipalities, but these permits are not certificates of qualifications. And as for using only licensed contractors... California and many other states require that remodeling contractors be licensed. But check the California Consumer Complaint Division. There are plenty of complaints against remodeling contractors. Good Luck!!!
#30
Wed, November 21, 2001
They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report: Their email: [email protected] Their name: Adolph Their relationship to the company: Consumer Suggestion Rebuttal: FYI, "Mrs. A", not all cities license contractors. I live in a small to mid size N. IN town and there's no such licensing in this town. Electricians and plumbers, yes. Contractors, no. I had to take a local contractor to small claims court to settle a problem with the a$hole.(I prevailed!) I was compelled to fire him very soon into the job for unbelievably shoddy work and an argumentative, combative attitude. This SAME contractor does thousands of dollars worth of work for the city through the (city) building department annually. Go figure! I take issue with your blanket statement "you get what you pay for" as you insinuate that a licensed contractor would have [1]Charged more [2]Completed the job in a satisfactory manner. With the information given in the original post one can hardly make a judgement call on whether the job was priced correctly. 8.7K in two checks? Were more due? Give Mr. Anoynomous homeowner the benefit of the doubt, will you? Hiring a contractor for any kind of home remodeling, repairs or construction is one big crap shoot. I am a retired contractor myself, and in spite of conducting what I considered to be sufficient investigation, I nearly got screwed. I have had two issues successfully settled in small claims court: One with America Online and one with the local butthole contractor. $35.00 goes a long way in small claims court, and I've proven you can get 'em all, the big Corp. and the small time local swindler. More people should avail themselves of this "do-it-yourself" el- cheapo litigation. No lawyers, hardly any money ($35.00 here), and very satisfying!
#40
Wed, November 21, 2001
They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report: Their email: [email protected] Their name: Adolph Their relationship to the company: Consumer Suggestion Rebuttal: FYI, "Mrs. A", not all cities license contractors. I live in a small to mid size N. IN town and there's no such licensing in this town. Electricians and plumbers, yes. Contractors, no. I had to take a local contractor to small claims court to settle a problem with the a$hole.(I prevailed!) I was compelled to fire him very soon into the job for unbelievably shoddy work and an argumentative, combative attitude. This SAME contractor does thousands of dollars worth of work for the city through the (city) building department annually. Go figure! I take issue with your blanket statement "you get what you pay for" as you insinuate that a licensed contractor would have [1]Charged more [2]Completed the job in a satisfactory manner. With the information given in the original post one can hardly make a judgement call on whether the job was priced correctly. 8.7K in two checks? Were more due? Give Mr. Anoynomous homeowner the benefit of the doubt, will you? Hiring a contractor for any kind of home remodeling, repairs or construction is one big crap shoot. I am a retired contractor myself, and in spite of conducting what I considered to be sufficient investigation, I nearly got screwed. I have had two issues successfully settled in small claims court: One with America Online and one with the local butthole contractor. $35.00 goes a long way in small claims court, and I've proven you can get 'em all, the big Corp. and the small time local swindler. More people should avail themselves of this "do-it-yourself" el- cheapo litigation. No lawyers, hardly any money ($35.00 here), and very satisfying!
#50
Wed, November 21, 2001
They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report: Their email: [email protected] Their name: Adolph Their relationship to the company: Consumer Suggestion Rebuttal: FYI, "Mrs. A", not all cities license contractors. I live in a small to mid size N. IN town and there's no such licensing in this town. Electricians and plumbers, yes. Contractors, no. I had to take a local contractor to small claims court to settle a problem with the a$hole.(I prevailed!) I was compelled to fire him very soon into the job for unbelievably shoddy work and an argumentative, combative attitude. This SAME contractor does thousands of dollars worth of work for the city through the (city) building department annually. Go figure! I take issue with your blanket statement "you get what you pay for" as you insinuate that a licensed contractor would have [1]Charged more [2]Completed the job in a satisfactory manner. With the information given in the original post one can hardly make a judgement call on whether the job was priced correctly. 8.7K in two checks? Were more due? Give Mr. Anoynomous homeowner the benefit of the doubt, will you? Hiring a contractor for any kind of home remodeling, repairs or construction is one big crap shoot. I am a retired contractor myself, and in spite of conducting what I considered to be sufficient investigation, I nearly got screwed. I have had two issues successfully settled in small claims court: One with America Online and one with the local butthole contractor. $35.00 goes a long way in small claims court, and I've proven you can get 'em all, the big Corp. and the small time local swindler. More people should avail themselves of this "do-it-yourself" el- cheapo litigation. No lawyers, hardly any money ($35.00 here), and very satisfying!
#60
Wed, November 21, 2001
They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report:
Their email: [email protected]
Their name: The Fraud Chick
Their relationship to the company: Advocate
Rebuttal:
Call Mighty Joe Young and leave a voicemail message that you intend to file a report with the prosecutor's office for Theft by Deception. Do not be obnoxious when leaving the message. It should be in a very polite and professional tone--something to the effect of "You've left me no choice...I believe you intended to take my money and provide me no service...and so on."
Go to your nearest prosecutor's office and file complaint. If your prosecutor's office requires you to go through the PD then have an officer come to your house and make the formal complaint. Do not let them deter you by saying this is a civil matter. Of course it can be...tell them you agree, but that ALL CHANGED when he took the contract and refused to return it. It's now a criminal act of theft since there is no contract.
This man stole your money and it's a felony theft. It's a flim
flam...bunco...fraud.
Good Luck
The Fraud Chick
#70
Tue, November 20, 2001
This email is a rebuttal to RipOff #7909.
It was sent by Mrs. A at [email protected].
Mighty Joe Young Contruction Co. Absolute con artist thief (#7909)
They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report:
Their email: [email protected]
Their name: Mrs. A
Their relationship to the company: Consumer Suggestion
Rebuttal:
If Joe Young is a licensed contractor, contact the licensing
agency/building department in your area and ask about how to file an official complaint against a licensed contractor. If he's not a licensed contractor, well, you get what you pay for. Always hire licensed contractors; otherwise, open a window and toss your money out--it's just about the same, unless you find one good fish in a sea of sharks.