Complaint Review: Patrick Richard Beals APA Fencing 2016 - Ione California

Please read this message! Patrick Richard Beals, currently of Ione CA, is a liar and thief.

Patrick said he could install ranch style fencing to contain my small twenty pound dogs. He showed me a photo (most likely of someone else's  work), and it looked good to me. After "walking" the property measured by his feet, he proceeded to give me an estimate of cost for 140 feet of fencing. No tape measure, no calculator, no paper and pen. He then said it will be $1500 in materials and $2000 for labor.

That same day after I agreed to his estimate, he insisted on $1500 to start the job. He called my house 3-4 times wanting to know when he could get the deposit.  After I got the deposit for him, he wanted me to drive 10 miles to town to give it to him. I thought that to be weird and lazy. I said no. He arrived at my country home about 4pm with two workers. Patrick said he'd be at my house in the morning to start the job. He showed up at 4pm the next day. He set 15 4x4 redwood posts. Initially, it looked good. Posts were set. Day #2,  he didn't arrive until after 10am when he said he would be here at 8am. When they arrived, he brought water and beer to drink while working. Patrick's two men, Chris, 37yo, and Jesse, maybe 29, worked hard while Patrick mostly sat around huffing and puffing. It's hard for overweight people to work in the heat. He must weigh about 280. 

Patrick was to use redwood and 12 gauge ranch wire by five feet.  Patrick Beals used 14gauge wire  by 4 feet which only costs $150 for 330 feet. Patrick said it cost more. Right! Check the internet. False! Patrick used cheaper materials and lied about it. I have the tags from the wire. How stupid is that?

Patrick claims he spent $1800 in fence material. Not true, especially when he switched to Douglas fir, untreated wood, when I asked if it was treated and he said YES!  He then used bad screws and Douglas fir instead of redwood to be consistent.

 The original estimate was for 140 feet but he was giving me one half the space that I asked for. It took Patrick a long time to understand how I wanted my fencing. After three discussions, he still got it wrong. When he started the first fence post, it was in the wrong place. I asked him what he was doing and he stared at me blankly like he still didn't understand where I wanted my fence. The worker, Chris, got it and finally explained the design to Patrick . Patrick then said it's two times bigger so he wants twice as much for materials, now $3000. He didn't purchase any more material and when purchased was inappropriate material of substandard use for fencing. Wood that is untreated and will rot in rain, etc.

The job after three days was still not complete but wanted the money while he left his guys here to "finish up."

Being excited that this was going to be finished and since it was 99 degrees outside, I wasn't out watching everything. There was my blind trust.

I gave Patrick the balance for the job. He took it all to his bank. When he returned, the guys weren't able to complete it and Patrick said he would comeback next week. That was over ten days later before finally returned. The charge for the job was $5000.

The job looks worse than diy. I could do better. At least I would use a tape measure and a saw.

Patrick may have spent about $500-600 in materials before switching to substandard materials. Asking $3000 for materials was too much.

My dogs got out numerous times due to Patrick's incompetence. When he finally returned ten days later to close off areas where my dogs were repeatedly getting out, he brought used wood when I asked for new redwood. Patrick  then brought in USED fence boards to close up areas where my little dogs were getting out. Did Patrick think that used lumber was what I wanted?

The district attorney of Amador county and the Contractor License State Board are involved in this investigation and case on Patrick Richard Beals of Ione CA. Patrick can be found frequently at Tilly's Bar in downtown Ione having food and libations.

Feel free to meet and greet him to congratulate him on shitty work for a lot of money and being good at ripping people off!

Patrick Richard Beals offers a false contractor's license.