Complaint Review: Waterworks Repair Ben Holcomb - Lewisville Texas

I expected this type of response from Waterworks. Below you will find the email that was sent from the buyers of my boat to Waterworks repair just days after picking it up. They tell there version of what happened. Pretty interesting comments by people who according to Waterworks said "I am shady". Interesting how the last comment by Waterworks says people like me get what they deserve in the end. Or maybe that was a typo and they were reffering to themselves. ****************************************************** To: Waterworks repair Owner: Ben Holcomb To: Dennis, Marine Surveyor To: Nick Judah: Seller of 2005 Crownline 202 LPX I first wanted to start off and say that I am a very cautious individual, and have always had to make for sure that things were perfect before proceeding with any project, any work detail, or in this case any purchase of a large item such as a boat. Being that I was involved in a project at work that gave me limited time to communicate, I authorized my wife to speak on my behalf to all three parties represented above. I believe she logged over 60 e-mails with Nick, and countless telephone calls with each of you. We did agree that it would be best to pay Dennis for the Marine survey and feel that he accurately described the boat and did his best to represent any problems that the boat might have. In the survey there was mention of several places where minor damage had caused scratches in the boats gelcoat, which Nick agreed to have taken out for us by waterworks who he had heard was the best in the business. I believe Dennis also vouched for the competency and professionalism of waterworks repair. In the phone calls with waterworks it was conveyed by Ben, Kurt, and everyone else that there was absolutely no problem in the refinishing and detailing of the boat, finding the noise that Dennis outlined in his report, fixing that noise, replacing the flag decals on the side of the boat, and having the boat ready to go by the time I arrived after a 14 hour drive one way. The boat was also supposed to be winterized for the North, being that I was taking it North of Texas to below freezing temps for the remainder of the Winter. A few days before I left, Waterworks did express some concern after sending Nick the Bill, and Nick saying that he felt like he was being overcharged and would not pay the whole amount over discrepancies he found in bill. Not personally knowing Nick or anyone involved it was getting a little hard for us to determine what the facts were involving the issues with the boat, the work the waterworks agreed to do for Nick, and the winterization that they were supposed to do for us. My wife called me several hours before I drove into Dallas and said that Waterworks assured us that the boat was ready to be picked up. and that they had overnighted the flags, the winterization was done and the detail job was finished. The only thing I thought they had left was putting the flags on, as in one conversation it was said the boat had to be clean before the flags were put on. When I arrived at waterworks 14 hours into a trip that had seen more rain and wind that I could stand, I anxiously awaited to see a boat that was cleaned and ready to hook up and bring home. Instead I got a greeting that you would not wish on your worst enemy. Please know that I work for a company that has over 70 worldwide offices, and we do business with 177 different countries in over 70 languages. For the 12 years I've worked with this company, I've learned something that I feel extremely strong about. Honesty and communication are the most important things in situations like these and the key to a successful business. They are imperative in any matter dealing with anything, and something that I feel Waterworks needs a great deal of help with. I understand the fact that Waterworks wanted paid, but they should have never allowed me to set a date to pick the boat up if they thought Nick not paying the bill would be a problem and that they were not going to let me pick the boat up without it being paid. When I arrived Ben nervously spoke to me, knowing that I wasn't going to be happy to hear him say for the first time that the boat couldn't leave without the bill being paid. I asked to see the boat and this is where bad dealings got worse. Now, I'm familiar with body work, and body repair shops - mostly in the auto industry being that my dad owned service stations and body shops throughout my life growing up with him, but in all my life I've never witnessed a person in this profession to straight up lie to a complete stranger standing face to face. The boat had not been touched and was in a state of disrepair. My kids are 8 years old and 5 years old and could have done a better job with a hose and bar of ivory soap. The flag decals were not on the boat, the inside had not been touched, the trailer had not been touched, and to top it all off, the covers were off and I watched them take the drain plug out and water drain from the boat for at least 3 or 4 full minutes with the bilge on. One of the guys (I assume hourly workers) said they left it outside uncovered and it had rained for two days straight there. You could tell this place was pretty much a very good location, a very nice faade, but on the inside, the worst and mismanaged place of business I've ever seen in my life. The lady that was there, basically denied all statements to my wife that we could pick the boat up, which basically said that my wife told me lies and sent me 900 miles on a trip for nothing. The worst part about this, is that I had to humble my pride and do everything short of crying and getting down on my knees to be the middleman between Nick and Ben, to lighten the load on the bill so that Nick could pay it with his credit card and I could spend the next 3 hours watching a circus act of a business put up a front as if they are competent and worthy to actually call themselves a decent company who deserves a little respect. Ben actually offered me a beer and gave everyone working there one as well before they started. I don't drink, personally, I went to college, lived that lifestyle in a dorm room with 120 football players and that's where I believe that belongs, not in a place of business during work hours, or even after when a first time customer is present and a witness. I watched in amazement, how Ben sat there and cussed at his hourly workers and blamed his own shortfalls on them, all the while I was smiling outwardly and praying that the Lord was going to help me out of this nightmarish ordeal. When I went to leave they couldn't find the poles for the mooring cover that came with the boat and I had to wait another 30 minutes for them to find some sort of junky replacement that doesn't even fit. I left without both poles that came with the boat because (they were probably just too drunk and too lazy to even know where they put them). 3 or 4 hours of witnessing this ultimate act of disrespect and I had to leave. I hooked up the boat and left, and I really hope that I never will run across another business like waterworks. In my experience they are at the very top of a short list of businesses and people that I would never recommend anyone to have any dealings with whatsoever. I actually applaud Nick Judah for paying what he did to appease the situation, and I do not blame him for not wanting to pay 4 hours of labor for something I witnessed to only take 30 minutes or for any other discrepancies that he has with the bill. Simply put, waterworks ripped him out of a lot of money. Nick paid for services that were never performed and I have the pictures to prove it. I will be writing letters to the BBB, Ripoff report, and also to any local Lewisville, Dallas publications until my voice is heard and published throughout the region on how waterworks ripped Nick and deceived me into a web of lies that contradict what a business in this day and time should stand for, which is honesty and good morals, values, and communications. Given the economy and how the boat industry is taking such a huge hit in sales and service, I don't think it has occurred to the managers of waterworks that good business promotes growth and bad business that has involved a boat surveyor, a boat seller, and a boat buyer has greatly lessened your chance to make it in a failing market for your line of work. I have contacted my attorney for his council on any further pursuance of this matter with waterworks, and should you (waterworks) hear from him, I can only hope that your represented as well as I am. Sincerely, Ronald E P.S. Was the boat fully winterized? I would hate for you to be liable for a cracked block. Please get back to me as soon as possible.

To all that have read or will read the report made on this site by Nick Judah (unauthorized repairs), you need to know the WHOLE truth regarding this situation. First as far as the family that purchased the boat from Nick, every step of the way with him was a scam for this family. The new owner of the boat reported many shady acts on Nick's part when they were trying to buy the boat from their home in Indiana. Our dealing's with Nick were just as shady. Nick was informed many times of the exact amount of his bill, and that everytime he called and added more repairs, that the price would go up! When requesting that the boat be water tested, he felt we should not charge for that, and that we should send our people to the lake for over an hour to lake test for free...his phrase was as a "courtsey". As far as the customer left standing waiting for the boat to be completed, I personally spoke to his wife numerous times to inform her that the owner"Nick Judah" had not paid his bill, and do not make the trip to Tx until it is worked out with Nick because the boat WILL NOT leave the premises until the bill is paid in full. Again Nick lied to them and told them it was completly taken care of. Th "new" owner was quite angry, as you can imagion because he had made the trip and was told all was good! We had to call the Lewisville Police to calm him down and also make him understand that the boat will not leave without payment. The Officier, like ourselves, felt extremely sorry for the folks from Indiana, and how they had been so mistreated by Nick Judah, all the way up until they showed up here in Tx. Also, the amount he sold this boat to these people was just a total "rip off". Nick took advantage of these people! I quess we should have expected no different in our dealings with him. The boating repair industry, such as Marine Max and a few more are relived that he is no longer a boat owner. Each of them have had very similar experiences with him!! They told us "Do Not Deal" with person, we would be sorry if we did....guess it's a lesson learned. The reason he worked with us in the first place was because no one else will deal with him! In this experience, we lost over $1000.00 in revenue, but the people that lost the most were the people from Indiana that trusted Nick Judah. As far as our reputation, we only were able to aquire this facility here at the Pier 121 Marina because we do have a solid standing in the boating community. A thourough back ground check was done by Marina's International. Had any negative issues come up, we would not be here in this location! As a company that has been in business for over 15 years, we have many satisfied customers, including national accounts that we have done business with for many years. Now, ask yourself this question....a company that has grown from first doing business out of a garage, to a company now located at one of the top Marina's in the state of Texas, does that sound like a business that does shoddy work, or no customer service? I THINK NOT!! Ask around...we are not the best...but we are one of the best here in North Texas! P.S. As far as the "beer" issue....my people stayed here well past 8:00pm on a friday night to assist this man from Indiana in getting his boat! If nothing else, the good thing in life is people like Nick Judah...get exactly what they deserve in "the end!!" Thanks for listening! Have a great Day