Comments on: Unhappy with a Company’s Work

By: One Frugal Girl

One Frugal Girl — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 02:46:07 +0000

I appreciate all of the comments and I'm so sorry to hear about all of your own problems with contractors.

@spaghetti0625 and Vivienne - Your stories sound especially painful!

I did contact the company and explain that I expect to see a good deal of money come off the total. The ball is in their court for now, so I'll just have to wait and see what they come back with.

By: Kayla

Kayla — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:47:33 +0000

Sounds frustrating! Reminds me of when we were getting our house built. We didn't realize how cheap the builders were until after we moved in…4 years later and we're still encountering problems!

By: spaghetti0625

spaghetti0625 — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:31:34 +0000

I would definately call the company back and ask to speak to someone (a manager type or something) and explain, in detail, what happened. Follow up with pictures.
If this is legitimate business, they do not want any bad word of mouth, b/c their best advertisements are their happy customers.
For the most part, the people that do the work know nothing of what may have been promised. I went through that last summer with my condo when they took my ceiling down. they cut a hole in the ceiling, the refused to do the rest where there was water damage. When they finished the first hole and repainted, it looked like garbage. I complained to my association and the contractor (owner) called me back and I told him that I was unhappy and wanted it done right. He was more then happy to get it done right b/c our condo association wanted to do more work with this people and he knew that's a big ticket item and didn't want me to complain so we'd get new contractors in to do other work. When they came back out to do the second hole (there WAS more water damage...idiots) and to redo the first one, work got stopped for well over a month b/c they didn't have permits and someone in my complex ratted them out to the borough. So they had to stop work immediately which left a huge hole in my ceiling and 2 by 4s holding up the ceiling b/c they had taken studs out (or whatever they were called). How does a large company like theirs NOT know they needed permits? AND we had the engineering firm for our assocation watching the work as well...NOBODY thought to get a permit? PLEASE! OH I hooted and hollered (my living room was inhabitable) and we no longer use this company.
Granted, I didn't pay for it (the association did) so I didn't have much leg to stand on, but I let my opinion of these so called awesome contractors be known.
HOWEVER, I must stay that the actual workers were VERY polite and ALWAYS cleaned up...even messes that were probably my own and not theirs, they cleaned it up, each and every day. And they always asked to use the bathroom. My mom was there a lot b/c I couldn't take that much time off work (if I did, I would have had to have taken about 3-4 weeks off work just for this!) but even she said, each time they had to go, they would ask. I'm a big germaphobe, so when I was home and htey went in to the bathroom, I scrubbed...but I kept telling them, if you have to go, go...you don't have to ask, but they insisted...so that was the ONLY nice part about it all.
I wish you the best to get it all sorted out! Especially the door....what kind of company makes doors that aren't legit? Geesh!

By: MyATM

MyATM — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:33:30 +0000

I have encountered similar case but I immediately talked to the company and asked for credit or discount for the damages to my property. But I think you can still ask for discount.

By: singledebt

singledebt — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 09:33:46 +0000

So far I've had contractor work that ranged from great to just ok. Each time, even the great one, was not what I was told. Always get every detail in writing. Most contractors hate doing that, but if they want your work they will. If they won't move on to another one. Always get three or more bids, check the BBB and just generally ask around. Check to see if they sub-contract their work, if you just ask, they will always say the guys work for them. If you can ask to meet with the guy who will be in charge on site when your job is done. Make sure he is the one that shows up and always be there, ask questions, and if they are not doing something you thought they would point it out. Be the customer they hate, not because your rude but because your nosy.

By: Vivienne

Vivienne — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 06:42:06 +0000

I guess it depends what the Trade Practices Act in your area states. In Australia, what is signed for must be what is delivered and it must be able to do the job specified in the brief. If not, don't pay until satisfied with work/product. OR the supplier must supply replacement goods that do do the job. If there are further problems we have the Small Claims Tribunal or the Ombudsman to contact.

I have received completely new paint/varnish to replace stuff I was sold that didn't do the job. AND I've had my front fence replaced 7 (yes, seven) times in one month, as I kept saying: this does not meet my original brief, I've not changed my brief, you need to fix it. (ie, rotten wood, wrong height, wrong style of palings, fence bending, gates too large and fixed in the wrong place).

That being said, and regards to your door, the old adage: buyer beware. Unless there is a govt regulation stating about mail slots - there would be no need for a manufacturer to meet that need. Especially if you are buying from a reseller/importer.

The issue about the bars on the windows should not be your fault. The contractor should stand by their original discussion and take all necessary steps to put the original bars back on. I hope you had this written in your brief or contract. Again, check the terms of your contract with them. There is usually a loophole for unforeseen problems that is in their favour.

Goodluck!