I started out wanting to give Jeff the benefit of the doubt given that he has a lot of positive reviews as well as some very negative ones. I chalked the negative reviews up to just people who like to complain and decided to give Jeff a call.
On the phone, he seemed very knowledgable and friendly and I thought he would be the perfect guy to help, so we set up an appointment for him to come and do some masonry repair on my fireplace, install a chimney cap and possibly convert a fireplace to fire glass. Jeff was prompt at confirming the date and answering questions via text. He set an appointment window for today between 11:30am - 12:00pm. Jeff even confirmed the night before.
Again, everything seemed good.
At 12:00pm today, the end of the window he had given to arrive, Jeff texted and said he would be another 30 minutes because he was finishing up another job. I said "no problem" and thanked him for letting me know that he was running late.
At 1:15pm, he still hasn't arrived and I haven't heard anything else so I tried to call and check by phone. Jeff didn't answer so I asked him via text for an update on his ETA. About 10 minutes later I get a text from an unknown number saying that I have been rescheduled for Saturday. No call from anyone, no explanation, no "hey dude I'm sorry but do you mind if we reschedule?". Just a text informing me that we have been rescheduled to a date when I am out of town.
Needless to say I am a bit perturbed given that I've taken off work and stayed home all morning to be here for this appointment. I ask Rene(sp?), who apparently works for Jeff and who sent me the text about rescheduling, to call me. Rene calls a few minutes later and mumbles something incoherent about not really knowing what the reason is but I had to be rescheduled. I replied that it was not cool to do that to someone who had been waiting all morning and who had confirmed the night prior, especially without an explanation or attempt at an apology. Again, more incoherent mumbling from Rene so I asked her to have Jeff call me.
I never received the call from Jeff, the "Proud owner of A-1 Chimney Service since 1989" so I sent him a text telling him I was disappointed that he never showed up and didn't even bother to call to explain, after confirming last night and telling me he was on his way to my home today.
About 2 hours later I get a rude text from Jeff saying his secretary was supposed to call me...well, she didn't call. She just sent a text informing me I had been rescheduled. He mentioned about some debris getting in his eyes and then writes to me "What part of this do you not understand?"
Really???... to not show, not call, not text, not offer an explanation other than having your secretary send a text that I've been rescheduled and then cop an attitude about me not understanding something he assumes his secretary told me. No wonder he has some really negative reviews. Jeff, I think there is something called "customer service" and consideration that YOU don't understand. I informed Jeff that his secretary didn't explain anything, just sent the rescheduling text. I also informed him I didn't need his help any longer and will be looking elsewhere. I wished him luck and said I was moving on.
Buyer beware, if you catch Jeff on a good day he might do a good job for you but if not, you may be waiting around all morning like I did, with nothing but a bad attitude from the proud owner of A-1 Chimney Service, when he's asked to explain why he didn't show up as promised. My advice - STEER CLEAR! read more