I am the sole care giver for two medically fragile individuals: my brother who is a non ambulatory,…read moredisabled autistic adult and my father in home hospice who has stage 4 cancer. I am a 35 year old transgender woman navigating the damage and repairs after we had after a water pipe burst upstairs in our family home during early February.
Up until today, the folks sent by Servpro have been solid, but this morning I was contacted by one of their subcontractors (Gregory Starling, from "Just One More LLC") who called and brought up their vote and politics for Donald Trump, unsolicited. He explicitly said he supports Trump, "for his business," which was shocking and disheartening: every one in my house is under attack by the Trump administration. From hospice care, to Medicaid funding, to my healthcare and legal rights to housing and employment. It's not a casual or welcome conversation to bring up Trump while we should be discussing material selections.
I told Greg I did not think we could move forward with him because my family does not support politically fascist business; my grandfather fought in WW2 against the Nazi's and would turn in his grave. Then I got a call from the Project Manager, Justin. Justin explained Servpro's policies about not bringing up race, religion, politics, gender, etc. and we agreed that business (let alone delicate repair work in ones home) is not the place to discuss politics. He also told me there was no one else who could step in without adjusting the timeline, so I told him I wouldn't be 100% comfortable but that I can suck it up and work with Greg so long as he doesn't bring up politics again; the medical transport was already on the road coming to relocate my sick father during planned demolition tomorrow. My family is desperate and its been months of delays and I did not realize Greg would be the only option. So, I reconsidered and was willing to move forward after Justin reassured me there was a whole diverse team at Servpro... and it didn't seem right to blame the whole team for Greg's unsolicited political views.
Then I got a phone call from the Servpro of Virginia Beach General Manager, Mr. Jason Cheracles.
Mr. Cheracles was upset, if not offended himself, telling me at one point I am "what's wrong with this country" and informing me they would be "canceling the contract" and issuing a refund. I implored him to reconsider or reschedule, I even offered an apology for any offense and explanation that none of this would have happened if Greg didn't bring up politics and make it explicitly about his business. I understand that Greg's politics reflect on him, and if he so chooses, his business. That's his right, it is America after all. But I was shocked to see Servpro take the side of a subcontractor that violated their own policies against bringing up politics to homeowners. I was blamed and punished for Greg's violation of policy and trust, even after I was willing to set aside differences. Greg and Jason were the ones unwilling to reconcile difference or move forward. As shameful as it is: I begged. Jason told me there was no way to reschedule or work with anyone else either; that Servpro had other subcontractors but that he knew none of them would want to work with me.
If you have an emergency, do not hesitate to call Servpro as they are a vital service. They employ A LOT of people, many great folks. Justin, for example. But when it comes to repair work and their subcontractors: beware. If they bring up their politics to homeowners and the homeowner bulks... this Servpro will not apologize, try to find a solution, or work with you... they will blame the homeowner and leave them with a broken house and the yellow pages. Even if the homeowner is disabled on their deathbed.
I probably shouldn't have taken issue only to be willing to work it out afterwards, but I shouldn't have had to deal with politics *at all* and I am desperate to get our home put back together. Mr. Cheracles and Greg do not care about that desperate need. So, we will find another contractor.