It was all good up until the very last minute when the owner, Ed (Cell number 631-445-1124) became a caveman with me on the phone. He was not on the jobsite but to drop materials. His workers were great. His son was nice. (He also wasn't on the job)
With the weather being inclement, it wasn't clear whether they would finish today but they came and finished the small job. 1 day and a couple of hours. New front gutter and soffit and such. We agreed on price. All was good and then when they were finished I told the worker that I could give him a check made out to cash, or I can get him the actual cash when my wife got home from work tonight because I didn't know they would be there today and didn't keep over 2 grand on hand at the house. Not unreasonable. He called the office to let Ed know and put him on the phone with me.
In a nutshell, he demanded that I write him a check for $120. more than agreed upon because it wasn't cash. I said that I would make it out to cash for the original amount but he insisted that it's not cash and I can call the IRS if I needed to verify that. All aggressive by the way. You don't say sh*t like that sweetly. I then said that's fine I will have the actual cash on hand after 6:30 tonight and you can stop by and pick it up. He told me he has a god damn life too and he will not be coming to pick it up tonight. I said fine, and he told me to go to the bank now and get cash and he will be showing up shortly for it. I said I don't have that ability to go to the bank at your demand just to get you cash instantly. He was completely unreasonable. I then told him to knock his sh*t off.
I even offered to give him a deposit a few weeks ago so that his materials and such would be covered. He said that wasn't necessary, but apparently losing a customer and bad mouthing me was necessary?! And what's weird is everything went nicely. No issues. I had pen in hand to write the check, and also said when my wife came home she would have the cash ready for him as early as 6:30. Why would someone like that allow themselves to become unhinged when you finished all the work and now you're just needing to get paid from a happy customer? In my opinion, he had a roid rage episode. Total neanderthal with me. Completely unreasonable and aggressive.
And I fed his workers lunch and gave them a tip. They also had music, and private bathroom access because it's all the right thing to do.
With him demanding cash, and telling me he will not be coming by to pick it up and demanded I drop it off to him so as to not inconvenience him, we settled that he would be back in the morning to pick up the cash. We hung up the phone and minutes after that, his worker came back and told him to get the check from me anyway in the original amount! So what the f**k was all that about! I wrote the check and they left.
So with that horseh*t strong arm tactic by some piece of crap ookamagook, I DO NOT recommend his company at all!
P.S. After I paid the worker I then texted Ed to let him know my thoughts on his treatment with me. I wasn't kind and deservingly so. Here's what I sent him:
"Your son was very nice.
Your workers were great. I fed them and tipped them.
But you ended up being a fu***** ***k! A bag of douche.
You were recommended by a local Patchogue business owner. I will convey my story of your ill behavior with me as well as bad mouth you wherever you or the topic of gutters comes up.
I hope that makes you proud.
Our family is building a new home on Weeks Ave this summer. I know tons of people. You just never know who your audience will be.
F*** off."
Then after about 20 minutes when the check was already written and given to the worker and gone, I see on my security system that a van pulled into my driveway. When I checked I could see it was Ed in his work van. He then came to the front door and pounded aggressively on it. I was working in the basement and never heard anything until I checked the cameras.
Why would someone, who just got paid for the job and was finished, come back and aggressively knock on doors and windows around the house, and wait in the driveway about an additional 30 minutes? Why? Why? It certainly wasn't to apologize. You have a customer whom you just berated on the phone and who expressed how pissed they were at you for doing such. And after I sent that text message to him he arrived at my door! Why?
I'm pretty sure it wasn't to say howdy, just checking to see if you are a happy customer. He sat here just waiting to confront me. And after he was paid! How would that have played out had I answered the door? Not good, I'm guessing.
With that, I texted him back once more to let him know that he had no further business here and to leave the property. Here is that text:
"I was notified by my system that a vehicle was in the driveway.
When I checked the cameras I can see it was you.
You are duly warned to keep off of the property. You are not welcome here any longer..." read more