HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE: First, let's start with the timeline. My new commercial space required some floor work. Our plan was simple, we need 3 small rooms carpet/glue removal, and 1600 SQ ft of cement sanded with crack repairs & scores filled. We were told that they could "be in tonight as it'll only take a couple of hours to remove the carpet and the next day they can have it sanded and glue removed, with epoxy being poured on day 3."
We had discussed payment terms of 50% up front & 50% upon completion. His estimate was rife with errors, contradictory payment terms, vague terminology, and was addressed to a non-signatory of the organization. Of course, the original start date was immediately missed.
At 8:43 the next business morning, (already delayed) start date he promised. 10-11am window for arrival was provided via text.
8:43, he texted that he's on the road already. "I have 4 guys today and commercial wheel Diamond blade."
I waited until 8pm and they never showed up. He told me they were around the corner twice, getting lunch twice, at two different times, 4 hours or so apart. They also never showed. Instead, one guy showed up and asked when they were supposed to start demo, he had no idea, was not yet even contracted by the GC and was given the key. Out of suspicion, I sat around and waited trying to figure out what was going on. Soon after another guy comes and was told to leave the key outside in a bush for the contractors. Now I thought it was entirely necessary that I attend during all hours of this project.
Where is the diamond sander? He had rented the wrong machine, a tile remover, which can be used for glue but is not recommended as it can damage cement and it sure did, there are gaping holes all over the floor that we now have to pay to have fixed.
Now he begins claiming we didn't pay him, even though his own software has invoiced records of payments received for over 50% of the cost (pictures above). With this came threats of extra fees, he would claim the other sub contractors demanded more money to do the work we already agreed upon, threatened to cancel people on site - which he actually did because our co. refused to pay an additional 35%, and for hidden fees of cracks filled, both of which were promised in his estimate. We were 5 days behind schedule, and not obligated to pay anything else until epoxy was poured. Plus, he hadn't removed the carpet yet because he had intentionally kept the subcontractors off site to cause delays and scheme for additional payments. 11 days after the promised start date & my wife & I are removing the glue.
After speaking with the subcontractors myself, who the GC claimed no showed us, they claimed the GC never paid them in full & told them we were behind on payment. Even though he had $6500 sent to him already. All together, they worked about 8 hours, a crew of 4 never showed - it was 1 guy doing most of the work himself and the GC never once came to the job site once he received his 50% deposit.
I am sure you can do the math of what's going on here. I talked to both of the "no showing" crews, they both said he wouldn't pay & cancelled them, even during the shift.
Also, beware that he misrepresents being a licensed GC with the state of Texas, I believe this is untrue, his GC license appears to be for California. I also noticed that his response to all of his negative reviews is that he's a new owner, but his social media claims he has owned it since long before the negative reviews.
UPDATE: Contractor went behind our backs in attempt to pull the landlord into the mix. Our landlord is a church, they asked us to give him one more chance to resolve this issue, which we reluctantly accepted. This was contingent on a Wednesday completion. Of course, he repeated the same behavior.
Per TX State Law I have demanded proof that my funds remain in the authorized contractor bank account &
evidence of how the funds are being used. To this date I have not received proof. He sent one $3000 payment out, which he did for records and proceeded to have the subcontractor return.
His response to the comment is a blatant lie. I received the first quote this month, after I first met him. Not to mention, it doesn't matter when a quote is sent, it matters only what was agreed upon. Which he failed to properly engage. When I have more time, I will post more photos of our conversations and other evidence I am keeping close to heart for the coming days.
EDIT: His response is a lie - I never met nor talked to this guy until the day before the job was supposed to start, which was the same day I received the estimate. That said, even if he did send an estimate 3 months prior, it would be irrelevant - that was a never agreed upon job, it would have been simply an estimate. I signed it just before job start and he failed to complete, period. Irrelevant anyway, considering we never received an estimate 3 months prior. In fact, we didn't have a lease until mid February (1 mo) read more