Do not use Epic Energies (www.ThinkEpic.com). They are fine to work with when things go well, but…read moreas soon as problems occur, they are evasive, they lie to you, or just give you the silent treatment. They do not stand behind the quality of their work, or their warrantees, and really, they are thieves.
We hired Epic to do a large job (our new-to-us house was a bit of a teardown). They were to replace the roof, the windows, the missing stucco on half the house, and install solar. All this was financed through the PACE program.
As part of the project, they originally planned to move our electrical box from the front of the house to the back. This was a $4300 item, small in the scheme of things, but important in the end.
Beware the estimate these people give you. They did not come in on budget for any single item.
First they replaced the windows, a project they subbed out to Good News Remodeling. Good News gets five stars from us. They were prompt and kept in constant contact with us, and installed in two days. Unfortunately, Epic demanded more money for the windows than they original estimated, because we live in a high fire area, and they quoted us for standard windows.
Next they did the roof. Again, they came back to us for more money, because there were three layers of roofing that needed to be removed, instead of just one. Despite this, we were pleased with the work.
Then they started on the solar. This went smoothly, at first. It was at this point that they determined that they would not need to move the electrical box for code. Instead, they said would build some structure that would hide the electrical box. So they did not remove the item from our contract.
However, they could not install the solar electrical equipment until the stucco was finished.
This is when things started going badly. The first day the stucco guys showed up and did a skim coat on the first wall. But then they disappeared. They didn't show up for a week, without explanation. Jeri in Epic's scheduling department couldn't seem to tell us where they were or when they would come back. Eventually, Max, our sales rep, told us they would need more money. They refused to do anything about the electrical box.
During this time, Max went through some family issues, and was generally not available to deal with all the myriad problems with the stucco guys. When he got back, he was very anxious about completing the work before the end of the year, or more accurately, he wanted me to sign off on the job before it was completed, so that he could get paid.
Epic submitted the completion documents just as soon as the solar was hooked up. But they submitted it for the wrong amount. So I spoke with Max about this. He told me that they will just give us a rebate for the $4300 so that we could hire someone to disguise the hideous electrical box. Max claimed he has a contractor who would do that for me. (Turns out, he didn't).
So we signed the documents. After about a month, I asked why we hadn't gotten our rebate yet. Max told me I wasn't due a rebate. But after a bit of arguing, Max remembered our conversation about the rebate, and that I am correct. I start waiting for my check again.
Another month passes. On March 5th, Max texts that Epic had prepared the rebate and that they will process the check.
On March 19th I ask again. Now I'm told that Parker Daniels had prepared the documents. Must be my fault. I should check in my junk mail.
On March 22nd, Parker Daniels finally sends the document.
On April 13th, still no check. Max texts on the 16th that it is going to be sent.
On April 23rd, I contact Max again. Still no check. I call Epic directly. I'm told to discuss it with Max.
As all this is going on, the stucco begins to crack. And each week, it gets a little worse.
On May 2nd, I text photos of the cracks to Max and directly to Epic.
I talk to some guy at Epic, who promises me that he will talk to the hire ups immediately and call me back within an hour, and they will send out someone to fix everything. He never calls back.
The next day, Max says Jeri will call by Monday to schedule a stucco inspection. He tells me to contact Parker Daniels directly.
I call Daniels, He does not answer his phone or return my calls.
Max says to text him. I do. Tell him the whole story, he says he'll "get with his accounts payable team and see how that was missed. Once the check is placed in the mail I'll send you the tracking information."
Surprise, surprise, no followup. No check. No stucco inspection. Not even an apology.
On May 7th, Max confessed. He says this is his fault, that he miscommunicated to Epic. So Epic won't pay until they take the money out of his earnings. I haven't heard anything since.
Stay away. These people are thieves. They do not honor their warrantees. Their workmanship is lousy. And they treat their customers terribly.