Customer Stated: "Ramon Manka, the "pro" that was sent, arrived in a small passenger car, rather than a truck or van. He was accompanied by Ruby, his assistant? girlfriend? Ramon quickly realized he forgot a tool and went home to get it.
Meaning that he was, for all intents and purposes, late."
The job was quoted to be a 3.5 hour door install. I've installed them quicker. So yes I brought the tools needed in the taking the "small passenger car". The job stated all materials were there, as well as the door, I just had to install it. Easy peasy. (Not at all.)
I arrive and see that you have a door that is significantly smaller than the original. Hence "forgetting a tool", there was additional work and modifications that had to take place in order to complete the job. So I had no choice but to go get the required tools. (Tools were nearby, the job was 3 hours from home. That explains not grabbing the truck. Missing 6 work hours, and was pretty confident the client would not be willing to reimburse me, despite the error occurring due to clients negligence.).
Customer Stated : Materials were needed, which was anticipated. I used Zelle to send money to Ramon's personal account and his professional account.
Then, after about an hour, I had to go to the home improvement store myself because Ramon thought he didn't have enough money, and he didn't have room to transport the materials, since, again no truck or van. I paid out of pocket and Ramon never returned the money I had transferred to him.
After dealing with the customer for about an hour or two about what he would like don't with the door. I quickly learned I had a difficult client on my hands. I requested the client provide funds due to the conflict already taking place. As a precaution to not loose money. the customer sent money for the minor materials required like spray foam, and joint compound and drywall, etc. Any left over funds were transferred back to the client. As well as receipts for purchases. If you take A look at the image below, the money was sent back to the client from my personal account as soon as it cleared.(usually Zelle is instant but something with his bank was asking me his information and saying the card was used to many places so it placed a hold on the funds) The funds sent to the business account was $90 all $90 was used as well as about $10-$20 out of pocket as well. (which was added to the invoice)
I advised the client that we should use the correct size door for the size opening he had. The customer already ordered the door and was not willing to trade it out or find the correct size. The customer stated "Returning it is simply not an option". So he wanted me to find a way to make it fit. The door is over a foot smaller than the opening so I needed to find a way to fill the gap. What I had came up with was it had to be secure for a break in and/or weather. I looked up different methods customer disagreed to some. So ultimately I came to the conclusion to get 3 of the thicket logs. And bolt them together forming a wall and install the door. The door was super secure not budging! As for the weather, I sealed up all cracks and holes. I finished the inside first and it got pretty late. The insulation was reinstalled, expanding foam was used to fill additional cracks and air spots, the drywall was extended from the original wall, trim was reinstalled. As I mentioned it got pretty late, Around midnight I converse with the customer and let him know I have to come back in the morning to complete the joining of the drywall and paint to finish the inside. Not to mention more work was needed on the outside. For the wood to be covered we needed to get siding to complete the wall, creating a seamless flow. You would never know the door was changed. Customer didn't understand that and believed I left the door looking like that. I was outside the next day ready to complete the job and the customer refused the service and turned me away, so I packed up and went on my way.
Customer Added Photos:
(Picture of full front door with house number showing):
- The siding needed to be extended
- The top was not a gap the wood was cut that way quite literally because the house was slanted that way, the top beam was sloped.
- As well as using a circular saw as opposed to a table saw. Which no store would cut the wood. And as stated the job was supposed to be a simple door install. The door was over a foot smaller than the opening.
( picture of the "mess" I left):
- Arrived to complete the job, customer refused service, I accepted and asked where he would like things, I moved the doors where he requested and i offered to clean up the pile but the client was upset and demanded "just go, I'll clean it up. (Over the phone) The customer was not home at the service time agreed upon the previous night. read more