Absolute. Nightmare…read more
I got 5 estimates on a complete fence replacement. Ended up choosing Payless because Ben seemed very personable and had good Google reviews... I learned pretty quickly that I had been duped, and not to always trust Google reviews.
There were multiple changes to the start date. Originally 4/21, then 4/23, then 4/28, then 4/30, then 5/5.
Communication was poor at best - mostly, it was only when I reached out to him that I learned it was delayed yet again.
He offered stump removal as a service for $150/hr. He showed up with a small grinder that was in no way adequate for the large stumps and two day laborers who were in no way skilled to do it. Grinder kept smoking and cutting out, and the guys were trying, but could only shave off parts of the stumps little by little. Ben had left, so I called him and told him to have them stop.
He came back and was extremely agitated and argumentative. I asked him to calm down and said we needed to be able to have a normal conversation, but he wouldn't... Why would he bring the wrong equipment and guys who didn't know what they were doing? "That's all Home Depot had," and yelled, "I'm a FENCE guy, NOT a stump grinder guy!" His behavior made me extremely uncomfortable... So much so that I asked if I could just pay him for the one section of fence he took down and cancel the contract. He sneered, "Go ahead and cancel it, but you're not getting your deposit back." Mind you, not one bit of material had been delivered at this point, even though he had said he'd be bringing it and never did...
Later, I received a text demanding $225 for the grinder rental before he would proceed with any work. I paid it (regrettably) -- I just wanted him to finish the work and be done...
I paid to have the stumps ground by Davey Tree Service.
Once he resumed (3 days later) he arrived far later in the day than he said he would - this would prove to be an ongoing issue. There was no fence between me and my neighbors, and I asked him to let me know when he'd be coming so they could keep their dog inside - he didn't do that, either...
All of the delays resulted in my having to take additional days off work and cancel a planned vacation.
Days later, I finally had ONE section of fence done.
The day he was to start on another section, he texted me to say he was "Still figuring out post situation. Going have to go a different route and dig and set 10 ft posts." When I questioned this, as the contract stated that 12 foot posts would be used, he replied, "Also I have to weld up 2 more feet onto 10 ft posts since we are going according to contract, because I'm not spending what they're asking for them."
Total breach of contract!! What he did with the $9,000 I gave him, I'll never know... It sure wasn't used to buy materials for my fencing.
At this point, I'd had enough - told him not to come back until he heard from me. I needed to speak with my attorney, for sure...
I also started doing a bit more digging into Payless Fence (I SHOULD have done this before I hired him and gave him a ton of money - kicking myself for this everyday...)
His website had been taken down (he had one when I hired him,) he has NO business license and his LLC is delinquent.
Wondering if he's gone out of business, left town, or ???
The old fencing had just been piled up in the alley behind my neighbor's. I asked when he'd be taking it away, heard nothing, texted him back 3 days later, and he said he'd be coming to get it that weekend. He never did.
So I called 1-800-GOTJUNK -- $980 to have it hauled away.
AND - no pressure-treated rot board on the one section he did, as in the contract.
AND he didn't install a gate to replace the old one he tore down, which resulted in a clear opening from the street into the backyard. So I had to hire someone to build and install a temporary gate immediately for security purposes.
I'm now in a credit card dispute through my credit union, have sent him a demand letter for what he owes me, and will pursue it in Small Claims Court if there is no resolution.
I will update here.