DOESN'T RECOMMEND!…read more
A final judgment has been entered against this contractor in my favor. Publicly searchable at mncourtrecords.gov: Joseph Wayne Johnson, conciliation & transcript case 86-CO-25-1409 & 86-CV-26-2269.
This review was originally posted on Facebook as "DOESN'T RECOMMEND." Within hrs it was chgd to "RECOMMENDS", w/out my knowledge. The same incident occurred on another customer's FB review, her written review clearly states "I DO NOT RECOMMEND," yet the selection displays as "RECOMMENDS."
Within 4 days of posting my review/updating it to note the display change described above, the Entire Review Section was REMOVED from VPC's FB business page, eliminating all customer reviews & preventing future customers from accessing honest feedback about their experiences.
BACKGROUND
I hired VPC for ceiling repairs; bowing, staining & texture restoration following storm damage. The job was quoted 8-10 days, yet completed in 5, w/ late arrivals & early departures documented.
ESTIMATE & PRICING:
I was told knockdown texture was the same price as popcorn. 2 other companies confirmed otherwise & is documented I initially declined knockdown for that reason. I only agreed because Joseph told me pricing was the same. In court this was called a "misstatement," which he denied saying moments later.
More significantly, the estimate included line items for all bowing repairs w/ associated costs alongside each item. I wasn't informed until the court hearing 10 mos later that those costs were never added to the total price. This was never disclosed prior.
ADDT'L COSTS & UNDISCLOSED PRICING
Day 1: 2 entryway landing ceilings discussed during the estimate were suddenly "not included." Joseph acknowledged he forgets to detail his estimates, then proposed an addt'l $600 on the spot. I agreed to $300 under the circumstances.
DAMAGE CAUSED:
Improper tape & poly sheeting removal caused significant upper wall paint damage in 6 rooms plus large entryway. I had painter's tape on the same paint for 4 mos, removed it, & had no damage. VPC's removal damaged every room they worked in, except 1. To repair the damage caused that existed solely as a result of VPC. I incurred approx $3k out of pocket for the entryway repaint alone. Professional estimates for the remaining affected areas totaled approx $6k, total estimated cost of damage caused by VPC to approx $9k.
INCOMPLETE WORK:
4 ceiling areas remain visibly bowed & unrepaired. He drilled screws into 1 area trying to lift it, which confirms he was aware of the bowing from the start. Only after that attempt failed did he claim it was structural. In court he stated he was unaware of the bowing in the other areas, despite his own estimate listing repairs for all of them, plus photos, audio recordings, & emails documenting it throughout.
Additionally, approx 1-2 mos post-job, Joseph claimed via email that I had been given 2 choices, repair the bowing or have the texture redone. This was false. No such offer was ever made or documented in any form at any point during or after the project.
PROPOSED RESOLUTION:
After mos of attempts, I proposed to repair the worst areas or refund $3.5k of $7.5k paid. His counter was to patch 1 small section, ignoring 3 other areas, w/ the condition I'd pay addt'l labor & materials if it failed. 2 independent contractors confirmed proper repair requires full ceiling correction, not a patch. I declined.
LEGAL ACTION:
I filed in small claims court & won. I submitted 65+ exhibits. He submitted zero documentary evidence. The judgment remains unpaid past the court deadline. Enforcement is ongoing.
THE REAL COST:
Despite significant personal health challenges, this situation demanded 11 mos of documentation, legal filings, & court process, an exhausting & overwhelming burden that extracted an enormous toll on my finances, time, mental energy, & peace of mind. No one should ever have to go through this.
KEY CAUTIONS:
Scope items listed but not included in total pricing
Verbal representations not aligned w/ outcomes
Incomplete execution of agreed work
Addt'l costs added at job start
Significant damage caused requiring costly repair
Post-job proposed fixes contingent on addt'l payment for work already included in the original scope
Lack of accountability & no resolution w/out legal intervention
Negative FB customer reviews chgd from "Doesn't Recommend" to "Recommends" w/out reviewer knowledge or consent & entire review section subsequently removed -- documented w/ timestamped screenshots
I do NOT recommend this contractor. Based on my experience I would strongly urge you to look elsewhere. If you do choose to move fwd, document everything - if something goes wrong, you will be on your own.
This review reflects my documented personal experience as a customer supported by photos, emails, audio recordings, & court records.