Veterans, Family Members of Veterans, and all other homeowners BEWARE! As proud and longtime members of USAA, we have always been accustomed to receiving excellent service when dealing with the little hardships in life. From minor fender benders to cars being totaled, we have received excellent service for our insurance needs. So good, in fact, that my father was a member for over 55 years!
Enter Vision Restoration and our experiences with this company all went down from there!
Back in the beginning of May, our basement flooded due to a leak caused by our water softener. There was 3 inches of water and the floor so we called USAA for assistance. We were referred to Vision Restoration and felt confident that if USAA recommended them, we would get the customer service and project management that we were accustomed to. As the saying goes, WRONG-O, Felix!
Not only is it almost FIVE months later, but we also do not have our flooded basement repaired. From scheduling contractors to negotiating what we want done, this has been nothing more than a fiasco. After the initial mitigation, it has been like pulling teeth to get their workers out to complete the needed restoration complete. But wait, isn't that what THEIR NAME IS? R-E-S-T-O-R-A-T-I-O-N! See? I even spelled it for you!
We have had several "meetings" which were nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to get us to pay more money above and beyond what USAA was offering for the project. As a longtime USAA member, I can attest that USAA does not skimp on insurance settlements. In fact, when a car we owned was totaled, they actually gave me MORE than what the car cost to begin with. I can whole heartedly say that USAA is one of the best insurance companies to deal with. EVER!
Yet, Vision Restoration has been nothing but a nightmare. We have been told several times that our remodeling project would start to only have it pushed back. We were also told that I COULD NOT have the carpeting I want because their flooring contractor didn't carry it. I had to fight tooth and nail with them to concede to order the carpet from Home Depot! For God's sake, there's one of those stores on every corner! Getting me the carpet I WANT for the home that I OWN should NOT be that difficult!
The clincher of all clinchers was this - after requesting a NEW start date for the remodeling project, my husband received a text that it was delayed due to the electrical portion costing over $10,000! TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS? Excuse me, but as my kids text, WTH? We have existing electrical in the ceiling and were merely requesting that the fluorescent ballast lights be switched out to recessed cans, a switch put in for a sump pump, and a few lights and a fan put in the bathroom we decided to add as a part of our project.
THE BATHROOM REMODEL IS ON OUR DIME! Yes, we did want to have their electrician complete the few things that needed to be done in the bathroom and yes, we assumed there could be an upcharge for it, but were hoping there was enough in the settlement to provide for those few things. But, TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS??? The whole project was initially estimated at just over $22,000! FOR THE WHOLE DARN THING!
A dozen 6-inch recessed cans sell for under $100 on Amazon. Just saying! ;)
Anyhow, let's just say that the TEN THOUSAND DOLLAR figure raised a red flag and it was further raised when they wanted to have yet another "meeting" (HIGH PRESSURE SALES CALL) about it. I'm no electrician. This, I will freely admit. However, my husband is in the home remodeling business and my father owned an electrical and wiring supply store. Let's just say we've got an idea or two about what a project like this should cost!
After refusing to have the "meeting" (HIGH PRESSURE SALES CALL), my husband and I decided that we needed to turn over the text stating that the electrical portion of the project was TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS to USAA and decline their services.
Needless to say, after severing ties with them and informing them that our new hobby will be writing them nasty reviews, we then get an email this afternoon from the owner, Steve Carson II, that stated, "If you continue to make accusations about Vision Restoration, I will take legal action against you and ******." QUOTE, UNQUOTE!
The "******" IS MY HUSBAND'S PLACE OF WORK!!!
WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL? So not only is this company threatening our 1ST AMENDMENT RIGHTS to write FACTUAL REVIEWS, but they are also threatening WHERE MY HUSBAND WORKS! To add insult to injury, they also are REFUSING to return our $5000 deductible. They were paid for the mitigation. I'm not exactly sure where they think that it is proper or even legal to keep our deductible money for work that has not been completed! Last I checked, I still have an UNFINISHED BASEMENT!
Anyhow, we are doing as promised to this company and dishing back out to them the B.S. that we have been dealing with for almost FIVE MONTHS! We don't care if they threaten to read more
