Chicago remodeling company abandons project, keeps cash
Published on November 1, 2009
COMPLAINT: Dalia Davis, Oak Park, Ill.
"I hired Aztec Painting & Remodeling to remodel my bathroom. I used them before for painting and trusted that they'd do a good job. The project included gutting the bathroom, building a new shower area, hanging new drywall, installing new plumbing, a toilet, a shower, two outlets, a ceiling fan, a light fixture and switch, and new flooring.
"They were supposed to purchase all the necessary materials. The project also included installing a new vanity, sink, faucets, towel bars, toilet paper dispensers and new tile that I purchased. They told me I could pay as we went along.
"They originally quoted $3,000, and I gave them $800 to start, but the price kept going up. I've since paid around $3,600 total, and the last time I spoke with them, they said I still owed around $800 for the project.
"They gutted the bathroom and began working on some of the plumbing and then said they needed to get supplies. I gave them another $950 and they ordered the materials, but then told me they lost the cash. They said they needed the rest of the money to finish the job so I gave them $100 for supplies.
"About three weeks into the job, I gave them another $1,050. They said they needed additional plumbing lines, which raised the price slightly, so I gave them another $250. Then they stopped coming for awhile. I've continued to try to have them finish the job, but at this point they're starting to treat me like a bill collector.
"They've stopped communicating with me and won't answer the phone. I've been using a makeshift basement shower for months and I still have a gutted bathroom."
DESIRED RESOLUTION: "I want the supplies purchased and delivered, the job completed in a high-quality manner and the material in my yard removed."
STATUS: Penalty Box
COMPLAINT: Nina Cudecki, Evanston, Ill.
"I ordered 650 square feet of nylon carpeting from Bill's Carpet Service to be installed in my home. The installers delivered the carpet, but they were unable to install it because it was defective. This new carpet was to be the finishing touch on a long remodeling project and I'd planned the room's design around its pattern and color.
"I ordered the carpeting months ago and now there's no more of it in stock. Now I'm in a time crunch for carpeting because my sister and her family are coming to stay with me in the room without the carpet. Although I really want the original carpet I picked out, I need to get something else quickly. Bill's has my $4,000 deposit and they refuse to refund it."
DESIRED RESOLUTION: "I want my $4,000 deposit refunded."
RESPONSE: William Ricchio, president, Bill's Carpet Service
"The member bought carpet from us and we bought it from Prosource. We tried to install it but the pattern would not line up. We had an inspection done and we are fighting with the mill. They said the carpet pattern was in tolerance. She still didn't like it. Prosource is sending us a check."
STATUS: Resolved
Editors note: Cudecki informs Angie's List that she received her refund and she considers the matter closed.
COMPLAINT: Lori Brand, Winnetka, Ill.
"Wizard of Wood Floors Ltd. refinished my floors, sanding some and recoating others. The sanded floors were fine but there was a problem with the recoated floors. The coating they put down reacted with the floors' existing finish and the coating bubbled.
"I just bought the house and hadn't even moved in yet; I had no idea what the floors had been washed with or previously finished with. I had several companies through my home, some that are members of the National Wood Floor Association.
"Everyone said Wizard should have tested the floors first. Wizard said they would try to rebuff and reseal the floors. I had to leave my home so they could do this, but it didn't work, so they were going to try it a third time. Now there are spots on my floors.
"They told me the thing to do was to sand the floors and that I'd have to pay them to do it. The stairwell and dining room can be sanded, but the kitchen cannot be sanded. It's engineered floor that's already been sanded at least once and in some spots there's less than an 1/8 inch of finished surface available.
"I've received an estimate of $11,000 to $17,000 for someone to chemically strip the floors' finish off, which I'd like to try first."
DESIRED RESOLUTION: "I request $17,000 from Wizard of Wood Floors."
RESPONSE: Michael Galloway, president, Wizard of Wood Floors Ltd.
"When I arrived for the estimate, I noted to the member that the kitchen, eating area and stair floors were badly worn, and that office and study floors were in terrible shape. She requested that we sand and finish the office and study, and just recoat the kitchen, eating area and stair floors.
"I explained to her that recoating the floors may cause a reaction to cleaning solvents or contaminants, because no one knew what had been [previously] used to coat and clean the floor. I explained that additional work may be needed if there was a reaction and she agreed.
"She also stated that other companies had cautioned her about the very same circumstance. After we coated the floors, there was a reaction between what was on the old floor and the new finish. As for the National Wood Flooring Association, of which we are members, testing does not always produce consistent results.
"The new finish reacted differently in different areas because the floors were so badly worn. This was further reason to resand not recoat. We went back to the residence at no charge and buffed and recoated the floor again, reducing the reaction.
"She still wasn't content, at which time I explained to her that the floors really need to be resanded. The floors are in better shape than what I started with. I've offered her a more than fair solution to correct the problem."
STATUS: Stalemate
COMPLAINT: Mike Moritz, Joliet, Ill.
AM Electrical Engineering & Design Services was supposed to remove the electrical wiring in my bathroom and rewire it, do some other electrical work throughout the home, and run an electrical line from my house to the garage.
"They removed the bathroom wiring the way it was supposed to be done, but they didn't finish the [other] work. I've asked them to finish the job, but I've gotten nothing but excuses and the runaround. They claim that they've returned my calls, but my phone doesn't show it.
"I had to hire another electrician to inspect and correct their work. AM Electrical also has not returned the house key that I lent to them, so the locks will have to changed at my expense."
DESIRED RESOLUTION: "I want a full refund."
STATUS: Penalty Box
Chicago Penalty Box
