Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  16/11/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We had several large rainstorms and flooding episodes in Thunder Bay at the end of April beginning of May of this year. I received a few quotes from several contractors and subsequently decided to hire Contracting Kings. The price seemed reasonable and the company was recommended to me. The cost was $10,283.00. 50% was required and before the work was started. A cheque in the amount of $5141.50 03/06/2022. I was told at the time that they were very busy and it could be September or later before the work could be done. About the middle of September I decided to see if they had a start date. Ultimately and great speed (the next day) Mike ***** came to the house and the next day they showed up and started digging. Mr ***** asked if anybody from the gas company had come and did a locate on the gas line. The answer was no. there were no little yellow flags or anything else. He said that he had called them a few months ago. I have a conduit pipe running from my house with electrical wires to my back shed so that I can run lights and plug ins. He asked me to confirm that this was correct. I confirmed that. Wanted to know is I was sure. Of course, I was the one who asked for it. Anyway everything was done the next day. The hole was filled in and it looked decent. Mr ***** mentioned that there were ruts in the back from the machine that he used, but the were not very deep and should be fine in a little while. Subsequently I made the final payment0/10/2022 in the amount of $5141.50. Probably not the smartest thing paying right away *** ** ** ******** * *** ******* *** *** ***** ** *** ** ** ******* ****** *** ******** Just before Thanksgiving we had another rain storm. The next day there were several holes in the area where the dirt had been filled back in. It looked like a war zone!. I contacted Mr *****, was told they were very busy and they would fix them when they got a chance. We were sitting around the fire pit on Thanksgiving night. When I stood up I slipped in one of the small (?) ruts and almost fell into the fire. I called Mr ***** a little upset. He again said that they were very busy and would get to it. The next day I was looking at the sink holes and noticed that there was a hold close to the foundation that had just been repaired. I called again. I did not swear at the man or call him a foul name but I was very upset. He sent my a text from his phone. Words to the affect that it is not his fault that there are sink hole in my yard. There were none when he left. It was because of the rain and that I had bad dirt. He would fix it but it would cost me $500. plus hst. Subsequently when I went to read my gas meter, I noticed that the meter was tilted and called ******** gas to come and have a look to make sure that it was safe. Anyway, long story short, when Mr ***** filled in around the gas meter, he covered an emergency shut off valve. It has to be fixed. I was told that it is up to Contracting Kings to repair this and the gas company will contact him. If he doesn't fix it, they will and I will be I feerl responsible for the cost. At the same time that the meter was tilted, my siding was pulled out of alignment (??) I have no idea what that will cost or if it can be fixed. It should be noted that Mr ***** has not been back to my yard since he finished that day. I have talked to him 4 times and have had no satisfaction. I feel that he was in such a hurry to finish that day, that he did not tamp the dirt down. * ** ****** ** **** *** ******** *** *** *** *** *** **** ****** *** ******* ****** *** ****** ** ******** ***** *** **** *** ******

  Business response

  17/11/2022

  The job was done and back filled. The. We had rain for almost a week straight. The material was really clay based. Every job settles after you back fill eventually. Wilma’s settled faster and got some sink holes because of all the rain. There’s nothing we can do about what Mother Nature does. It would cost me time and money to have to go back and fill the sink holes in. I don’t know anyone that goes to work for free. We were planning on going to do it until she called me everyday demanding I go there immediately. That’s not the way it works. A few sink holes isn’t number one priority when we’re finishing up a bunch of work before the snow hits. Her attitude and not wanting to pay for extra work is why we didn’t go back. As for a few ruts from the machine. She was well aware that the tracks from the machine would leave a few ruts because the ground was so wet and we had to walk it in from the back yard.  ********* **** ***** **** ** ***** ******** *** *** ** **** ** ******. We have been in business for over 10 years *** **** ** *** ***** ********* ** **** *** ** *** **** We would be happy to go fix up the ruts and sinks holes next spring for the price we discussed. 

  Customer response

  17/11/2022

   
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: Mr ***** has never seen the damage done. Yes we did have rain (not as much as Mr ****y stated) and yes I would expect some settling 
  of the dirt but surely if the dirt had been tamped properly the holes would not have been as deep as they are. I  did not call on a daily basis.  In fact I  purposely called  every 2 or 3 days. I knew he was busy.  It wasn't until I noticed the hole by the foundation wall  that I called on Sunday and suggested strongly that he come and look.  Not even when I almost slid into my fire pit because of a rut. ** ***** ***** ** ***** *** ** *** ** **** ********* *** ***  ****** **** **** **** *******  *   ******** *** **** **** ** ***** ** ***** * **** ** *********  
  Sincerely,
  
  Wilma ********

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