Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  04/02/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  ****** was authorized to work on my home construction project to install an under-counter lighting system originally for $1,450 which was negotiated down to $1,350. He did the work as per the contract, and while the lighting came out nice he or his sub broke my countertop in the process which was annoying but something I was willing to overlook. I paid him 50% ($675) upfront and 50% ($675) the same day upon completion. However, after the work was completed he sent me a bill first for $4,839 and then for $5,394. None of the additional work was authorized by me despite him lying in the final contract and saying it was authorized. Almost all of the additional work was in fact in the original scope of work, which was to 'manufacture a system to enhouse undermount lighting and wiring on two vanity cabinets, general plug and play install of lighting'. *********************** on homeowners by overcharging them with bogus bills that were never authorized and then threatens to put a lein on their house if they dont settle with him for an arbitrary discount off a nonsense unauthorized bill.

  Business response

  04/15/2024

  N.E.W. Paints &Finishes, **** was approached by the BBB to list with their company.  We do not advertise but rely solely on client referrals. Never in my ******************************************************************************************************** had any blemishes on my reputation.  This homeowner went outside his General ********** (whose purpose is to manage the job for the owner) and contacted me directly for work to be done, based on a referral.
  
  As with most contractors,an estimate is given subject to on-site conditions, as was this one.  I originally estimated this job to be $1350.00. After finalizing materials and labor, it came to an additional $100.00 or $1,450.00. Owner refused the written estimate and said he would only pay the verbal estimate, then proceeded to pay one-half deposit or $675.00.  I agreed to the $100 deduction. 
  
  As my original work was coming to its conclusion, I called the owner to inform him some ** work was needed from a licensed professional and that I could try and locate one for him. The owner expressed his frustration at the additional work needed and over the fact that the ** contractor was not immediately available to commence their work, but verbally said told me to proceed, and gave me his  $1500.00 LED lighting for the ** person to install.  After speaking with the ** person,  I spoke to homeowner explaining what the ** person needed to do and that this was not part of my contract. I was unable to estimate the cost at that time as I would have to evaluate what needed to be done. Owner, once again expressed his frustration, but said OK to proceed. The ** person explained what needed to be done by me and what needed to be done by him. Additionally, three sinks needed to be recessed into the plywood subtops, allowing for spacing for the lighting.  All of this took an additional 40+ hours to complete.After the subtops were installed on-site, the ** person had to power up the lighting on site so the top could be installed. Once billed, owner then comes back to me and says he never agreed that this work was additional and was a part of my original $1350 contract and he wasnt paying for it.   I realized then, this was his plan all along, to take advantage of a contractor who relied on the honor system of a verbal understanding.  
  
  This additional work was not in the scope of the original contract that said (1) Manufacture a system to enhouse undermount lighting and wiring on two vanity cabinets, general plug and play install of lighting by N.E.W. Paints. Lighting system supplied by others; wiring or outlet relocation by others.
  
  At no time was I contracted to install any lighting or electrical work, just the subtop to house the lighting and sinks.
  
  This is an expensive home in *************** whose renovations and costs are outside the understanding of the homeowner.  He bypasses his General Contractor to save money and now refuses to pay an independent contractor for the work done. I am well within my rights to file a Claim of Lien for non-payment, as is any contractor who is not paid. Owners defamatory claims are worthless and shows his inexperience in working with legitimate contractors. 

  Customer response

  04/15/2024

   
  Complaint: 21520543
  
  The business is misrepresenting the facts of the contract while saying disparaging and untrue accusations about my understanding of the industry. I paid the original $1,350 contract in full , with 50% upfront and 50% at the end. I reject the magnitude of the additional $4.2k and then subsequent $4.7k hourly billing he provided after the fact. Its unclear why he sent me two additional invoices. After he walked off the job, the licensed electrician on the project told me *******  work was not up to code as open wiring was left exposed outside of a junction box, so the work needed to be redone. The wiring was not done in a consistent manner so the lights appeared as different colors. As his contract stated, the fixed price job did include lighting installation and was never an hourly job. He informed me of the extra AV work needed but never suggested anything of the magnitude of 3-4x the original price of the job! Finally, one of the people ****** had on the job also broke my Cristallo countertop. ****** then threatened to put a fraudulent lien on my house which I reminded him is a felony in the state of *******. I fully reject his response and stand by my claim that this is a bad business homeowners should avoid at all costs. 

  Business response

  04/26/2024

  I restate my prior response and add that (1) I am a wook-work finisher, (2) I am NOT an electrician, (3) I have never walked off a job in 30 years, (4) If the lights appeared to be a different color, you should have checked that before ordering them, (5) As you said, you agreed to additional AV work, time and materials. I have documentation on all hours including recessing three sinks. How many hours have you paid me for? NONE!!, (6) Cristallo countertop material is created to contain cracks, like a broken windshield shattered effect, It can break sitting on an uneven surface, i.e. a floor or a wall. My worker is a *********. Why would he even touch the top, there was no reason too. Somebody "claimed" to see him standing by the top, not touching it at all (7) Clearly this is owner taking advantage of a contractor looking for something for free!.

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩