Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  09/12/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We were quoted a little over 19k for septic work to be completed on our new home, with a clause in the contract advising any increase over 10% would come with a requote. During the entire process of install (which took over a month from first date of septic install July 6th 2022) to leech line completion and first inspection, there were multiple days where the contractor promised he would finished the job, but would not show up. (Weather did play a role a few times, but contractor admitted to starting another septic job which delayed finishing mine). When final bill came it was for the amount of 21,500, which violated his contract as he did not give us a requote. Included in septic charges were $980 in fees for a redraw of leech lines. He charged us $6800 for topsoil which originally was NOT used. He used our clay soil to cover septic, which coincidentally caused it to fail inspection. It wasn't until County failed inspection and requested him to strip and redo cover that he actually used topsoil. During the redo of cover, he completely destroyed the downspouts on that side of the house, crushing one completely, and leaving fragments of the other scattered on that side of the house. We will now have to pay another contractor to fix the downspouts on that side of the house due to his carelessness. He not only increased his price without a requote (violating contract) but cut corners, blamed our building contractor, and tried to charge us for top soil when it was originally not used. I'm so upset that we went with VanDyne, his info was given by our building contract team which they have advised they will no longer do either. I feel that price we have to pay for another contractor to fix the downspouts he destroyed should be paid by VanDyne. This should not be an expense we should have to pay out due to his carelessness and poor work.

  Business response

  10/05/2022

  Good morning ********,

     Her details are false. She never contacted me about the drainage before she wrote this complaint. She texted me about the issue. There was no evidence that we crushed the drainage because her brother in law came in and finish grades the lot after we were done. Regardless, after she texted me. I sent 3 of my workers out to fix their issue. I have the text to prove it.

      The septic field was marked by ******* ******. When I went out to set the septic tank, I noticed the down spout drainage and the underground electric service went through the proposed leachfield area. At that time I contacted the homeowner and told her I would have to get with the designer of the septic system and most likely it will have to be redesigned which will delay the install. That month delay was waiting on the engineer and waiting for the ground to dry up. The system will fail if the ground smears while installing the septic system. The general contractor blamed it on me that the field was not properly marked. It says in the engineered drawing that the general contractor must protect the leachfield and it would be best to rope it off. I’ve never been in a situation like this before. The county engineer stated he had two other incidents this year with the same contractor. So the leachfield was pushed out further from grade from the house due to the first leachfield being destroyed. At that point I knew we would need more dirt for water flow and slope of ground. I have texts from the home owner stating we could use dirt on site to make up for the issue because they had no additional funds. I told her the contractor should be responsible, but she said she did not want to argue it. We did haul in soil as stated in the quote. The ******* ****** engineer thought the ground had too much clay in it, so we stripped it off and hauled in 120 more yards of processed dirt. The engineer stated the system looked great and thank you for meeting his recommendations. I apologized to him and he stated it was no big deal and our work looked great and thank you for the drone photos before we covered the system. 

      Attached is the original estimate and the final invoice. We did not charge $6800.00 for topsoil. She miss read the invoice. $6800.00 was for labor. She also did not mention that she asked us to run additional drainage and plumb the sump pump system. That is most of the reason of the additional cost.         It’s all noted on the invoice in detail with cost. That cost was discussed with the home owner before work was completed. I also talked with the home owner that additional 4” sch 40 PVC pipe would be needed for the system since the leachfield was pushed further from the house. All issues the homeowner had, we took care of with no additional charges. Please see attached estimate and final invoice. 

  I forgot to add that the contractor has used me for years. The superintendent of the job was new. They’ve asked me to bid 2 more of their projects since this complaint.

  
  

  Respectfully, 

  ****** ** *******

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