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[vsonnier]

So I'm in a slightly sticky situation. Last June we had new tile put down in our kitchen. A lady in the playgroup I am in had her husband do it for us...he is an independant contractor and does that stuff on the side. He was MUCH cheaper than every other estimate I got which really should have clued me in, but I trusted her since she was in the same playgroup as me and another mom in the group recommended them.

So that was late June/early July. The guy "finished" the project three days before Josh's birthday party. My husband was there while he was working and the guy told him he was done and asked for the remaining $300 we owed (the total for labor was 450). Todd just gave it to him assuming he had finished. As the guy was walking out Todd noticed there was a huge gap between the tile and carpet where the transfer strip was suppose to go. He followed the guy out and asked about it and he made out like he meant to tell us that the transfer strip was on backorder and he would be back out to fix it as soon as it came in. At the time it wasn't that big of a deal...we were having a pirate birthday party so Todd just made a sign saying the piece was on a slow ship from the isla de home improvement and we all just laughed about it.

So fastforward to present time. It has been 6 months now and the guy STILL hasn't come out. Everytime I talk to his wife she says he will be over Monday evening after work and Monday comes and goes without even a call. So I wait a few more weeks and contact her again and get the "we were sick..." or "He had to work late" or whatever excuse she can come up with. I am fed up. At this point I don't know what to do. My DFIL keeps telling us to take them to small claims court but it seems so petty to me. I mean its a $15 strip...we would just buy a new one and put it in ourselves, but we don't have the tools or experience to do it. If I pay someone else to do it it will cost at least $100 bucks to have them come out. So I don't know what to do. I'm in a playgroup with this lady...I hate to take her to court and create all kinds of tension, but what else can I do? I feel like we have given them ample opportunity to get it done.

I did check the BBB recently and noticed that this guy had several complaints for failure to complete jobs. We have totally learned our lesson. I will always check references and BBB from now on and of course we will never again pay for a job in full until it has been done in full... UGH What should we do?

[Colexis Mom]

I would report him to the BBB (obviously others have done it too) and just buy the strip and do it myself. It's not that hard DH has put them in all our upstairs doors since we put down the Pergo ourselves

[SouthernBelle]

Ditto, I agree report him to the BBB, and buy the strip, I did ours not so hard and at Home Depot or Lowe's they will gladly show you how free of charge....

And as my Mother always said "Kill em with Kindness" So when you go to play group and see the wife, be nice to her, like nothing ever happened.

[SarahJ]

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

I would report him to the BBB (obviously others have done it too) and just buy the strip and do it myself.

If you're unsure how to do it just ask at your local hardware or home improvement store. They should be able to instruct you.

[Ginns1]

I agree about reporting him, save someone else the heartache. I kinda agree about small claims court also. Maybe he would learn a lesson. The best part would be his name in the paper for all to see and be warned.

I say buy the piece, have Home Depot talk you through the installation or check the web for a site with the info. Then, I would definitly tell his wife that you finished the job (in a just so you know kinda way). Just don't say we don't need him to come finish the job. That would look real bad in court!

[disney_duke]

That's unacceptable, for any line of business, to keep your customer waiting and not complete your job. BBB and definitely a "by the way" to the wife. "By the way, I reported your husband to the BBB since he didn't complete our job after 6 months of waiting." Maybe not so boldly, but you get the idea! She needs to be aware of what he's doing too since she's out there recommending him to others.

[HiddenMickey]

This is the kind of thing the TV stations have their consumer reporter look into all the time. Here the local station calls it their "Five on Your Side" segment and they look into complaints for viewers with problemd just like yours. You might check your local station to see if they do that kind of reporting too.

Usually having someone with "clout" gets the person/company moving and they come finish the job.

If that doesn't suit you, I also say, do it yourself. It's really not hard.

[RobDVC]

File a report with the BBB and complete the job yourself. Make a point to tell all your friends that he didn't complete the job.

[pparm]

That is a sticky situation. I agree with reporting to the BBB and getting some pointers with your local Home Depot or Lowes and finishing yourself. I'm not sure how I'd handle the wife though. My first thought was to mention to her that you finished it yourself after waiting so long, but, then I got to thinking, does she control her husband and his business. Maybe she's aware of his problems, but can't really do anything about it??? Don't really have any advice on that part, but good luck with whatever you decide to do!!

Paula

[lanie875]

I'd report it to the BBB and do it yourself. I would NOT get nasty with his wife though. As far as you know she is just the one stuck in the middle. Maybe he's lying to her. Maybe he's a real jerk and would hurt her if she cost him money. You just don't know. Keep it between her husband and your family and treat her the same as you used to. Unless she is in charge it's not her fault. You could let her know that you finished the job yourself though and maybe it would be less pressure on her. I would be humiliated if my husband did that kind of thing to someone.

[DrDolphin]

Another vote for the BBB, buying the strip, doing the work yourself - in addition to checking at the home place, you can also look at DIY.com

[Tigger71]

Leave the wife out of it. You still want to show up at playgroup and not have any bad blood between you. You have an issue with her husband so deal with him. Call him, state the facts, ask for a firm committment or "I will need to take further action as I have been more than fair in waiting so long considering I paid in full on X date".
If he doesn't give a fair and suitable answer report him and do some internet/hardware store research. Good luck - don't let it ruin your day!

[fairestofthemall]

Things like this just drive me crazy!

I would write a letter to the guy, be sure he signs for the letter, and tell him you have called several times with no response. You can only assume he has not gotten the messages. (Yeah, right!) Tell him you want the problem fixed asap as you have been waiting for 6 months. Be sure to include a date that it must be completed by.

HE should fix it! You paid for it whether it is a $15.00 job or a $1,500.00. Leave his wife out of it. I would be kind in the letter but very firm.


Danielle

[Teresa]

Call HIM. Stop mentioning it to the wife. She may have said "Hey, my DH can do that", but she didn't contract with you to make him finish it.
Tell him you want it done - and give him no more than 2 weeks to do it. Let him know that you'll have no recourse but to take him to small claims so that you can pay someone else to do it, since you have no clue how to.

[Jookiba]

I'd call the BBB to make a complaint. Obviously this guy's no good and will continue to rip other people off until he's eventually stopped.

I'd then call him as suggested above and give him a 1 week deadline to finish the job (I also wouldn't pay him another penny) or you'll have no choice but to take it to small claims.

Don't let people like this continue to take advantage of you.