Bradley & Sons

Update 8/8/2013 - Dale sends me a preliminary notice to file a mechanic's lien requesting I pay additional $1000 with back dated invoice I never seen for work he never mentioned to me that would be extra to the fixed agreed price during the project. I get this almost 2 months after I gave him final payment where he confirmed multiple times that there was no outstanding payment required. Prior to start was he always picked up the phone on first ring and even proactively called me to get the job. First week started out promising but it got progressively worse. Dale Bradley's primary problem was his complete lack of respect for our time. He always says, "I'll be there tomorrow at 9" which means anything from showing up at 10, noon or not at all. When he does show up, he works random hours sometimes just 2 hrs or just drop off invoice. On few occasions, he disappeared for 3 days to a week with communication silence only to later find out he went to work on another job. He even told us he will show up on mothers day at 9 AM then his wife calls at noon to say he's not coming. I told him repeatedly to simply call us in advance if he's late or not coming so we don't waste whole day waiting but this he never got. Second problem was that Dale is not a professional painter and he took on a job way beyond his skill by convincing us he can do the job well. He worked mainly with his wife Linda who was often sent alone while Dale is no show. She tried her best but it was clear this was going to take very long time trying to tape everything on textured walls and then re-cutting paint line multiple times to get it right. Dale brought all kinds of people for day to paint including a real painter to explain how to paint ceiling, sister-in-law, friend's teenage kid, even a little grand daughter (she didn't paint). It was really frustrating to watch all these people come and go randomly and it was clear this was not their job nor profession. It felt like our house was a play painting place. We were literally watching paint dry for months. Third problem was his way of billing. I had no problem paying him for what was agreed and complete but he brought several unexpected invoices. I asked him several times to let me know in advance if there was work that required additional pay but he always just gave me invoices after the fact with amount I had no idea. In another occasion, he refused to come to paint because he said he doesn't have money for paint (few more cans). This is after I paid him $1000 in advance for paint and over $13K in labor. He tried to use this as leverage when I told him I will not pay him until the job is done since it was taking forever. Basically, he never had anything to lose at any point by walking away due to payment. Final day he came was the worst. I had already paid him for everything (mistake) including money for extra box of tiles. He had 2 things to complete. Install new blind (replace one he broke 1.5 month ago) and bring box of tiles I paid for. He reschedules this several times with one excuse that it's not convenient for him to come on scheduled date because he's at another job. When he does finally show up, he doesn't have tile and he didn't bring ladder to install the blinds. I asked him to go back and get the ladder and tile (which he said was at his house). He looks agitated driving off then sends me a final set of text message saying he will not return because I'm rude to him and rants about his sister-in-law who came to paint one day wanted to slap me in the face. Nice parting thought after paying him over 18K and 3 months of waiting. As I write this review, it's been a week since last he came and I still don't have box of tiles I paid for and no blind on the wall. I don't expect (don't want to) hear from Dale Bradley again. He does have some good tile skill but overall experience was so slow and degraded to such a low point that it was ridiculous. In last month and half, he never picked up the phone and only communication was short text message about he needs to get paid. His complete disregard for his client's time was insane and we wasted a lot of time trying to finish this job with professional quality.