MICHELS SCREENING INC

We agreed on a price, Doug Michels took my $250. deposit check for 'materials' almost a year ago. He ran to the bank and cashed it, but never called or followed up. Now I'm chasing this guy down to return my deposit for ZERO WORK DONE. A real scam artist taking advantage of people new to the area or under a lot of stress. We were post hurricane and had just moved to the area and doing a major remodel on a house we just purchased. You can't get him on the phone and he doesn't return calls or texts. AVOID!

He showed up on the first day on time to get started and to ask for more money up front. He brought workers that did not have the proper equipment, food or water and he left them at my house all day in the FL heat. When I came home from work, they were begging for water (and a ride to the gas station for cigarettes!). They also had to use my tools and gas for the project. He also expected me to rent stump grinders and other equipment in my name and at my additional expense even though these tasks were listed in the quote. It was then painful to get a hold of him and get him to show back up. He did significant damage to my yard, my neighbor's yard, sprinklers and fence. He left the new sod sitting in the street for over two days, it all died then he put it down anyway. My neighbors had to call the police on his workers on more than one occasion, which I was not aware of until late in the process. He did not obtain permit to put up screen enclosure he was getting ready to start, even though he charged me for it of course. He continued to ask for more cash up front and when I said there needed to be more work done before any more cash, he ran off with the money I had already paid without finishing any of the work or repairing any of the damage. Then he threatened to put a lean on my house for amounts of money well above anything we agreed to if I didn't let them finish the job. He then continued to harass me with late night, menacing text messages. Since he ceased working on my property, I have found out from other local businesses how bad his reputation had become.

2 guys in a small pick-up truck arrived to give me an estimate which was supposed to be "Free". It was apparent one of the guys was a little loopy on something. The lead guy took a look at the screens and said the repair would cost $25.00. Fine, I agreed upon the price and the repair, and they commenced to repair the spline in the screens which took them about 10 minutes. Imagine my amazement when instead of a ladder (forgot it at another job), one guy bent over and the other guy got on his back to fix the screens! They thought it was amusing, I thought it was dangerous and disgusting. After that fiasco, I was presented with an invoice for $ 100.00! I said, "You said the repair would be $ 25.00." That's when he said, "Well, ma'am, I need to charge you a $ 75.00 trip charge." But, the estimate was supposed to be "FREE"!!! Yes, the estimate was, but since we did the repair on the same visit as the estimate we need to charge you." Didn't want to argue with the person so I paid and will never use or recommend this company again. Very horrible experience!!!

The guy came out and started the work, then disappeared because I wouldn't’t give him anymore money. All he did was pour the concrete, never even put the screen up, so I'm sitting here with half a job done. The contract said half up front then the other half at the end. Then he stopped answering his phone.