Jib Enterprise

Angie's new article about contractor and scamming prompted me to write. I was in a bit of a bind after i had to fire a contractor recommended by my designer. So, she recommended John because he was the only one available at that time. The contractor i fired had delayed my project significantly, so i had to hire John right away.. John did an impressive job of removing and clearing the old kitchen and bathroom. i was impressed. It was so fast and tidy. They continued to do a good job and ask for a significant down payment and i paid them. While still doing well, he asked for another big down payment soon after and foolishly i gave it to him thinking that should make him work faster. In the mean time i had to rent temporary living quarter, which is expensive. That is then he slowed down. Work around 5-6 hours a day. Always leaving around around one in the afternoon. Some days does not even show up. There were some delays not his fault but the desinger fault, so it dragged. He could have gone on and do work that has nothing to do with the part that was being delayed. After all this hurdle was over, he only has minor last cabinetry to make and it took so long. i called and called and he started telling me I am not his only client. He was always in his shop working at other projects. When he took my money, i never tell him "i cant pay you right now because i have other bills to pay". He drag this work for an extra 4weeks. Never keep the date line he promised, i had to keep changing my living situation because he was not able to keep his words. While i live on rentals that cost a fortune and finally i had live with my sisters for over a month to cut cost, i got very sick with all the moving and adjustment and stress only to find out the contractor is not on the job site. i about freaked out. I knew i had been scammed. i finally had to hire my designer to watch after John and it was done in three days time. To think i had to keep calling for 3 weeks to ask him if he was done. He was not working in the Apartment, but working on other projects with my money in his pocket. Now come the part with the window, He doubled the price for his labor, telling me the wood work of my window was rotten to the core. He said he had to do extra work, hire an extra man who is not even a window fitter. He doubled his price for labor and he padded the window cost too. He padded eveyr thing not just 20% which usually is what contractor do, but some area, he doubled the price. He never took pictures of the "rotten window woodwork." to prove the need to charge extra. So, after a week, he and his wife went to the Caribean for holiday on January. No wonder he had ot hire extra worker because his vacation ticket has already been paid for and he wanted to get out of the job. One of the glass window he installed, the glass had cracked. i believe it is the way he fitted the window. He is not a window and door contractor and this type of work needs precision. Lets see how long before more cracked windows. When i first told him the window cracked, he told me he dose not believe it, he has to see it to believe. He asked me if i did something to the window. i read the article in Angie list. i have commited all the mistakes and every warning she gave hiring a contractor. It is me who is hte fool and believe my contractor who said he used to be a minister, thinking he will be more honest. It is my fault because i had no one to help in this project and keep watch over these workers. These people took advantage of me and has no morale or honesty. And stupid me trusted them. Trust. Near the end, I told him that i will not pay him anymore until work is done. He went beserk and screamed and threatened to not get my renovation inspected. I was sick at that time and was also scammed by an apartment rental agency out of $2500 and i had to live with relatives and then turned around and found out this man is not even in the apartment working. So everyone go around freaking out. But who is at fault? The bathroom has to be repainted because he only put one coat and tried to make me pay a painter to repaint over it when my designer complained. I refused, The white grout in the white marble floor and shower floor was filthy because he did not protect the floor and he expect me to have a new bathroom with filthy floor and even complained that i just nitpick. Where is the standard, pride of this man. of his work, or what a beautiful bathroom should be new and clean for someone who paid a lot for it. It is over and call me the fool. i agree i am.