My Sony Vaio laptop was taken apart for a cleaning but wouldn't start afterward; the culprit was a ribbon connection that had come loose during the cleaning. Pretty common problem, but not one I have the finesse to fix myself. I took it to Comdoctor for repairs but was surprised when the bill came to nearly two hours of labor. When I asked about it, I was told that it took 45 minutes just to get the laptop open. Puzzled - it's taken other technicians 10 minutes tops, and it's been done in five - I asked the repairman if he had to look anything up for the job; he said "no" - he simply had to check a few ribbon cables. He tried to impress me by saying it was "a complete gut job" (nearly every internal laptop repair is "a complete gut job," i.e. you have to open up the computer; that's like complaining an oil change was difficult because you had to get all the way under the car) and argued that Sony was an obscure laptop manufacturer - that it wasn't a popular make "like a Dell or something." I knew the price was inflated, but I went by to settle up anyhow.
When I arrived at the shop, the owner claimed he'd been listening in on the phone conversation (?) and shouted that I was "out of my mind." When I asked him about the extended time it took for his tech to open up the laptop, he said it was my fault, because the computer was running Windows 8. Windows 8 is gonna have a lot to answer for come Judgment Day, but making screws on a plastic case hard to locate & remove isn't one of them. He then claimed that it was extremely rare for laptops to have to be opened up to be fixed (which is like saying that it's rare to have to open the hood to fix a car) and that it was miraculous that his technician was able to reattach the ribbon (which is like threading a belt buckle. It can take a bit of dexterity, which is why I can't do it, but it's a very routine task for a tech). He also said a lot of other things that I don't think I can print here. He was shouting all the time. I engaged him for a bit - it's aggravating to be ripped off AND screamed at about it - but soon decided that I just wanted to check to see if the repair had been done and get out of there. The owner, though, would not leave me alone while I booted up the computer, continuing to shout nonstop at me and going weirdly in & out of my personal space, as if trying to make up his mind whether he wanted to attempt to intimidate me physically. He then accused me of being this customer who defrauded him in 2008 (??? he kept shouting: "WE HAVE RECORDS!") and had made obscene phone calls to the shop, or something, and claimed that he was going to take me to court for being a thief (?!?!). He was just unhinged at the end and was being so aggressive that I felt physically threatened: I didn't feel safe being in the shop any longer, so I stepped out, called the police in the parking lot, and waited until a sheriff's deputy came by to accompany me while the bill was paid. The deputy didn't seem particularly surprised to be there. Look, this'll probably make an entertainingly insane service experience to tell my friends about in retrospect, but it really wasn't fun at the time - I was outright scared for my safety at the end. And, shrieking aggression aside, it was a grossly inflated price for a routine job - it was extremely obvious that he thought I'd buy any utterly ridiculous tech "explanations" he threw out because I was a woman. I'd had previous repairs done at Comdoctor (it don't know whether it was 2008 or not; you'll have to pardon me - I don't have records), and they went off without a hitch, so I don't know what's changed here - whether new, not-as-competent techs were hired, or someone decided that they didn't like taking their antipsychotics anymore, or what. I do know, however, that I can't recommend stepping into the shop without a parent, guardian, officer of the law, or good amount of pepper spray. "},"url":"https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/me/augusta/comdoctor-net-inc-reviews-4857267.htm"},"position":8},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@type":"LocalBusiness","name":"Jordan'S Garage","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressRegion":"ME","addressCountry":"US"},"review":{"@type":"Review","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Dennis P."},"reviewBody":"He did not fix the car"s problem, and then told me to arrange towing and service somewhere else because he had "done all he could". The Dealership it was towed to then had to repair the damage caused by his mistake. "},"url":"https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/me/oxford/jordan%27s-garage-reviews-8098615.htm"},"position":9},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@type":"LocalBusiness","name":"Independent Muffler & Brake","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressRegion":"ME","addressCountry":"US"},"review":{"@type":"Review","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"James V."},"reviewBody":"I placed a prelimnary call a week or two before bringing the car in to see if they would be interested in the repair of if they were simply going to jump to recommending a more costly replacement. I had a very welcoming discussion with the mechanic and he told me it sounded like a not-too-difficult repair . . . no hint of an and quot;oh my God, you're going to have to replace the whole thing!and quot;. I asked how long he thought it might take and he guessed about an hour. I asked when the shop tends to be less busy and he told me. A couple of weeks later I brought it in for repair. Was greeted with a waiting room full of customers and a very nice and professional person behind the counter. Did the paperwork, handed over the keys, got a call back within about two hours with an estimate, approved the job, and picked up the car around lunchtime and all was good. Excellent business, excellent customer services, excellent repair. Thanks a bunch! "},"url":"https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/pa/erie/independent-muffler-and-brake-reviews-4901608.htm"},"position":10}]}
Basement Leak Repair reviews from real Angi homeowners in Skowhegan, ME
Fast and efficient service from coming to quote the job to scheduling and completion. A leak developed but the crew returned within a reasonable amount of time to diagnose and correct the problem. I highly recommend Gutters By Design.
Horrible, absolutely horrible. DO NOT use this company. Company charges $289 to come out and look at your hot tub with the claim that the $289 will be applied to the total repair cost. Once they finally came to my house in mid July to look at the tub, the tech identified the issue right...
You know you've had a bad repair experience when you have to call the police to protect you from the owner. My Sony Vaio laptop was taken apart for a cleaning but wouldn't start afterward; the culprit was a ribbon connection that had come loose during the cleaning. Pretty common problem,...
General contracting - including but not limited to; renovations, siding, decking, roofing, kitchens, bathrooms, flooring installation, window installation, insulation, demo & demo removal, etc. Ground work & excavation work also available.
"We had a great experience working with Wes from Boynton Builders LLC! We had a pretty extensive basement remodel / conversion to living space project that we needed help on, and we are extremely happy all aspects of this project using Boynton Builders LLC. Wes responded quickly to a voice message I left, was able to quickly schedule a time to visit to discuss our intended Scope of Work (which also involved another project re-enforcing a carrying beam and support post in our detached garage) after which he quickly provided detailed quote that fortunately fell with our budget. We agreed to move forward, and Wes went to the Town Office for us and took care of the Building Permit and were able to start our project within a couple of weeks and the work proceeded at a good clip with every stage discussed being performed in the order identified from the onset. As the project progressed, we added an additional phase to the scope of work (Install Flooring and a new double door) and he quickly estimated the additional cost got the next phase into his schedule about a week after the completion of the first / original project. Throughout the whole project Wes was pleasant, professional, motivated and productive and open to any requests for change as the space began to be completed and new ideas came into play as we were better able to visualize the final result. Wes completed all of the work on time and within the budget/ and additional scope estimates. We already have the next project planned and will be using Boynton Builders LLC again. Any friends that have seen the completed project state that it is "an incredible transformation" and we are proud to welcome friends into a space that was once an embarrassment. I would also like to mention that I originally reached out and left the same voicemail (one right after the other) for three different contractors and Wes was the only callback received, and that was within a couple hours."
David M on April 2025
General contracting - including but not limited to; renovations, siding, decking, roofing, kitchens, bathrooms, flooring installation, window installation, insulation, demo & demo removal, etc. Ground work & excavation work also available.
"We had a great experience working with Wes from Boynton Builders LLC! We had a pretty extensive basement remodel / conversion to living space project that we needed help on, and we are extremely happy all aspects of this project using Boynton Builders LLC. Wes responded quickly to a voice message I left, was able to quickly schedule a time to visit to discuss our intended Scope of Work (which also involved another project re-enforcing a carrying beam and support post in our detached garage) after which he quickly provided detailed quote that fortunately fell with our budget. We agreed to move forward, and Wes went to the Town Office for us and took care of the Building Permit and were able to start our project within a couple of weeks and the work proceeded at a good clip with every stage discussed being performed in the order identified from the onset. As the project progressed, we added an additional phase to the scope of work (Install Flooring and a new double door) and he quickly estimated the additional cost got the next phase into his schedule about a week after the completion of the first / original project. Throughout the whole project Wes was pleasant, professional, motivated and productive and open to any requests for change as the space began to be completed and new ideas came into play as we were better able to visualize the final result. Wes completed all of the work on time and within the budget/ and additional scope estimates. We already have the next project planned and will be using Boynton Builders LLC again. Any friends that have seen the completed project state that it is "an incredible transformation" and we are proud to welcome friends into a space that was once an embarrassment. I would also like to mention that I originally reached out and left the same voicemail (one right after the other) for three different contractors and Wes was the only callback received, and that was within a couple hours."
Conley Inc. is your trusted partner for all your remodeling needs in Maine. Our team of experts is dedicated to delivering exceptional results that exceed your expectations. With our attention to detail and commitment to quality, we stand out from the competition. Contact us today to transform your home into the space of your dreams.
"Ok. Went past deadline but not their fault… power outages and severe weather."
Martha P on February 2024
Conley Inc. is your trusted partner for all your remodeling needs in Maine. Our team of experts is dedicated to delivering exceptional results that exceed your expectations. With our attention to detail and commitment to quality, we stand out from the competition. Contact us today to transform your home into the space of your dreams.
"Ok. Went past deadline but not their fault… power outages and severe weather."
Welcome to Conley, Inc.! We are excited to exceed your expectations. As experts, we will handle your needs with the high-quality expertise that your home deserves. We offer competitive prices, and customer satisfaction is our number one priority. Call us now!
"We chose Conley, Inc to completely remodel two bathrooms in an older farmhouse in Belgrade. Their craftsmanship was outstanding and we are thrilled with the results. They were extremely flexible on the scheduling, so we always had a functional bathroom. They made great decisions to help us make the most out of some smaller spaces, while helping us get the most out of our budget. Great folks, personally, as well."
Chris G on September 2021
Welcome to Conley, Inc.! We are excited to exceed your expectations. As experts, we will handle your needs with the high-quality expertise that your home deserves. We offer competitive prices, and customer satisfaction is our number one priority. Call us now!
"We chose Conley, Inc to completely remodel two bathrooms in an older farmhouse in Belgrade. Their craftsmanship was outstanding and we are thrilled with the results. They were extremely flexible on the scheduling, so we always had a functional bathroom. They made great decisions to help us make the most out of some smaller spaces, while helping us get the most out of our budget. Great folks, personally, as well."
With over 20 years experience in the Remodeling industry, Gilmax General Contractors is your industry expert in Somerset county and the surrounding areas. We pride ourselves on our extreme professionalism and attention to detail. Our customer satisfaction guarantee will assure you we will not leave your property until you are completely satisfied with our work. As a family owned and operated business you can trust that we will treat your home as we would treat our own. Give us a call today we look forward to working with you!
With over 20 years experience in the Remodeling industry, Gilmax General Contractors is your industry expert in Somerset county and the surrounding areas. We pride ourselves on our extreme professionalism and attention to detail. Our customer satisfaction guarantee will assure you we will not leave your property until you are completely satisfied with our work. As a family owned and operated business you can trust that we will treat your home as we would treat our own. Give us a call today we look forward to working with you!
Bradford Home Services is your personal maintenance company for your home, condo, rental property, or seasonal property! Born from our sister company Bradford Construction Management, you can trust your home is being reviewed by seasoned home builders! We have over 70 years of experience in the residential construction market, building high end homes, from design to finish. Take advantage of our bi-annual assessments for only $25/Month! We will review your whole home Exterior, Interior, plumbing, electrical, heating etc! we will then send you a detailed report with pictures, videos, and recommendation on fixes! But it doesn't stop there, we can price and repair any aspect of your home!
Bradford Home Services is your personal maintenance company for your home, condo, rental property, or seasonal property! Born from our sister company Bradford Construction Management, you can trust your home is being reviewed by seasoned home builders! We have over 70 years of experience in the residential construction market, building high end homes, from design to finish. Take advantage of our bi-annual assessments for only $25/Month! We will review your whole home Exterior, Interior, plumbing, electrical, heating etc! we will then send you a detailed report with pictures, videos, and recommendation on fixes! But it doesn't stop there, we can price and repair any aspect of your home!
My name is Brandon Wood, I have been in the carpentry business for 4 years! At the beginning of 2023 I opened my own business, Lakewood Handyman. I can do all jobs big and small! I am a licensed heat pump installer, and I specialize in all things flooring. I do however provide all handyman services big and small such as; Remodels, demo, drywall, ceilings, roofing, deck building, tiling, painting, plumbing, landscaping, waste removal, you name it! If I am unable, I will be honest!
My name is Brandon Wood, I have been in the carpentry business for 4 years! At the beginning of 2023 I opened my own business, Lakewood Handyman. I can do all jobs big and small! I am a licensed heat pump installer, and I specialize in all things flooring. I do however provide all handyman services big and small such as; Remodels, demo, drywall, ceilings, roofing, deck building, tiling, painting, plumbing, landscaping, waste removal, you name it! If I am unable, I will be honest!
Soucys property improvements llc is your go-to handyman. over 15 years experience on improving properties.
"Great! He kept in touch and arrived when he said he would. He is clean and personable. He was able to finish within his estimated time for this project."
Robin B on July 2024
Soucys property improvements llc is your go-to handyman. over 15 years experience on improving properties.
"Great! He kept in touch and arrived when he said he would. He is clean and personable. He was able to finish within his estimated time for this project."
Greeting! We are professional, commercial concrete workers by trade looking to bring our experience skills and knowledge to your upcoming home projects. With experience in foundation footings and walls, stairs, slabs and various forms of repair work we can deliver your project on time and on budget. Our skills include: - Measurement and layout - Rebar planning and placement - Building formwork - Pouring and finishing concrete - Striping of formwork - Repairs on existing concrete structures We are well versed in abstract problem solving and would deeply appreciate your business. There is no job to big or too small, contact us today for your initial consultation!
Greeting! We are professional, commercial concrete workers by trade looking to bring our experience skills and knowledge to your upcoming home projects. With experience in foundation footings and walls, stairs, slabs and various forms of repair work we can deliver your project on time and on budget. Our skills include: - Measurement and layout - Rebar planning and placement - Building formwork - Pouring and finishing concrete - Striping of formwork - Repairs on existing concrete structures We are well versed in abstract problem solving and would deeply appreciate your business. There is no job to big or too small, contact us today for your initial consultation!
We specialize in rehabilitation, remodeling, new construction, inside and out. Kitchens, bath, sunroom or deck. With the owners background in yacht design and construction, our attention to detail and fine finish is beyond the normal.
We specialize in rehabilitation, remodeling, new construction, inside and out. Kitchens, bath, sunroom or deck. With the owners background in yacht design and construction, our attention to detail and fine finish is beyond the normal.
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Basement Leak Repair questions, answered by experts
You may have to dig out drain valves if they are buried under dirt. This method isn’t ideal, and it increases the chance of clogs and damage. Ideally, a drip irrigation system buries drain valves in a gravel pocket so they are easier to access and better-protected. If you have trouble accessing drain valves, hire a sprinkler professional to find them safely and efficiently.
There are several small, inexpensive upgrades you can make to upgrade your basement. Although you still need to adhere to building codes and obtain permits when necessary, you can complete small but mighty tasks like painting the masonry walls and installing entertainment devices to make the space more usable.
French drains may fail when they become clogged with soil granules that slip through the pores of the landscaping fabric and through the holes in the pipe.
Over time, this debris can build up inside the pipe and prevent water flow. To prevent this failure from happening, regularly flush out your French drain and keep debris away from the inlet grate.
A burst pipe can cause hundreds or even thousands of dollars in damage. It could flood your home, which can destroy many of your belongings. It could also ruin hardwood floors and carpeting, requiring you to replace your flooring. Finally, mold and mildew form very quickly after high levels of moisture have been introduced to a space; this is not only costly to remove but also bad for your health.
Signs include persistent dampness, mold or mildew presence, musty odors, and visible water stains. If any of these occur, it is advisable to contact a professional for an inspection.
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The Skowhegan, ME homeowners’ guide to basement leak repair services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
A basement bar can add value to your home and serve as a great place to entertain. Use this guide on the cost to build a bar in your basement to get started.
Need to fix basement water problems or safeguard your home from damage in the future? Use this basement waterproofing cost guide to budget appropriately.
Learn what home flood detection systems are, how they work, where to install them, and why they can help minimize water damage in your home with this guide.