Fine Color Painting

We hired Fine Color Painting to scrap our downstairs ceiling and to repaint. During that process they broke our range top, but stated that their insurance would cover it. They also stated that they had a cleaning company that would come in and clean up the debris left from the scrapping. With these two conditions, we paid them the total amount for the job. We had also already discussed them painting the downstairs walls and trim next. Approximately a week later we gave them the $1500 down payment for painting the downstairs walls and trim. Again they repeated that their insurance company would cover the range top, and that their cleaning company would clean the house. That was in April 2019. Today in January, our range is still not replaced, our house is still not cleaned, and no painting was started until I threatened to take them to court. We were lucky in that we have been able to live on the mother-in-law side of the house during all this. When they showed up to paint, they used just over 1 can of paint, then did not come back again claiming they had done $1500 worth of work. When I asked about fixing the range, Mr. Thompson stated that I could pay for it myself out of what they were not going to charge us for the remainder of the contract. I informed him that they cannot charge me for work that they are not doing, and therefore they still had to replace my range. Mr. Thompson did not see it that way. On our court date, they did not show up which means they lost the case. However, it also makes it difficult for us to get the money that is owned us. I think that their purpose in not showing up was that they had no intention of paying us what we are owed. Though William E. Thompson is the person you always talk to and who makes the decisions on when they show up to work (or don't show up when stated they would), he is not the owner of the company, so you cannot sue him. He claimed that he was just a simple worker. You have to sue Fine Color Painting and his wife, Ashley E. Guernsey (aka Ashley G. Thompson as she signs the contracts) who is the owner of record. The warning of all this is that once they leave, you may not be able to get them back to fix anything. Make sure everything is in order before you pay them. We also know someone else who had problems getting them back to fix flaking paint from their kitchen cabinets that they had painted. It also appears that their approach if they owe you money, or need to fix things, is to avoid you at all costs hoping that you will give up. Finally, do a simple internet check on William E. Thompson before you let them in your house. Do what you are comfortable with after that.