I bought service Dec. 8, 2013, through Angie's Big Deal. After 3 emails and a phone call Dec. 13, Property Services refused to schedule a date to perform the contracted service, so I asked Angie's for my money back. One red flag in both the vendor's second email reply and the phone call is the vendor, Steve I think he said is his name, lectured me about what a customer is mandated to accept. In the case of his claim that the way Angie's Big deals works is that NO vendor starts handling Angie's purchases until after that promotion ends, Angie's customer service told me that's not an element of deal contracts. In fact, I've purchased other Big Deals from contractors who emailed and called within a day or two, scheduled my work as soon as I wanted and performed excellent work. The good thing I learned is that Angie's doesn't release the money to the vendor until the work is done, so I won't have to go to court to get my money back from the contractor, as so often is what it takes in New Jersey.. In the three email replies from
[email protected], the person writing did not identify himself. The first email informs only, "We are booked untill mid January what was the time you wanted to get work done. Thx Property Service" When I replied that a portion of the work needs to be done as soon as possible but the rest can be put off until later, I received, "Im sorry but this deal cannot be split into two different times of service. We come as a two man team for two 10 hr days or two men two and a half days to total 40 hrs. I sorry you have had to deal with a few bad contractors but any good company is usually booked for a few weeks as we are. If this service is an emergency and cannot wait untill mid January or late January I would suggest getting a refund and hiring someone who works by them self or just isn't busy as we are. Thx Property Service" When I replied saying I would ask for a refund if he couldn't give me specific dates for work, he replied '.. this deal runs untill the end of December. When any company runs a deal they don't start booking any of those deals sold until the big deal ends. I will do my best to get to you asap if I have a few days in the beginning of January I will let you know." I had noted to the vendor that I felt as a prepaid customer with a June expiration deadline on my end, I should be able to get at least a specific agreed date for service wtihin 30 days. Steve called me this morning, at first it seemed to salvage the purchase. But all he had to say was more of the same lecture about how he thinks Angie's Deals work and what I must accept. When I mentioned that, in fact, the law requires vendors to provide a product or service within 30 days of payment unless another specific date is agreed upon, he responded, "You're ignorant." His email and conversation kept referring to "bookings," which I pointed out that by definition means specific dates reserved by both parties. He got angry and scolded me for not accepting the vague mid-, late- and early January (depending on which of his email replies I might rely on for his word). I told him further that if HIS scheduling process, as it appears, did not allow me to pick a Tuesday and Wednesday (my days off), my employer would require a leave request from me at least two weeks ahead He refused even to be bound by that. He also claimed he had until June to show up to do the work, referring to the Deal expiration, and seemed to imply that if I didn't ingratiate myself to him he could put me off until June instead of maybe getting my (prepaid) work done in January, if he has time. He continued to lecture me about some of his jobs going long so he never would commit to a date until the last job was done. I told him I didn't want to hire a company with such poor business management and said goodbye. He was continuing to berate me to get in the last word as I hung up. Perhaps he'll learn something positive from his experience or perhaps not. Different people and jobs have different dynamics. For me, I purchased service through Angie's deal expecting prompt and punctual professional service, as has been my past experiences with other Angie's vendors, but I didn't get that with Property Services of Avalon, NJ.