M FRATESI MASON CONTRACTOR

The absolute worst experience ever with a contractor. We ended up suing to get our deposit back. The contractor had delays upon delays all totally due to their inability to successfully manage a project. We ended up firing them and filing a complaint with NJ Consumer Affairs and the BBB.

Pretty dated info, but this was the worst experience we've ever had with a contractor, and I feel compelled to post it here to protect others. In 2000 we awarded Michael Fratesi (then of Bridgewater) the contract for porch replacement. We placed 50% down (out of $4000 quote). He never showed up despite repeated calls, and many promises to start the work. After many months of false promises, we canceled the job, and he declined to return the deposit despite never having showing up even once. We eventually took him to small claims court in Somerville and received a quick judgment (he didn't show up at court either...) The Somerset Sheriff eventually collected about half of the deposit for us in 2002. The remaining $1000 was a loss.

Fratesi M Mason Contractor does pretty good quality and efficient work when they get going. We had two big delays though. In the contract, they had written that they would start the work in two weeks, but didn't show up for five weeks, and out of the twenty working days in April, they were only here for seven days. The work should have been done by May 23rd, but it wasn't finished until the 4th of July. The price was pretty fair and they were fairly professional as well. There seemed to be a lack of communication with them. They did willingly come back and fix a small problem with the paving and the yard was somewhat torn up by their big machinery.