FERRENCE FLOOR & DECOR

We called Ferrence because my husband knew him and I knew his wife. We paid him half of the money upfront in either January or early February (I have the paperwork filed and can confirm when it was if necessary), and he said the job would be started in approximately 2 weeks. After 3, 3-1/2 weeks went by with no contact from Ferrence, we called and were told his supplier had it on back order so it may be another week. Several more weeks go by. I don't know how many times we called wondering when our carpeting would be installed, but we just kept getting the same response. He never ONCE called us to explain anything--it was always us who had to contact him. Finally in MAY, I called and told him I wanted my money back so I can go elsewhere to get it done. I told him several times previously that I was scheduled to have surgery in June and needed it done before that. Well, all of a sudden, our carpeting was magically in and he said the job would be done in a few days (I forget what day he said, but I still have the paperwork and can provide the information if needed). They finally DID come and do the job. My husband, dogs and I spent the day at at his sister's house while they installed the carpeting. Finally about 5:00, my husband went to our house and they were just finishing up. When I got in, I did immediately notice a few scratches in the beautiful oak woodwork our house has, but I thought I could touch it up. I paid him the balance and they left. As I was going through the whole house, I noticed the floors were squeaking much more than before. I thought perhaps that might be normal for a few days. As I started looking behind the furniture I saw more and more damage to the woodwork--some were very deep scratches. I was sick. I went upstairs to find the same thing in every room, stairway and hall where they installed the carpeting! I actually cried because this is one feature of our home that gives it added value as it's in its natural state, never having been painted, etc.. Then in my kitchen I found a huge scratch on my wood table that we had just purchased for $250.00 about 4 months earlier from my aunt who was moving into an assisted living center. It was in excellent condition. I remembered seeing a large tool on the table from the entrance to the kitchen, but I didn't go in because one of his workers was still cleaning up some equipment. I was so upset over the damage that it took me walking around several times to realize the squeaking was probably due to having LESS padding, and we ordered--and paid for--extra thick padding because we live in a duplex and you can hear your neighbors well; plus I like a nice, soft floor. It then dawned on me that it didn't even appear to be the carpeting we ordered! Even worse, as a few months went by, I became convinced this carpeting was not treated with ScotchGuard as it was supposed to be. Within a year, this carpeting looked MUCH worse than the wall-to-wall carpeting the bank installed, and which we lived with for 5 years! (and usually when a bank is selling a house, they do only cosmetic things to make the house look better, which is probably why there wasn't much padding). It also didn't take long before the edges began to fray. I am constantly cutting off threads! I had already needed new carpeting within a year, but because both my husband and I are on disability, we'll never be able to afford to get it done. We gotten it done when we did only because my husband got his Social Security back payment. I wanted to contact him and/or the PA State Attorney General's office to make this right and to warn people, but my husband is a very passive person, and even more so when it comes to someone he knows. I was also going into the hospital in a few days for major, extensive surgery, which was then going to take several months of recuperation and therapy. So it wasn't feasible for me to do it then. I remember when he and his wife came to the house the first time to give us an estimate, we were talking about how long it took for my husband to get his Social Security Disability, and they were talking about money problems they were having as well. I truly believe they spent the up-front money we paid him, and when he didn't have the money to return to us when I requested it after waiting 4 MONTHS, he went and purchased the cheapest padding and carpeting that most resembled the carpeting we ordered. I just regret that we didn't take any action against him, because he definitely took us for a ride. I can't say whether he does this on a regular basis, or if he did it to us because of his money problems at that time, but either way, people should know about our experience. I still have the pictures of the damages that I took right after they left and would be happy to show people who are considering hiring him to install carpeting. He really should be ashamed of himself, but probably thought it was safe to do knowing that my husband is a very non-confrontational person and that I was in very bad physical shape at the time. I am also very petite, and people tend to think that makes me a meek, timid person who would never take action against someone. I regret listening to my husband and not taking immediate action, but I believe that my physical condition, the surgery, and the continuing problems and therapy I had afterwards caused me to put handling this at that time on the back burner; and before I knew it, 2 years had gone by and it was too late to do anything.