Solid Concrete Surroundings

Contacted number for Concrete Surroundings.  Office manager, Terry came to our home and gave an estimate to my husband.  Terry called Brandon Frye (owner) and got the quoted price.  Signed the contract on Monday, April 30, 2012.  Gave Terry a check for 1/2 the contract amount.  Check was written to Concrete Surroundings.  Within a few minutes after she left she returned and asked if the check could be put in another business name, New Sun (something).  The check was cashed immediately.  Terry said the workers would be at our home at 8:00 AM the next morning (May 1, 2012).  We kept our dogs in the house and did all the agreed upon preparations.  When we arrived home from work that day, nothing had been done, we had not received a phone call yet they had cashed the check.My husband called Terry (the office manager) who was very nice but couldn't give an explanation as to why the work had not started as agreed.  I found a number for Mr. Frye and called it.  He answered and when I told him who I was and told him why I was calling, he became very defensive and said he had four work days to "get the work done".  I told him I understood the contract; but why would he immediately cash the check and promise to start the work, but not show up nor even call with an explanation.  I know more due diligence should have been done about him before executing the contract with him.  (I learned my lesson).  I checked the business license number he has on this (Angie's List) site, it is incorrect, nor is there a Brandon Frye with a SC Contractor's License at all.  (So that is untrue).  The business address is the UPS store mailbox and the phone number is a cell phone.  I told Mr. Frye that if the work was NOT completed within the four "business" days I was going immediately to the magistrate and file a complaint.  He was not happy with me at all.  He did not apologize for not notifying us they would not be there as promised; he was very defensive when I brought up a couple of reviews and one complaint about him not finishing work I had read.  He said he would be at my house at 8:00 AM the next morning.  I told him I would be waiting for him.  I did wait on him the next morning, he and three (he said they were Peruvian) workers showed up at 8:00 AM sharp.  That day they worked and cleaned out the old concrete (the cracked section) framed up and prepped the area. The next day they finished the prep and the concrete truck poured at 4:00 PM. We gave them a check for the last half of the agreed upon amount (the office manager Terry came over).The next morning, Terry called and asked for us to again change the name on the check from the original check to Mr. Fye's name.  We were not at home and could not accomodate.  They came back the following week to pick up their tools, wheelbarrows and remove the framings.The concrete work itself seems to be done well and that of course is the bottom line.  I only write about the business dealings with Mr Fye and his office manager because of the other reviews they received.  My experience with this company would be to say, if you hire them, stay on top of the timeline and make sure you don't allow extra time when asked.  Their concrete skills seem to be very good but their business management seems a little shady.

Customer service was great at first!  But now they tell us one thing and never follow thru.  Can not get them to follow thru on any promise of their supposedly guaranteed work!