LAKE ROOSEVELT HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

After getting an estimate and signing a contract, a start date was scheduled with Mr. Struve. A 50% deposit was given to Mr. Struve. The required plumbing was completed the day before the start date since the old hot water heater needed to be removed (therefore no hot water). Mr. Struve did not show up on the scheduled day, nor did he call. When he returned our phone call, he said it would be five more days to receive the unit--the company he purchased from did not have the unit in stock, even though they told him they did. After one week without hot water, he began the job. After the second day, we needed to have his work inspected before he could complete the final step (hooking the gas lines to the meter). The inspection was completed several days later and we called Mr. Struve immediately to set up the time to complete the job. He returned our call the next day and indicated he would come the following day. He did not show up again and did not call. He did not respond to any further phone messages. We then sent a "certified, return receipt requested," letter requesting the work be completed by a certain date and time or we would have to deduct the expense of getting the job completed from his final bill. We also contacted a lawyer who put us in contact with a contractor to finish the job in case Mr. Struve did not. Mr. Struve received and signed for our letter, but failed to contact us again. The other contractor completed the work and billed us accordingly. We have had no other contact from Mr. Struve (no final bill yet either). Mr. Struve relies on a home answering machine from which to do business. He does not have a cell phone to keep his customers promptly informed of changes. He also lives 1 and 1/2 hours from his supplier which, as in our case, wastes a minimum of 3 hours if parts are not in stock. What began as an attempt to do business locally, ended up a frustrating and highly stressful situation. We will trust no one in the future.