A-Express Signs

Review: (Private) hired A-Express Signs in October 2014 to replace our 3 company signs. Window, Building and Street.After several phone and email exchanges, a design, price, and time frame was agreed upon on 10/14/2014. The proofs were approved and I time frame of 6 weeks was given. This is to allow time for a permit to be obtained and production to be completed. A check for the first 50% was paid on 10/16/14 to get the project started.A-Express first came out to change our window decal in a timely manner (11/5/2014). They next moved on to the buildings channel letters. A part of the sign was installed and we were told that there was an error on the other part and that he would have to take it back to the shop to correct it. We made several calls there after to get a time of when they would be back again. Several weeks later they had installed the remaining sign on the front of our building.Their last job was to remove and replace the Street Plaza Sign. (Private) made numerous attempts to get an exact date of when the sign would be competed. (Private) took over an existing company and renamed on Sept 18, 2014. It was very important that the schedule of the sign would be completed on time for the fact that customers were continuing to stop in every day asking for the former company. We also mailed out 10,000 marketing pieces as a new finance company during the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is prime time for financing and we needed to have a proper Sign for not only for our customers to find us but for marketing and potential customers passing by. We explained this to [redacted] at A-Express signs and he continued to tell us he would get with the owner [redacted] and get back in touch. We were given several broken arrangements and had to continue to call over and over to get a new appointment. After not receiving a call we followed up within the next few days. We were then told that the truck was in the shop and we were given another date. After missing the next appointment we called again to hear that the truck was on another job and had not finished yet. This continued for many weeks. The next visit was on 12/16 -12/17 for the removal of the Plaza sign. After working in it for 2 days we were told that the wrong sign was ordered but should be in within a week they would call us. We did not receive a call. After getting pressure from our Home Office about our sign not be complete after 8 weeks, we called to follow up and let them know that this is unacceptable. We were told again that the truck was not working. Between 12/16 and 1/16, approx 20-30 calls were made, even multiple times a day when not getting through or not getting a return call. We were given messages that "[redacted] was not in" they would call him and call us back. We were told "we will see you next week", we were told again that "the truck was not in service". We were given [redacted]'s cell phone number but was unable to get through and never received a call back even after leaving messages.With no other options available and no set time schedule we called A-Express office phone to inquire about our permit. If it was registered with Jefferson Parish and if we can go through another company for completion without having to pay another permit fee. The receptionist said she would check and would call us back. She returned our call and stated that they would be out the following week. Our project was finally completed on 1/16/15, 13 weeks after the initial deposit was paid. The reason we chose A-Express signs was that they were affordable and gave a comfortable time frame. Had we known that it would exceed 3 months, we would not have signed a contract with this company.As the job was being completed the receptionist called our office to advise that [redacted] had called her to call us and let us know that the workers would be done in approx 15 minutes and that he would be by to pick up a check for the remaining balance. For an owner who has never returned any calls to his client or stopped by our office to supervise the work being done, was in a hurry to get the remaining deposit. Since we have to get an approval from Home Office to release funds that large we politely told her that he cannot just show up at our office that we will mail the check. She said "Well [redacted] said to make sure you put in the mailbox no later than Monday" (this was Friday)After the workers from A-Express left our location, we received a visit from our landlord stating that after they removed the old acrylic sign from the plaza box, they left it next to the buildings dumpster and that will not be picked up by the waste company, that they will need to come back and get it. We called A-Express and spoke with [redacted] to let him know that it can not be left and they need to come back for it. He stated that "they are not responsible for disposal, it is not listed anywhere in the contract and that they were not coming back to pick it up." I called the owner [redacted] and left a voice mail for him to please come and pick it up, that no other part of the sign was left on premises. When we returned the following week the signs had not been picked up.We received a call from the receptionist on Tuesday 20th asking if the check had been put into the mail yet and if we were happy with the work. I advised to her then that we were not happy and that the sign has yet been picked up. And that I could not imagine that this is how he treats all of his clients. She said she will let [redacted] know and call us back. We have yet to receive a call back and the signs are still next to the dumpster and we have no way to dispose of them. There was debate about holding the remaining funds until the items were picked up but we did not want to get fined for not paying the final balance within 3 days as stated on the contract.Desired Settlement: As a result of this complaint, we are requesting to have A-Express Sign come and pick up the former signs that were left at our office. If they are not responsible for disposal then why would they have taken all of the other items with them previously. It is a concern that they would expect their clients to have to dispose of the old equipment and panels. That is not our job and we have no way of moving the items. I could not imagine that after reviewing all of the businesses they have done work for (via his website) that he has left the signs behind at all of those locations for them to get rid of. The entire process was very unprofessional and we are extremely dissatisfied with our experience with A-Express signs.