Bill Kapura Building Contractors, Inc.

Review: I hired Bill Kapura Contractors to repair damage due to a burst water pipe in January of 2014. I am the owner of the property, currently residing in [redacted] while the home is listed for sale. Their work was completed in October of 2014, and I had asked that they winterize the home. I was charged $284 for winterization. I then had to turn the power on in my name for listing agents to show the home. I began receiving high electricity bills. My realtor informed me (she went to the home to inspect) that the electric baseboard had been left on. I contacted Kapura Contractors to inquire as to why the baseboard was left on, and also to get a detailed list of what was done to winterize the home. I emailed them on 12/31/14, 1/5/15, 1/12/15, and 1/13 and still have not received the information that I had requested. The reason to winterize the home was to avoid high bills for heating a home that is vacant. Due to their lack of attention in turning off the electric baseboard, this has resulted in a electric bill in excess of what the cost of winterizing the home was.Desired Settlement: retract the winterization bill of $284 (as after several attempts there is no detailed explanation of what was done) credit my account the amount that the excessive electricity bills have caused me ($393.65 on statement dated 1/30/15), as this was the direct result of the Kapura Staff leaving the electric baseboard in the on position

Business

Response:

Response to Customer Complaint -[redacted]

Bill Kapura Building Contractors, Inc. was hired to repair [redacted] home due to water damaged home as a result of a freeze up due to no heat, and many broken pipes. She resides in [redacted], and her property was not monitored. We began our work in April. The lawn was not mowed for the entire summer, and neighbors that had homes for sale complained to the town, as the property appeared abandoned. [redacted] asked that we mow it for her. We mowed in July, and just received payment in December.

We were in need of power and water during construction. On 7/14/2014 there was a tag from the water provider that the water was to be shut off for non- payment. The utility company would not allow us to have the power put in the company’s name until the homeowner’s balance was paid. [redacted] established a payment plan with both the electric company and water company, and we were then able to obtain the power to be billed to the company during construction.

Our work was completed by the third week of September. On 9/19/2014 [redacted] requested we winterize her home, and we did. [redacted] was informed that we would be taking the power out of our name on 10/31/2014. She had stated that there was to be an open house on November 1, 2014 conducted by her realtor, and would be switching the power back in her name at that time. Throughout the construction process, [redacted] realtor was very anxious to show the home, as it was in foreclosure. There evidently were people in her home after our work was completed.

[redacted] emailed questioning the company why switches were on and things plugged in. She believed that winterization included monitoring lights left in the on position and items unplugged. We emailed a response that winterization was draining the heating system to avoid pipes bursting. We emailed back and forth on this issue. On 12/31/2015, [redacted] inquired about her electric bill being high. The bill was from the previous 25 days. We responded our work was completed per her signed certificate of satisfaction dated September 23, 2014. Winterization took place the first week of November per [redacted] request. We were responsible for the electric bill until 10/31/2014. The company is not responsible for the electric bill past 10/31/2014.

On 1/12/2015 [redacted] emailed the company stating that she asked the realtor to check on why the electric bills were high. She stated the realtor said the baseboard heat was left on, and that shutting everything off was part of winterization process, and would not pay her balance to Bill Kapura Building Contractors, Inc. until she heard back. We explained that the electric bill was not our responsibility beyond 10/31/2014. She questioned again what winterizing the home meant.

On 1/13/2015 we responded again, stating that winterizing the home is draining the heating system to avoid pipes bursting, which was completed, and we are not responsible for her electric bill.

To date, [redacted] has an unpaid balance of $1,284.00 for the balance of her invoice and the winterization. We have fulfilled all of our contractual obligations. Apparently [redacted] does not want to pay what is owed. If payment is not received, we intend to take legal action.%3

Consumer

Response:

Review: [redacted]I am rejecting this response because:There is inaccurate information in the business response. There was never a response to my request for the details of winterization. I am happy to provide all email correspondence between myself and Kapura contracting. Also, the home is not a foreclosure, but is listed as a short sale at this time. Again, I am happy to provide supporting documentation of such. What is frustrating to me is that Kapura contracting neglected to turn off the electric baseboard, which has resulted in the excessive electric bills. They refuse to explain why that was neglected as part of their work completion in my home. I do have a remaining balance, which I intend to pay, but because of the gross negligence on their part, I now have electric bills to $398, which I need to address as well. Before they were in the home doing work, my bills were $16 per month. It is not until they completed work and neglected to turn off the electric baseboard, that my electric bill rose sharply.Sincerely,[redacted]