Blue Diamond Organization

Review: I was a victim of Hurricane Sandy. I was solicited by Blue Diamond and signed a clean up contract for $4750.00 which I paid in full on my Am Ex Card. I then agreed to have them do my rebuild and negotiate with my insurance adjuster for me.

They came in, did the clean up as agreed upon and then started the reconstruction. When the insurance check for $12,000.00 came in I immediately gave it to them. They then disappeared--I sent numerous emails, and tried every phone number I had for them. The office phone number was out of service and no one responded to me. After 3 weeks I hired another contractor to finish up the job. I found out that most of the work done by Blue Diamond had to be redone. For example electrical outlets were too low to the ground and had to be redone to code etc. About a month later I got a phone call from the owner, [redacted] saying he was sending in the Painters. I asked him if he was kidding since the basement was still a complete mess and I had hired another contractor since I thought they were out of business. I spoke with my neighbor who was also using them and she was also unable to get any one to reply to her and had hired another contractor.,

In that last conversation with [redacted] I told him that since I had given him every cent of insurance money and I had no interest in working further with him we should just part amicably--even though he NEVER did half of what we originally discussed.

I received a bill last week from Blue Diamond asking for an additonal $8000. for the clean up (clearly in violation of our original contract) and additonal fees on top of the insurance settlement for work either not done correctly or at all.

I have bills from my new contractor, electrician and plumber showing that I had to pay others to finish up the job.Desired Settlement: Since my original agreement with them was $4750 for the clean up and payment of all insurance money I feel like I am holding up my end of the agreement by allowing Blue Diamond to can keep the $16,750.00 I paid them even though I feel they did not really deserve it. Since they caused me incredible distress in an already bad situation by their unprofessional business practices I would like them to and STOP trying to collect the additonal fees since I had to pay other people to finish the job.

Review: June **, 2014To [redacted], [redacted](Blue Diamond Construction)[redacted]Cell- ###-###-####This formal notification is being sent to you in regards to the lack of work completed and errors for my house located at [redacted]. I originally signed a contract with Blue Diamond on Saturday, March **, 2013. Noted in this contract work was to commence on April *, 2013. As per the contract under article 7.3 ([redacted]s Right to Carry Out the Work) if the contractor defaults or neglects to carry out the work in accordance with the contract documents and fails within a seven day period after receipt of written notice from the [redacted] to commence and continue correction of such default or neglect with diligence and promptness, the [redacted] (me/ [redacted]) may, without prejudices to other remedies, correct such deficiencies. In such case, the Contract Sum shall be adjusted to deduct the cost of the correction from the payments due the contract. I have given you numerous written notifications via emails and text messages regarding your abandonment of this project. This is the final attempt to rectify the situation. In addition, under article 7.4.3 of the contract that [redacted] and myself signed on March **, 2013, cost accrued by delays or improperly timed activities or defective construction shall be borne by the party responsible thereafter. It is due to Blue Diamond and [redacted] that I still am not in my home and had to pay rent on top of my mortgage. As of today, June **, 2014, my home is still uninhabitable due to no water, no Certificate of Completion and Occupancy, and various other deficiencies/defaults. As stated under article 8 of the contract (8.1.1) it is the responsibility of the contractor to visit and become familiar with local conditions of the property. [redacted] has not visited the house located at [redacted] for over 2 months. The house was dropped by Excel in December 2013 and the work from Blue Diamond on this house has been slow to non-existent. I was verbally informed by Blue Diamond ([redacted]) that I would be in my house sometime within January 2014 due to its completion. As of today, June **, 2014, no work or contractors have been to the house in over a month. Trying to contact the [redacted] of Blue Diamond has become nearly impossible due to him not answering his cell phone or text messages. These have been saved for future reference if needed in addition to cell phone records and emails. Under article 8.2 it was the responsibility of the contractor to create a schedule of completion of work. I have asked for this several times and have not received it. This is a breach of contract. Under article 8.3, it is the contractors who need to supervise the work. Due to lack of supervision there are electric outlets that do not work on the second floor after originally being fixed for other parts of the house. In addition, the walls located in the living room were not smoothed out and the seems of the house are visible (refer to Pictures).The Total cost of the project is 194,475.39. I have provided Blue Diamond with checks totaling 188,431.16Payment History:-At signing - $25,000-July **, 2013 Check number [redacted] in the amount of 15,000-September **, 2013 Check Number [redacted] in the amount of 40,000-November **, 2013 in the amount of 21, 700.00-TD Bank Check [redacted] posted on December *, 2013 in the amount of 86,731.16Total Amount Provided by Me 188,431.16Total Amount of Job-194,475.39Remaining Balance (prior to deductions as per article 7 of the contract): $6,044.23 Please note the following errors due to contractors negligence:-House was suppose to include a bathtub and did not.-The upgrade bathroom vanity was not provided-The upgrade tiles for the bathroom was not provided and standard contractor grade was provided.-The Berber rug for the den located on the second floor was not provided and again standard was provided-The upgrade cabinets were not provided and again standard contractor grade was provided. -The kitchen countertops and sink with installation that I had to purchase for $3,000 from Home depot. As per contract this too was an upgrade; however, it was not provided.-Corrected the pluming under the house due to sewage leaking into the ground (I paid 700 for this). Plumbing is still not completed to code.-The adjusted price for the flooring need to be taken into account.Other work that has not been completed/provided and was paid for:-2 car cement driveway and curb cut located on the right side of the house apx. 30 feet.-Breaking up the rest of the old driveway located on the left front of the house with fixing the old curb cut.-Walk way from the house to the curb-Clean up of property with debris from builders (rocks located at the base of the foundation) as per 8.11 cleaning up of the property as per the contract.-4 Flood Vents-Under lights for the cabinets-The cut out and completion of the plumbing with heating and insulating the pipes under the house and setting up for the water meter.-Broken Door bells-The crawl space door-Gutters-Central Air/Heat Unit with the correcting of the ductwork-2 Doors for the attic and central air ductwork access-Sheet rocking the rest of the wall upstairs-The correcting/fixing of the outlets upstairs that dont work-Polyurethaning the stairs-Putting up the backsplash-Vent to the roof-2 saddles; one located in the bathroom and the other in the laundry closet-Correcting the uneven walls in the living room that shows the seams of the house-The replacement of the broken window located on the kitchen (front of the house)-The replacement of the wood floor panels by the door damaged due to water from when work was being done.-Heat connection -Sealing of the foundation-completion of touch up work-Obtaining the final Certificate of Occupancy-Finishing the interior trim-The cement slab that was to be laid down in the crawl space (indicated underDesired Settlement: Refund for the work already paid for and not completed.