Brewer Service Company

Review: Ivan Brewer has stopped all work on my addition. He will not responded to me regarding finishing the addition to my house. I have a shell for the addition but no doors and I am missing a window. I now have a birds nest in a light fixture and a bees nest inside the addition. My back yard is torn up and he broke my bottom step.Desired Settlement: I want the addition completed

Business

Response:

I Ivan M. Brewer am the owner of the Brewer Service Co. and was in a contractual agreement with Ms. [redacted]. Every thing was going as planned on Ms. [redacted]'s two story room addition until right before November. In that month my original electrician was not in agreement with the original contract agreement that he and I made. The addendum was going to put us way over budget and we couldn't afford it. I went through a lot of trouble to find a new subcontractor and after three to four electricians I found one willing to complete the project already started. I told Ms. [redacted] the electrical sub was charging me in the ball park of $2,200.00 to complete necessary work to get electrical rough-in inspection completed. She said that she wouldn't render any more money or installments to me until the inspection was finalized and she saw more progress. I was fine with that and asked her to submit a $1,000 check to [redacted] to get started on project . She gave him the check and he disappeared on She and I for over two weeks . At this point I was extremely upset at my subcontractor. I told Ms. [redacted] I would take care of this issue. He returned two weeks later and started work. when the subcontractor and I spoke after one week he was close to finish and needed more money . I told him Ms. is not giving any money until inspection is complete but I would pay him out of my pocket and whatever additional items we run into he and I would put on our contract. I gave [redacted] $850 dollars within 1.5 weeks and told him no more money until complete and inspection was passed. Ms. [redacted] texted me very happy that the inspection had passed one day and I told her I needed another $1,000 dollar draw to pay [redacted] in full and she responded via text message that She had already paid him in full. I was very curious as to 1. Why did you pay him any money 2 days before the inspection finalized and passed 2. why would you pay my subcontractor any money without discussing with me the General Contractor first for authorization. 3. Did you and [redacted] have a written contractual agreement that I didn't know about. 4. If no disbursements were to be given until after inspection why did she pay him days before complete not knowing if it were passed by County inspections dept. 5. [redacted] runs away with $1,000.00 more than he and I agreed upon. Ms. [redacted]s budget did not have any room what so ever for extras of any kind we were barely going to complete the Job with what money was left. I felt very disrespected and no longer needed on this job due to her actions. Thanks for your time any questions please call ###-###-####.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. I had a contract with Mr Brewer. 1st of, when I hired Mr Brewer he lead me to believe he had a full crew to work and that what I was looking for to be done, he was able to do. He told me that the project would only take 6 - 8 weeks to complete. He did not have a crew. The work was being done by Mr brewer and a helper. Several times I asked him if this project was too much for him. He kept telling me that he was more than capable to do the project. In December of 2015, I was getting frustrated that it was taking so long. He kept insuring me that the work would go extremely fast once he had gotten the electrical work done. But the electrical inspection has failed twice. That was when he got [redacted] to come in and fix all the mistakes. I gave [redacted] $1000.00 to start the job on March 28th. On April 11th, Mr Brewer again asked me for $500.00 supplies. By this time, [redacted] had only worked 1 or 2 days so I informed Mr Brewer that I would not give out any more money til I saw work being done and the job was completed and passed inspection. On April 27th, I had to inform Mr Brewer that the electrical inspection had passed. Because the inspection had passed and he was done with the job, [redacted] asked for the remaining balance of $1100.00. The next day on April 28th, Mr Brewer ask for a check of $1000.00 so he could pay [redacted]. That was when I inform Mr Brewer that I had already paid Mr [redacted]. Mr Brewer than called me and screamed at me. He wouldn't let me talk and he didn't want to hear my side of the story of what happened. He just screamed at me, telling me that he had given Mr [redacted] $600.00 for supplies and now he's out of that money. Then he hung up on me. I gave him a week to calm down, I wanted to discuss what happened and see how we could work this out. Mr Brewer would no longer answer my calls, or text messages, or email. He just left me hanging not knowing what was going on. He just walked off the job not caring about our contract or the way he left my house. My back yard is all dig up, I have no siding or gutters on the addition, no doors, and I have a hole for a window. My addition is open to the elements. Now I have birds building nests in my light fixtures and a bee hive in my eves.Mr Brewer was the one who hired Mr [redacted]. I believe Mr [redacted] played us both, partly because Mr Brewer does not communicate very well. Mr Brewer had not been around during the whole time Mr [redacted] was working. To date I have given Mr Brewer 86% for our contract price but he has only completed about 40% of the job. The project was started in June 2015. Mr Brewer also wasted a lot of materials by leaving sheetrock covered by a tarp sitting in my driveway for months. It had water damage and mold on it when he finally moved it. He also broke my bottom step with the backhoe.The structional work that Mr Brewer has done so far will not pass inspection. For example, one of the windows does not have a 2x4 under the window to hold it up. It is going to cost me a lot more money to have another contractor to come in and fix all of Mr Brewers mistakes.

Regards,

Business

Response:

I have discussed this project with the consumer and she has agreed to pay the additional money to get the project completed. I will be at her home tomorrow, June 7 to complete the project.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.

Regards,

Review: I had hired this contractor in January 2012 to replace the roof on my home (insurance claim $4438.00) he came and replaced the roof I am no contractor so I don't know if it was done properly. In March 2014 I hired this contractor to paint my upstairs and replace all interior doors even after giving him a check for $1000 + plus dollars he informed me that I had to pay another $128.00 for door locks and to drill holes. (I supplied all supplies and materials) which he did except for return to drill holes for the striker plates and install them. In September 2014 I called him to inform him that the roof has started leaking and the ceilings in my home were buckled (the leak was due to him not flashing the chimney and a nail sticking up out the roof) and that they had painted my kitchen ceiling with eggshell paint and the part that her plastered is now peeling. He is saying that Virginia Law only requires that he give 1 year warranty on a roof replacement. He came over and fixed the roof we have tried to get together on several occasions to get together on the repair of the ceilings he has made promises to come and never shows up I have had family members sit at my home waiting for him to show up he never shows. He claims he came to my home and no one was there but two people said he never rang the doorbell. The last apt. was scheduled with my daughter in January she waited all day for him to come and he never came. I have every text message between him and me and now it has gotten to where he will not answer my calls to him so I am left with no choice but to file complaint against him I am not in the position to seek legal assistance. We had a very good working relationship until now I have had him to do several jobs for me but this time has been nothing but a big headache. I told him if he lets me know when he wants to come I will take a day off from work to be at home but he is adamant about me giving him a key with all of this going on I wouldn't dare give him a key to my home. I have more information but did not want to make this to long I am also filing a complaint with DPOR.Desired Settlement: I just want him to come and repair my ceilings like he said he was and be done with the whole thing. I am not going to give him a key he has to do it when either my daughter or I am there, him doing the work when my grandchildren are there (under 18) will not suffice. I think I have been more than fair and more than patient.

Business

Response:

In response to the recent complaint letter from Ms. [redacted]. I did enter into a contractual agreement with Ms. [redacted] to replace her roof.Before the job was started in January 2012 it was understood the final payment would not be made to me until the job was inspected by the insurance companies 3rd party inspector. The inspector came out got on the roof and approved the job saying it was completed with good workmanship and functionality. The second project was building and installing a complete bathroom with tub/shower, commode, and vanity in her basement. Once again completedwithin a very tight budget and very very affordable pricing was given. Around March of 2014 Ms. [redacted] contacted me very upset stating she had been ripped off by an older white gentlemen for some painting done in her home and he took her for about $800.00. She begged me to help her get the project done with the $1200.00 she had left in her budget. I agreed to help her though my profit margin would be very very small. I gave Ms. [redacted] prices that werefar below what I would normally charge someone because of our previous good working relationship and we were at one time members at the same church. After paint work was completed she wanted to add and addendum to our agreement to hang interior doors I told her I would do that but she had to install the door latches and strikers because I didn't have any more time to spend on her project. She agreed, but I still returned to install door handles . . .Two years later she tells me she believes she has a roof leak. I went to Ms. [redacted] home several times to look for signs of roof leak . Only once did I see a small sign in her granddaughters bedroom adjacent to hers. She told me her ceilings were stained and wet looking, but when I arrived her bedroom was in great shape and no stain or sign of moisture. For the granddaughters room I went on roof to repair flashing and add more roofing sealant around chimney.I plastered and painted the ceiling in the area where it was noticeable. Now going year into the third she text messages me saying the kitchen ceiling was never painted right. I again returned around early to mid November 2013 to look at what she was complaining about. She told me she would buy paint if I would repaint it. At this point only to save my name and credibility I agreed to do it even though I did not feel it was owed in any way. I went to her house on 3-4 separate occasions to see about the matter and was never able to gain entry into the home to inspect or even execute any work to resolve her supposed issue. I have laborers/witnesses along with every text message that shows every excuse she used from (children must be asleep, to her having the flu . . .) where as I could not gain entry. I even asked her to leave a key as she always did in years previous or someone to open the door. Ms. [redacted] contradicts herself in saying she will not leave a key due to the fact her grandchildren are under the age of 18 but then states in several texts they were home waiting for me the other times without any parental supervision or adult age 18+. After our last conversation I started receiving threatening text messages from her daughter with cursings etc... she even went so far as to say she had other ways of settling the issue etc..- I responded and told her I would not participate in any more childish, immature, ignorant messaging back and forth. At that point I ended all contact with Ms. [redacted] and her daughter by blocking all calls and texts from them. In situations as this it is in my best interest not to return to the address for several reasons. I cannot justify waisting any more time or money making service cells addressing this matter. If you have any questions regarding my response please call me [redacted].Sincerely,[redacted]

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.I am writing in regard to the response from Brewer Service Company ID #[redacted].1. The roofing job was done and completed January 2013 (damage occurred 8/2012) the check came in my name and the mortgage company therefore I had to send the check to the mortgage company and they were the onesthat disbursed the funds not me. He was paid what he offered to do the job for no more and no less. There was no 3rd party inspector from the insurance company that came to check the roof they did send someone over to make sure that the work had been done and they did not get on the roof I was there on the day that they came because they scheduled the inspection with me. I have text messages from him where he said that he did not flash the chimney (flashing and gutters were in the contract) and found a nail sticking up, there was nothing done to the gutters.2. The bathroom was done and paid for with what he had said he would do it for but when the job that was supposed to be $1000.00-$1200.00 turned into $1500.00 he was paid in full.3. I did contact him in March 2014 about some painting that I needed done because I had been scammed by another contractor for $1000.00 not $800.00 as Mr. Brewer is saying. I asked him what he would charge me to paint my upstairs and replace the doors of which I was given a quote of $1050.00 (doors and paint) I furnished all supplies I did not have a $1200.00 budget es he has stated in his response. We had nothing in writing everything he has done for me has been verbal. He is saying that he returned and plastered the kitchen ceiling which is not true and I have pictures to prove such. I also have pictures of my bedroom ceiling that have buckled and have water stains as well as in my living room and granddaughter's room. If you will notice from the canceled check I paid him $1050.00 as requested and when the time came to do the doors he did put them up at a cost of $20.00 per door and there were 7 doors, without the hardware of which I had to hire someone else to finish the job and I can get a statement from that person if need be.4. He is saying that he returned in mid November 2013 when in fast it was September 2014 I did not offer to buy any paint. (I have printed out ever text message from beginning to end and they show dates and times)5. He is saying that my children were left in the home un-supervised that has nothing to do with him not completing the work he said that he would do and my children are of an age that by law they can be left unsupervised one is 12 and the other is 17.6. He saw my daughter in the grocery store back in December or January end told her that he would meet her here at my home on that Thursday to take care of this problem she and my daughter in law waited for him and he never showed up when he was supposed to so she text him of which they got into a texting battle and not once did she curse nor did she threaten him she too has copies all text messages between she and him and as far as him saying that he has witnesses he has always come to my home alone when he did show up unless he is doing a job.7. I was very leery about leaving him a key to enter my residence (because of his being so adamant about getting a key) at will I had offered to take time off from work to be here so that he can get in. Yes we did attend the same church but that has nothing to do with him doing the work that he was paid for. His response is filled with a lot of untruths and he is trying to make me out to be the culprit in this when in fact ¡t is him all I wanted was for him to take care of what I paid for and he had promised to fix no more and no less I feel it is in my best interest to leave this because ¡t seems that I will not get the issue resolved. I had referred him to do a job for my brother in law of which he did not complete they ended up hiring someone else to complete the job. I contacted my insurance company about the roof and was told by my agent that if he had known that was who I was going to use to replace theroof he would have told me not to. I will never refer him again to anyone nor will I allow him to work in my home again.Sincerely,[redacted]