Custom Built Decks

Review: On December 14, 2013, I signed a contract with John S[redacted]/Custom Built Decks for a second story deck with screened-in porch, and made a down payment of 65% of the total price. The deck was to be completed in March 2014 but it was not and no one called to tell us why. I had to start calling the proprietor, John on a daily basis to eventually be told there were weather delays and he expected to finish the deck in April. Over the next several months, John, the owner, failed to show up for multiple promised work dates without contact prior and gave me excuses when I would finally get him on the phone, mostly he was at other jobs (which I assume signed after I did). Finally someone showed up in June to dig holes for the footing. Again I did not see anyone for weeks, despite multiple assurances that they would arrive in the next week or beginning of the week after. Finally, framing of the deck began and was completed at the beginning of September. Once the framing was completed John arrived seeking his next check. Although I was very unhappy at this point I made the next payment due to the contract stating the next payment would be due upon completion of the framing. They have not returned since framing/being paid in September and have continued to avoid my phone calls, make excuses for the delays, and promise to complete the job in a week or two (but never arriving to work on the deck). At this point, it's been over a year since we signed the original contract and have yet to even receive a delivery for materials to complete the decking or screened in porch.Desired Settlement: I want my deck to be completed. I would like them to finish the work or I want to be refunded my money so that I may contract another to complete the work.

Business

Response:

Please see attached response.

Review: I signed a contract to have a porch built. I didn't make the 3 day cancellation period but, I called to cancel due to circumstances

beyond my control. [redacted] told me he would have to charge a cancellation of a $750.00, which I don't have a problem with. I told him I needed my money

within a 2 week period. I've called numerous times to no prevail won't return my calls. [redacted] owes me $1,000.00 and I would appreciate it if he would return

it because he replied quick to get the money.

Business

Response:

Please see attached response.

Review: We gave custom deck builders at total off 25000 dollars and the company have not showed up to do the jobDesired Settlement: I want the job completed and if the company can not do this I want a refund

Business

Response:

Handwritten response.

Review: I signed the contract with John S[redacted] to build a deck in February, 2014 and paid him 90% down ($12500). According to the contract, the deck should be built No Later Than Early May or ASAP. The latest promise he gave was to finish the deck by the end of October. But since October 24, 2014, I have not been able to get hold of him after numerous phone calls and messages. There were only eight wooden posts in our backyard showing that he did start the job in August, 2014.

At this point, I would like to get the full refund back because I cannot trust him any more for the quality of the job.Desired Settlement: A full refund will be the most desired outcome.

Business

Response:

Handwritten response.

Review: MY COMMERCIAL RAMP WAS PROSS TO BE FINSIH BY AUGUST 1ST AND THEY NEVER STARTED TO SEPT. 4TH AND ITS SEPT. 22ND STILL NOT FINISH AND THEY CUTT A 4X4 POST IN HALF AND PATCHED IT AND THAT WILL NEVER PASS CODE... TERRIBLE WORK. AND SERVICE THE [redacted] IS A CON ARTISTDesired Settlement: I WANT $3,000 OF MY MONEY BACK ASAP

Consumer

Response:

THE CONTRACT 7/7/14 SAYS START JOB ASAP SINCE THIS RAMP WAS NEEDED TO OPEN MY BUSINESS [redacted] NEVER STARTED TO 9/4/14 AND AS OF 9/29/14 STILL NOT COMPLETED I CAN NOT OPEN MY BUSINESS ONTO RAMP IS COMPLETED HE IS COSTING ME MONEY AND I WILL BE FILING COURT PAPERS TOMO 9/30/14

I WANT $3,000 BACK OR IM TAKING HIM TO COURT FOR LOSS WAGES FOR A TOTAL OF $8,200. PLUS COURT FEES

Business

Response:

Handwritten response.

Business

Response:

Handwritten Response

Review: We signed a contract 9/23/2013 for a deck to be built at our condo- new construction with [redacted], the owner. - We gave him a check for 90 % down to obtain a 10% discount. We have made multiple calls to the business owner for a start date and he has yet to give us one.I saw on your Revdex.com site this problem has become prevalent with this business since September and I am very concerned about the deck actually being built.

We appreciate your assistance in this matter. We have called him weekly- he eventually gets back to us, but with no date of beginning the project.Desired Settlement: The deck to be finished prior to the end of december 2013

Business

Response:

Handwritten response.

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Review: We contracted Custom Built Decks to build a deck, patio, shed, and retaining wall with steps in April 2013 and paid 90% up front ($26,900.00). We were given an estimated start date of June 2013. Work was not started until August 2013 and the job is still not complete. The owner [redacted] is extremely hard to get a hold of and will not return phone calls to the office or his cell phone. Sub contractors on the job say that his checks frequently do not clear and he continuously says he doesn't have any money to pay the sub contractors. [redacted] the owner is doing illegal activities and using the funds from one contract to pay for work on other contracts which is why he doesn't have to money to complete the work on my contract.

Working with Custom Built Decks has been a nightmare. When he would answer the phone he would consistently give arbitrary finish dates 1-2 weeks out month after month after month. he would give dates on when to expect workers to come to the house and I would take days off of work and noone would show and no one would call and he would not answer his phone. His subcontractors have informed me that numerous other people are having the same issues with Custom Built Decks.

Please help shut down [redacted]'s illegal operation as he continuously makes sales and collects money from new contracts with no real intent on completing them.Desired Settlement: I want a refund in the amount of how much it would cost another company to complete the work. I have received a few estimates and I currently estimate it to be around $15,000.00

Business

Response:

Please see attached handwritten response.

Review: [redacted] of Custom Built Decks was supposed to start our basement remodel in Oct. 2012. We put down 90% ($44,000) of the purchase price. It wasn't started until Dec. 2012 (Framing). No work again until Jan (rough electrical). Several weeks go by and then work starts again in Feb( rough plumbing and rough HVAC). We paid extra for hvac zones. He was taking so long that we agreed to pay him the extra amount if he could get it finished. He would call to see when they were finished and then hounded us for the money an extra $4,200. He was never at the site when any work was being done and he is the general contractor. We paid him. March the drywall was installed. He painted the walls himself and made a mess and now the walls have to be repainted. April the drywall ceiling goes in and he charged us extra for a change from drywall ceiling $5,000. We have not paid that. April some tile, cabinets, doors and some trim are installed. May no work occurred. First weekend of June the plumber tries to finish but can't finish some things because no electrical outlets to hook up pumps. No work occurred in June. July 1st we let him know that we are waiting on work. No work for two more weeks. We decided on July 12th, 2013 to terminate working with [redacted]. He says we owe the balance and the extra for the drop ceiling. I hired a new contractor. He informed us that the HVAC zones that we completely paid for were never complete, all painting needed to be redone including doors, windows and trim, tile needed to removed and replaced, cabinets needed to be tore down and rehung as well as all of the doors. It has been 9 months and **. [redacted] said that we did not give him adequate time to finish & he wants to be paid. We found out from the subcontractors that they were not being paid and that is why they were not coming back to finish. They would wait and cash bad checks from **. [redacted] until they cleared sometime taking months. He is now harassing us to pay him. We are taking a loss and would just like to go our separate ways. He owes so many facilities and subcontractors so much money that they will only take cash from him to repay what he has used or owes. He is a scammer.Desired Settlement: We would like for **. [redacted]' Pennsylvania contractor's license to be revoked. We do not want other people to lose out like we did. He is not trustworthy and lies about his abilities to deliver services in a timely manner. We know we cannot get any money back. We just want to remove this individual from the construction community.

Business

Response:

Please see attached handwritten response.

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:

I had a very positive experience with this company. I had a 16x22 deck added to my house. John delivered exactly what he promised on time and for the contracted price. Always returned my calls and answered any questions I had. When job was completed, they cleaned up everything and power washed the deck before they left.

Review: On May 9, 2014 I did contract with CUstom Built decks and gave $4000 by check to Custom Built Deck. He already debit the money from my account.

He suppose to complete the work before July 12, 2014. Now he is not taking my phone or return back. I am really worried about my money and the service. I don;'t want to continue further with him.Desired Settlement: I am not getimg any return call from him. I did several attempt but no reply.

Business

Response:

Handwritten response.

Review: My contract for building a deck and a patio on my property was signed by myself and [redacted], Custom Built Decks LLC, on 6/8/2013 with a down payment of $25,000. The start day supposed to be no later than early August. In the past three months, I have been promised many times to start the work but they never showed up. They have been hard to reach by phone and I left messages with no responses. The last time I got a hold of [redacted] by phone was on 11/18/2013 and verbally communicated if they don't start the work by 11/18/2013 as promised, they should give me a full refund. I have not been able to reach anyone in Custom Built Decks as of today, 11/19/2013.Desired Settlement: A full refund of the down payment of $25,000 immediately

Business

Response:

Handwritten Response

Review: I signed a contract with Custom Built Decks on March,14 to construct a backyard deck by early June,14. I paid 90% of the money upfront as he told me that it is the only way he does business. June passed by and we were onto July but didn't hear from him. I started calling him 2/3 times per week and leaving voice mails. It is very hard to get in touch with him and he only return back my calls once every two weeks and mention he is too busy with other work and it will take time. Then he showed up one day in July and installed the deck footer. After one day worth of work he is vanished and started the cycle of my continuous leaving voice mails and his return calls once every two weeks. After almost a month hiatus in August he did two day work but didn't complete the deck floor. His explanation was he didn't have all the deck floor pieces and deck railing. He didn't have money to buy them on that day; however, he will be back in a week with all the materials and will finish the construction. This is now end of September,14 and he still didn't show up to complete the work. Every time I talk with John, if I am lucky, he mentioned that he will be here next week. However, that next week never comes. Our deck is ten foot above ground and currently there is no railing on the deck and the stairs. A good portion of the deck has large opening as he didn't have enough floor materials to finish the floor. I have young kids and I prohibited them to go to the backyard and deck. but I can't monitor them 24 hours. If they are on the deck and fall from there I have to take them directly to emergency. I want this deck construction complete ASAP. I am running out of options.Desired Settlement: I want this deck construction complete ASAP. I am running out of options.

Business

Response:

Handwritten response.

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Regards,

Review: I signed a contract with CUSTOM BUILT DECKS, LLC of [redacted], PA., on 08/17/2013 with the provision of completing a 4 Season Attached room and deck on my premises to occur no later than 10/09. The 10/09 date was for a scheduled pre-planned large birthday event. I called the owner, [redacted], on 10/01 because no work had started. He informed me that "he had gotten quite busy" and promised verbally to start the construction on 10/22. I was quite upset and I reluctantly had to cancel the birthday event. No one came and no call was received on the second promised date of 10/22. I called [redacted] and left a voice-mail message complaining once again. A person came out on 10/28 and dug holes, but no other work has been completed. l took off work for 3 weeks in October to monitor the work, but to no avail as no work occurred until the very day I was to return to work or 10/28. I paid 90% of the work up front. I have sent a letter via certified mail with a return signature over 10 days ago. No signature response received. My property now has huge holes out back and no other work has occurred in excess of 2 months. Of note is that [redacted] informed me that he does not have a comoputer or internet access. All correspondence with him involves cell phone, business phone messages and/or via US mail. The company is believed to be owned and operated by an Amish and/or Mennonite family.Desired Settlement: I would like my complaint to be published, brought to the attention of the business in question and for me to receive a response back from Revdex.com.

Business

Response:

Please see attached handwritten response.

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because: I have made consistent letters and telephone calls to this company. They do not always get back to me timely. They did complete the floor frame after leaving huge support holes on the property in excess of 30 days. They arrived and tore off house siding, removed the original overhand last week. Thursday night the rains came right indoors as they never shored up the work in the event of rain. Now, my dining room wood flooring near the door must be replaced.

I called the office number as the foreman's cell phone was full and no messages could be left. They arrived on Monday and Tuesday this week. They framed the room addition, put in windows - but, no door. I have been home each day and I have not seen them again. The mailbox continues to be full.

I agreed to supply the new addition flooring. I have had 35 cases of flooring in my dining room since late September or early October. I reject their minimal response. It appears that the company is not phased by the Revdex.com or my letters. I need your assistance to move this forward by any avenues to get my contracted work completed.

Regards,

Business

Response:

Please see attached handwritten response.

Review: In August of 2012 we agreed upon and purchased a deck from Custom Built Decks. We gave **. [redacted], Owner, a check for $30,000, which was cashed shortly after. Since then, Custom Built Decks started our deck and never completed the agreed upon work. We were left with the deck structure, incomplete electrical work, no masonry work, columns and an arbor which were also incomplete. We were told he paid the quarry for our stone, which he did not. He did not pay his electricians and or masons, who in turn started work and never finished. We had to disassemble a lot of the work ourselves, since it was done incorrectly. We were left with construction materials on our property which caused issues with neighbors and provided safety concerns for our children. We tried to work with [redacted] to resolve the issues, but were finally forced, 13 months later to hire another company to complete our deck. [redacted] has been very difficult to deal with and has promised nothing but lies.Desired Settlement: We would like a refund for the portion of work which was never completed, totaling $4830.00

Business

Response:

Please see attached handwritten response.

Review: Our complaint is with CUSTOM BUILT DECKS, LLC located at [redacted]m, PA [redacted], phone number: ###-###-####. We signed a contract with the owner John S[redacted] on October 12, 2013 for him and his company/family verbally committed to be started in and finished in February (stated that it took them about 5 days to complete) . The total amount due was $15,300 of which we paid $13,770 upfront with $1,530 due at completion. Those costs were to include them acquiring the permit from the township (which they did and dropped in a timely manner) and for us to tear down in a timely manner. We took down the deck in late January before they were scheduled to start in February.

As of March they never showed up to do anything and never reached out to us or returned our calls. On April 2nd we spoke with the owner and he stated they would start the week of April 21st.

We were extremely upset because we wouldn’t have torn down our own deck knowing that they wouldn’t start until then as the weather had been nice and we couldn’t enjoy it for gatherings we had planned plus we went with them because of the timeframe they said they could finish it in (being before spring).

As of April 24th no one showed up when they said they were starting April 21st. Spoke to them on the 24th of April and they said they would start on May 5th. Again a no show and no contact made by them (see the pattern). On May 13th spoke with them again they stated they would stop by Thursday, May 15th to speak with us as we thought a good way to get them out to our house was to say we would actually go with a larger deck in which we tried to do a little negotiating into getting a bigger size and the cost down due to it taking so long while also meaning additional money for them to receive upfront from us so giving them incentive to actually show up. Again no show and no call on May 15th then the next day the 16th they called and said they would be there the 17th between 12-4pm. Again they did not show up so we called them at 3:30pm on the 17th, they called back at 4:30pm and said they would arrive in an hour with an updated contract for the larger deck etc. To our surprise they did show up again with the new contract. This time in addition to adding the new updated information for the actual layout for the deck (larger size, lights in the posts, trek decking, gate at top of stairs) we also made them put a completion date on there in which they did. This addition to the original was to cost $5,000 which we paid up front via check meaning we still owed the $1,530 on completion. The completion date written and signed for on the new contract was June 6th, 2014 due to the fact that we had a bridal shower that weekend to host.

On June 4th, 2014 they started framing and working on the deck (4 months after they were supposed to finish it). They again worked on it June 5th and June 6th. They stayed at our house until 11pm on June 6th finishing the deck they got all of it laid down and everything so that it was useable but it was still not completed. They still hadn’t finished by the completion date of June 6th they still needed to put the gate in, put the lights in and make the electric work in them, put another joist under the deck and get final inspection none of which to this date (July 3rd they have done). On June 6th they asked for $1,000 meaning we would owe them just $530 at completion (though hesitant since it was just about done thinking they would want to be done dealing with us and us with them and that they obviously had cash flow issues) we paid them the $1,000 and they said they would complete the gate etc. and be finished with the deck by June 20th. June 7th a day after we gave them the check for the $1,000 they said they lost it and needed cash which we gave but made note of and cancelled the check which cost $30 to cancel and they said that they would take that off the $530 we still owed. Again thinking they just had cash flow problems and would be able to get the materials and finish our deck with it we gave them the cash and cancelled the original check so now we would just owe a remaining $500. On June 17, 18, 19 and 20 we called and left voicemails to see when they were completing the deck. We attempted to make contact with them every day the week of June 16th. Finally as of June 20th they called us back and said they would be at our home the following week to complete. I asked them to provide me with one days’ notice since they would need to get into our home since one of us would need to be home for that. As of June 25th we still did not get a call back stating when they would come. As expected they never showed up. Now as of July 3, 2014 five months after they were supposed to complete the deck and with us paying them $19,770 out of $20,270. We are looking for Custom Built Decks to complete the finished work ASAP.

Overall while the deck itself (what is completed) seems fine and is very beautiful we are overall completely dissatisfied with our dealings with Custom Built Decks LLC. Their communication was extremely lacking, they have no concept of other people’s lives, time and money. They do not keep their word or even honor contracts and we are extremely upset that it has taken 5 months and so much money to get a 75% completed deck that we haven’t even been able to enjoy most spring and summer for which we wanted it with different events.Desired Settlement: We would like this complaint published, brought to the attention of the business in question and for us to receive a response back from Revdex.com. With all of this documented and our contracts we are also going to pursue legal action and since they are from a tight knit community we are going to reach out to our contacts in that community to spread the word of our dealings with them. We also will be telling everyone in our neighborhood, friends, and surrounding neighborhoods not to deal with them at all and will post about them on every review site. In order for us not to take legal action and the rest of the actions we require that they contact us and complete the deck immediately and that they compensate us for the time we waited and were hassled

Business

Response:

Handwritten response.

Review: I paid a deposit for deck work to be done in September and he has failed to honor the contract and does not return calls to the business for over a month.Desired Settlement: refund the full amount of deposit of $8000. I will look for someone else to do the work.

Business

Response:

Please see attached handwritten response.

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because: He has only removed the old deck from the house but it remains in pieces on my lawn. He subcontracted someone to remove the deck, but has failed to return to install new deck. Weather playing a role at this point, I will give him until Christmas to get this done. Otherwise I will be looking for a new contractor and asking for my $8000 back.

Regards,

Consumer

Response:

No, they never showed up for the promised date again (Christmas week), then promised me another date 2 weeks later and again did not show up. They have not contacted me with new proposals or excuses either.

Business

Response:

Please see attached handwritten response.

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

I have reviewed the response/promise made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me at this point in time..

Regards,

Review: We entered into a contract with Custom Built Decks in December 2013 for a deck to be built on our home in March 2014. We were required to pay 90% up front in order to receive a discount. We did not hear back from Custom Built decks regarding a building permit or required diagrams, etc. after several weeks and multiple attempts to contact. We finally got in touch with them and it took another month to get John, the owner, to show up to collect the permit application. Despite multiple phone calls and promised delivery dates, no work was started until August 2014, 5 months after promised delivery date. At that time, only holes were dug in my back yard. They dug holes and left without covering them, putting up caution tape or anything. It was unsafe for children to go out there. After numerous calls and complaints that the holes were dangerous and posts needed to be installed, Custom Built Decks finally returned to do the posts 2 weeks later. They then disappeared again. It took multiple more follow up calls before they returned in early September 2014 to frame the deck. They disappeared again and have not been back. It is now October and we do not have a deck. We found out after the holes were dug that they still had not secured the proper permit from the township. The check they wrote for the permit also did not clear and we ended up having to pay for it. We have been promised more delivery dates than I can count at this point on an almost weekly basis. John is not easy to get in contact with and does not return phone calls regularly. He has had our money for 10 months and has promised us a deck for going on 8 months without delivering. We have exhausted all means of trying to resolve this directly with the business owner and are seeking assistance from the Revdex.com.Desired Settlement: Finish the job in the next two weeks (October 2014). If this is not possible, I'd like a full refund in the amount of $10,350 for failure to honor contract.

Business

Response:

Handwritten response.

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me because the deck is complete. However, it did not pass inspection and will require a new final inspection upon correction. In addition, the color flooring we contracted to have (rosewood) was not what we received (Tudor brown).

Regards,

Business

Response:

Handwritten Response

Review: I hired C.B.D. in Oct. 2013. After pushy sales pitch and one day only pricing, I made a horrible decisioin and hired C.B.D. 90% was paid upfront. Work was promised to start in Dec. 2013 per contract. Decided to change some of the finishes to the deck which meant that the deck was already paid in full and actually overpaid. I left dozens of message with no returned calls. Weeks later I got a copy of the blueprints, with no changes made. Finaly got a hold of owner by calling from blocked caller id number, said he got messages, no problem to make changes, and that work would begin in two weeks. Two months later still nothing. Finally started the project late March, currently still not finished. Tried numerous times to contact owner about overpayment and to complete the work, with him arguing me that he didn't owe money in question, and that they aren't in my area anymore and do not work weekends at all to finish the work. I wish that my internet searches showed up the negative reviews out there, but there weren't any at the time. Hope that many others sees this and decide to hire someone else. Once started the deck does look decent, but not worth all of the headaches, time lossed trying to contact the owner, and loss of sleep thinking that I had been robbed.

Overpaid and will not return to finish work, issue credit, or return calls. Purchase Price: $14,500.00. Desired Settlement: WANT MY MONEY BACK FROM C.B.D. SO I CAN HIRE SOMEONE ELSE TO FINISH DECK.

If only one other person reads this post and does not hire this company, then it will have been well worth my time. Disputed Amount: $390.00

Business

Response:

Handwritten response.

Review: New deck for our home was contracted on 6-29-2013.

Contract has an estimated start date of: late September to October.

No work has been done at all!

Many repeated phone calls to the contractor have been ignored and never returned.

No date for construction has been offered.

We have made two deposit payments for a total of $9,000.00 to the contractor.

I applied for and received a building permit with the township on 9-9-2013, at a cost to me of $334.00Desired Settlement: Return all deposit monies....$9,000.00

Business

Response:

Please see attached handwritten response.

Review: I contracted with this company to rebuild my Deck on the 18 of July 2014. According to our agreement, the work was to be completed by the end of October. I have already paid this company $15,000.

On 12th of October, John, the owner of the business called me to discuss our agreement. At this point he scheduled the work to done on the 30th and 31st of October 2014. He did not show on these dates and I have not been able to reach him since. I have left several messages and he has not called me back.

At this point, the contract terms have not been met and he has not contacted me to establish any other terms.Desired Settlement: If he is not able to complete this work in a timely fashion, I want all monies we have paid returned.

Business

Response:

Handwritten response.