Distinctive Home Improvements

Review: [redacted] of Distinctive Home Improvements (Enfield CT) was hired early 2013 for a kitchen / living room remodel. A formal contract was drawn and terms agreed upon. Work was completed in June 2013. Full payments were made to [redacted] promptly at the proper installation intervals. This complaint is to document several issues, namely two outstanding bills we're being pursued for contractually covered items he has yet to pay. He sent us an apology text (on file) indicating he is embarrassed, is experiencing financial distress and that he "is trying to take care of it". I conveyed the threat of a lien we received and calls by suppliers. 1) Payment not made: [redacted] (Hartford CT) following sink/plumbing fixture order placed in April. They have contacted us twice requesting payment given a lack of response by [redacted]. Supplier ([redacted] contacted 8/5 and again 8/8 by homeowner. They have threatened the potential of a lien on my property for lack of payment by [redacted].2) Payment not made: [redacted] CT) following installation of gas tank in May. They have not been paid and have called us directly ([redacted]). The bill was inappropriately placed in our name - [redacted] was paid in full. We requested [redacted] in writing (8/8) that our name be removed immediately as a party to this overdue invoice. 3) A $111 colander was purchased by homeowner and not delivered after four months. Documented requests on file with excuses as to why it was not. Supplier indicates it was delivered to him. 4) We have 10 repaired window muntins insert frames that were to be delivered to homeowner. Since the project completion and final payment on 6/13, they remain to be delivered to our home as of today. We wish to submit this as a formal complaint to the Revdex.com due to threats made regarding liens and suppliers contacting us for payment on bills that are not ours. Please contact [redacted] or [redacted] for further action or information at (XXX) XXX-XXXX on next steps with the Revdex.com.

Product_Or_Service: Products/services for kitchen remodel

Desired Settlement: We want both suppliers to remove our names from their file. These were paid for and fully documented by homeowner (if requested, we can supply along with [redacted]'s texts). This is an financial issue between the businesses and the contractor. We want either a check in the amount of $111 sent to us, or the colander delivered without further We want the window muntins returned promptly for our home in a restored fashion (per the contract).We want his record to reflect this complaint.

Business

Response:

Consumer Response /* (-5, 8, 2013/08/28) */

Consumer indicated they have heard from the company, but the issue has not been resolved. Comments follow below:

Thank you for the update.

[redacted] (Distinctive Home Improvement) has not been in touch with us beyond dropping off the colander and the muntins in my garage the day following my initial Revdex.com complaint.

Unfortunately, my larger concern regarding the threat of a lien on my property has occurred. He is in default on two bills, and one supplier took action against us for his lack of payment. We were served August 21. We are very upset given our great credit and what has transpired. We have done nothing wrong, but it is now ours to solve. I was in touch with the CT Department of Consumer Protection on my rights. We learned from DCP as well that we apparently entered into a contractual arrangement with what was presented as an active Contractors license/registration. This lapsed in 11/30/12 and was not renewed at the point of contract signing. He misrepresented his license/reg. number on 3/7/13, our sign date, as being valid at the time.

I am pursuing several actions right now, including rights under the Home Improvement Act, but we would sincerely appreciate additional input on my rights from the perspective of the Revdex.com. I have also contacted the Town of Farmington on our rights but their hands are tied (eg. an appeal process there). We planned on a home equity account this fall to pay for son's 2nd semester college expenses in December. This lien prohibits us. We are being badly penalized and this is simply not acceptable.

Review: on June 12 2014 I gave [redacted] of Distinctive Home Improvements $2,500 to get me a new in ground pool cover and gave him my old cover as a pattern since its a custom cover. After a summer full of excuses I still have no cover and he will not return my calls. He blamed the pool company for making the wrong cover and taking so long. After I talked to [redacted] Pool Supply they said they never made the cover because he didn't pay them. My check was endorsed and cashed by a third party [redacted] I believe he intended to just take my money to use to pay someone else (his Mother)I need my cover I can not close my pool for the season, it now looks like a swamp I don't have my old cover and I cant afford to buy a new one since he stole my money.Desired Settlement: Get my old cover and $2,500 back I don't have time to wait for a new cover at this point