Jerry A Valentine Inc

3/14/2014Dear *** ***:In response to your letter dated 3/11/20] we offer the following:The customer called us 1/17/and told us she needed a new kitchen sink. I met with her a day or two later to look at the problemThe problem was that they
personally had installed a preformed countertop and kitchen sink they had purchased at a local building supply placeWhen they installed the countertop they did not support it to the base cabinets around the sink area and the countertop “bowed” over time from having the weight of water in the sinkThe sink they had installed actually could "come apart” because of the "bowing''.I explained the problem and further explained I would need to take measurements to see if I could get a sink that would fit in the same cut-out of the existing sinkI told her that I would call back when I located a sink.I called her back, possibly the same night, and told her that I had found a sink that would fitShe said to go ahead and order the sink and that she had some other work that she needed to have done when we installed the sinkA valve to an outside faucet needed repaired and a pipe leading to one of the radiators also leakedNever once did she ask for any kind of an estimate or even pricing on the sink.I ordered, and received, the sinkI did call one night to see if we could do the work the following day and she said that wouldn’t work because she was-going to have a lot of people thereI didn’t know if the people were workman or guests.If I remember it right, she was going to get back to me to let me know when we could get in,I received a phone call several weeks later from her and she said that her husband was going to go to ***'s to get a new sink and he was going to install it himself the following SaturdayShe did offer to pay for the sink that I had purchased and I told her that I would keep the sink (I don’t know why they wanted two)I never told her that she should forget that “I was ever there".I did send her a bill for my time in troubleshooting the problem as to why the “sink came apart” and consultation as to how to correct the problemI did, in fact, identify the problem being the countertop not being installed properly.I feel the bill that I sent the customer is a valid bill in that without my input and comments, the problem would have never been resolvedThe bill reflects what I typically charge for a service call plus a fuel surchargeI DID NOT charge for an estimate in that no estimate was ever requested.On March 6, 2014, her husband called (not her) at 2:pm and wondered why they received a bill for an estimateI called him back around 8p and explained that the bill was NOT for an estimate but was for consultation on the problemAfter we talked for a few minutes, he said he would have to think about what I told him and he would decide what to do.I received a check for the entire bill a few days later 3/10/It was dated 3/1/(please note the date - it was dated before he called) signed by his wifeSo we thought the matter was closed.On March 13,I spoke with “the Genera! Contractor” who referred the customer to me to see if he actually told the customer that I "did this to everyone - even themselves who give me $80,000/year worth of work”He told me that the customer took his comments out of contextWhat he was trying to tell the customer was that I, being a businessman, sends out bills (consultation fees, actual bills, past due notices, etc.) on a regular basis to ALL my customers, regards of how much they owe me or how much work they give me.Up to this point, we have never charged for estimates with the exception of insurance estimatesI’m not saying this is going to be our practice forever, but right now it is.So, Iguess the “estimate thing" is the issueAs I mentioned above, no estimate was ever requested and none was givenBUT I do feel this since I diagnosed the problem and even told the customer how to fix it, I should be entitled to the payment I requested and I stand by the bill that was presentedOther professions charge for their input, why can't plumbers?Respectfully,

6/30/2014
Dear [redacted]:The complaint shown is identical to the one shown in your correspondence to me dated 4/4/2014. I replied 4/7/2014 - copy enclosed. I have nothing further to add to either of my previous correspondences.I will answer your questions as to our policies.1.    We have a minimum for service calls. Right now it is $58.00.2.    We have a minimum for consultations. Right now it is $58.00.3.    We charge a fuel surcharge based on round trip to the customer’s location from our base of operations, it comes out less than we are allowed to charge as per IRS.4.    How to resolve this issue? We’ll go back to the customer’s offer to pay for the sink we were asked to get. It would be $135.85. We will credit what they have already paid. They need to pick the sink up at our office and have the balance in the form of cash or money order when the sink is picked up.Respectfully,Jerry A. Valentine, Pres.

[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]
 Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because: HE TOLD ME TO FORGET HE WAS EVER HERE. He won't admit to that! He is a needy manipulator and confrontation-ally controlling. Im sure the General Contractor felt he had to protect his own assets when confronted.  I bet the idea is to drive a wedge between me and the General Contractor so I WILL be the one blamed! What a control move! I will never give Valentine a positive reference. 
I am an electrician and may not have as many years as Valentine has, but I never charged my customers for a consult and no one ever fought with me at the Revdex.com. 
Regards,
[redacted]

Review: I called Mr. Valentine to come and replace my leaking kitchen sink. In 15 minutes, he told me the countertop was installed wrong and I asked him to fix that too. He said he would order a new sink. A week later, he calls me at 8:30 at night and asks if he can "get in" to my house the next morning. I told him "no" because I had a house full of people coming to visit. Two weeks later, I'm still waiting for him to call back, so I call him. I told him we were going to replace the sink ourselves and I wanted to buy the sink (that he ordered). He said he "could use it for another job" and that I "should forget (he) was ever there". Two weeks later, I'm getting a bill in the mail dated a month ago, for a $56.00 consultation fee and a $9.00 gas service charge. How can I "forget" that he was ever here when I receive something like that? I visited the General Contractor that recommended Valentine to me and the contractor told me that Valentine does this to everyone even them and they give him $80,000 of subcontracting revenue a year. I'm am sickened and grieved and will never give him a good recommendation-ever. No one should be charged for an estimate--which I NEVER received.Desired Settlement: I waited for an estimate. I waited for a sink. I offered to buy the sink. I got NOTHING. I was ROBBED.

Business

Response:

3/14/2014Dear [redacted]:In response to your letter dated 3/11/20] 4 we offer the following:The customer called us 1/17/14 and told us she needed a new kitchen sink. I met with her a day or two later to look at the problem. The problem was that they personally had installed a preformed countertop and kitchen sink they had purchased at a local building supply place. When they installed the countertop they did not support it to the base cabinets around the sink area and the countertop “bowed” over time from having the weight of water in the sink. The sink they had installed actually could "come apart” because of the "bowing''.I explained the problem and further explained I would need to take measurements to see if I could get a sink that would fit in the same cut-out of the existing sink. I told her that I would call back when I located a sink.I called her back, possibly the same night, and told her that I had found a sink that would fit. She said to go ahead and order the sink and that she had some other work that she needed to have done when we installed the sink. A valve to an outside faucet needed repaired and a pipe leading to one of the radiators also leaked. Never once did she ask for any kind of an estimate or even pricing on the sink.I ordered, and received, the sink. I did call one night to see if we could do the work the following day and she said that wouldn’t work because she was-going to have a lot of people there. I didn’t know if the people were workman or guests.If I remember it right, she was going to get back to me to let me know when we could get in,I received a phone call several weeks later from her and she said that her husband was going to go to [redacted]'s to get a new sink and he was going to install it himself the following Saturday. She did offer to pay for the sink that I had purchased and I told her that I would keep the sink (I don’t know why they wanted two). I never told her that she should forget that “I was ever there".I did send her a bill for my time in troubleshooting the problem as to why the “sink came apart” and consultation as to how to correct the problem. I did, in fact, identify the problem being the countertop not being installed properly.I feel the bill that I sent the customer is a valid bill in that without my input and comments, the problem would have never been resolved. The bill reflects what I typically charge for a service call plus a fuel surcharge. I DID NOT charge for an estimate in that no estimate was ever requested.On March 6, 2014, her husband called (not her) at 2:11 pm and wondered why they received a bill for an estimate. I called him back around 8p and explained that the bill was NOT for an estimate but was for consultation on the problem. After we talked for a few minutes, he said he would have to think about what I told him and he would decide what to do.I received a check for the entire bill a few days later 3/10/14. It was dated 3/1/14 (please note the date - it was dated before he called) signed by his wife. So we thought the matter was closed.On March 13,2014 I spoke with “the Genera! Contractor” who referred the customer to me to see if he actually told the customer that I "did this to everyone - even themselves who give me $80,000/year worth of work”. He told me that the customer took his comments out of context. What he was trying to tell the customer was that I, being a businessman, sends out bills (consultation fees, actual bills, past due notices, etc.) on a regular basis to ALL my customers, regards of how much they owe me or how much work they give me.Up to this point, we have never charged for estimates with the exception of insurance estimates. I’m not saying this is going to be our practice forever, but right now it is.So, I. guess the “estimate thing" is the issue. As I mentioned above, no estimate was ever requested and none was given. BUT I do feel this since I diagnosed the problem and even told the customer how to fix it, I should be entitled to the payment I requested and I stand by the bill that was presented. Other professions charge for their input, why can't plumbers?Respectfully,

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 TOLD ME TO FORGET HE WAS EVER HERE. He won't admit to that! He is a needy manipulator and confrontation-ally controlling. Im sure the General Contractor felt he had to protect his own assets when confronted. I bet the idea is to drive a wedge between me and the General Contractor so I WILL be the one blamed! What a control move! I will never give Valentine a positive reference.

I am an electrician and may not have as many years as Valentine has, but I never charged my customers for a consult and no one ever fought with me at the Revdex.com.

Regards,

Business

Response:

6/30/2014Dear [redacted]:The complaint shown is identical to the one shown in your correspondence to me dated 4/4/2014. I replied 4/7/2014 - copy enclosed. I have nothing further to add to either of my previous correspondences.I will answer your questions as to our policies.1. We have a minimum for service calls. Right now it is $58.00.2. We have a minimum for consultations. Right now it is $58.00.3. We charge a fuel surcharge based on round trip to the customer’s location from our base of operations, it comes out less than we are allowed to charge as per IRS.4. How to resolve this issue? We’ll go back to the customer’s offer to pay for the sink we were asked to get. It would be $135.85. We will credit what they have already paid. They need to pick the sink up at our office and have the balance in the form of cash or money order when the sink is picked up.Respectfully,Jerry A. Valentine, Pres.