Mercer's Handyman Services

Review: Mercer's Handyman Services was hired to do general contracting and painting at my residence. It was completed with numerous errors and a lack of professionalism. His "professional" crew consisted of his 15 year old son, a nephew with no experience, and other hired day workers. While they worked in my house they did not follow the correct procedures to insure that stain would not be dumped on my carpets, paint splattered on my furniture or spackle stuck to my window screens. During the entire process he never cleaned his building materials, residue dust from the work being completed or his drinking bottles nightly. One of his employee's used my vacuum, broom, garbage bags as well as paper towels on one particular occasion. This work began on July 15, 2013 and he "completed" it on July 19, 2013. At that time he expected full payment however we insisted he needed to return to finish items that were not fully done or fixed.He never once walked around to see how his crew was managing. My husband and I needed to inspect the progress nightly and bring mistakes to his attention. After cleaning during the weekend we discover that his crew broke our bed in our master bedroom will moving it and they left the many pieces of wood splinters on the carpet.One of his staff members did return on Monday to touch up some areas at this time it was the this employee that discovered that parts of the job were not incomplete and not completed with any degree of professionalism from the beginning. The owner was to return to my home on Tuesday July 23, 2013 to finish painting a wall. If he would have to came my house he would have witnessed the wainscoting and chair rail that he installed in the kitchen on Friday July 19, 2013 pulling away from the wall in three large areas. It is now essential for me to hire another contractor to redo and complete the existing job.Desired Settlement: I would like a refund for the cost and labor that was paid to Mercer's Handyman Services to install the existing wainscoting and chair rail and the amount for new materials and labor so the job can be completed with a degree of satisfaction

Business

Response:

MHS was hired by [redacted] to do painting and woodwork on Monday, July 15,

2013. On the first day of work [redacted] gave me the 1st payment of $4800.00 of the total $6400.00 which left her with a balance of $1600. We continued to work for the next few days and [redacted] was very pleased with the work so far that she came to me [redacted] Mercer on and asked if I could do additional her. I agreed and gave the price for the new items that she wanted to add on. [redacted] then yes she wanted the work done but later that day came back to me and asked if we could do the work for a less expensive price. I then told he no and she stated “with all the work I’m giving you the least thing you can do is decrease the price”. Once I told her I could not decrease the price she than begin to complain about everything we were doing therefore we were working on pins and needles to make sure all the work was done correctly. Once we started to paint her popcorn ceilings I noticed that they were falling down when we touched them so I made her aware of the situation and told her I did not want to do that part of the ceilings because I did not want to be responsible for the outcome. I explained to her whoever she had do the popcorn ceiling did not do it correctly. [redacted] then asked if I would try to paint it anyway so I. Once we started painting the popcorn ceiling and I realized it would not work I spoke to [redacted] and explained to her than I was not going to do the ceiling so I will deduct $600 from the price and her new balance would be $1000.00 and she agreed. We continued to work the rest of the week and finished the job. Once the job was complete [redacted] stated she would like to inspect the entire job over the weekend to make sure everything was complete before she paid the balance. I agreed and told her if any problems we would be back to finish next week and than collect the balance. [redacted] called over the weekend and stated some things were not completed and her bed and wood chips near the floor. I told her we would be there Monday morning to complete the job and take a look at the bed. On Monday morning I was not able to make it to her house so I called [redacted] and told her I was sending one of the workers to finish the job and collect the payment I sent one of my workers and explained to him to finish whatever needed to be finished, take a look at the bed for damages and receive the balance. Once the work was completed [redacted] than called me and stated she was not paying the full balance because her bed was damaged and I told her I would contact my insurance company to have them pay for the damages and she DENIED and said no she was taking it out of the balance. Instead of arguing with her over the money I said whatever makes you happy and hung up the phone. Once my worker received the payment and left the house he called me and said it was a check for $350.00. [redacted] called back again later that day and stated she was stopping the payment of $350 because she found other issues with the work and I told her I would try to come and take a look at everything myself and fix any necessary problems, when I was not able to make it there the very next day she called again screaming and hollering and said I was not allowed in her house again and if I came to her house she would call the police, I said fine and I guess I will take the loss. A few' days later [redacted] emailed me pictures of the wood work claiming it was falling oft the wail and I asked herwhy she didn’t tell the worker when he was there and she stated cause it just happened. I told her I would come to her house on Sunday to fix the woodwork which would only take five minutes to screw in a few nails and any other problem she had. Again she stated “NO” you are not allowed in my house because you didn’t show up the previous time so I said ok than I don’t know why you are claiming things are wrong and complaining if you don’t want me to fixit. I told [redacted] to have a nice day and life and she never paid me anymore money than the 1st payment.

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 facts are completely not accurate and simply wrong. He was never working on pins and needles. He stated he could professionally handle the agreed upon job but as it turns out he was not able to. The check that given to him was in fact for $500 and not $350 as he stated. It was necessary for me to hire another professional to complete the initial requested job. He stated that he would be here on Monday and Tuesday July 22 and 23 yet he never showed. So how can you believe a business associate if this happens? If the wall was installed properly it would have never pulled away after up for 4 days. I am completely dissatisfied with this "so called company" his workmanship is undesirable. A professional should not need to continually be called back to fix items, it should be completed corrected the first time!!.

Regards,