MJS Construction, Inc.

Review: The contract called for electrical and plumbing work. The contractor said he had it all covered. When he got cought by the building inspector for not getting a building permit, he then said that I had to pay extra for an electrician. He lied to the building inspector, telling him that he had an electrician to do the work. The original contract states he will have Hi Hats installed and receptacles ( GFI ). He also walked off with my to original GFI receptacles during demolition.Desired Settlement: That he pay the electrician for his labor. I will pay for the under the counter lights, since they are more expensive that the Hi Hats.

Business

Response:

I'm writing this letter in response to Mr. [redacted]'s

complaint or claim that somehow

I have wronged him in some way during my time renovating his kitchen. I'm not really

sure how I should be addressing this claim or how it is to be written.

Mostly due to the fact that in the

9 plus years that I've had my business & 7 to 8

years spent learning my trade through other contractors have I never had

a complaint. And the fact that I'm rcfeJTed by the RevDex.com with an A+ rating shows that. When I first received

your phone call letting me know that Mr. [redacted] has filed a complaint

against me, made me very angry. It still angers me because

it is extra work that was done during this renovation and additional electrical work, not included

in original contract

that [redacted]

does not want to be responsible for paying.

The original contract

did call for electrical and plumbing work. And yes, I did say that I had it covered

because I'm the contractor doing the renovation. The electrical work

that was to be done, as stated in contract that he read and signed,

was:

I.

Install 4 new recessed high hat lighting

in kitchen & I

GFCI outlet feeding

3 new outlets

and install new outlet above stove for new microwave.

The existing

light fixture was to be removed and the electrical feed for that fixture was now to be installed

to a recessed light and each to be fed from that. All on the same single switch.

The existing outlets were just to be replaced with new ones. Nothing added.

I went over all this with them during my first time there looking

at job. I made it clear that everything was remaining in same place due to the fact that it is a small kitchen

and the configuration pretty much stayed the same

except for switch that was to be relocated due to removal

of 2' section of wall. Also by speaking to them it didn't seem that they

wanted to break the bank on this job so everything was pretty much

staying

the same. People base renovations patily

on what is in there budget and I do my part to try and help them stay

within their budget. I was originally going to use an electrician, who

is an union electrician and docs work for me at less of a cost so I can

help Mr. [redacted] to

save some money. Due to changes

made they had to apply for a building pennit

so I used a different electrician. I will explain why a permit was

needed and give u a breakdown of what he is paying for. I spoke with

inspector about this, a dealt with him multiple

times and he helped us with the inspection process

so they didn't have to wait long. As for plumbing work, it consisted

of moving hot and cold water lines & I **'' drain line over about 6" but the base cabinet for sink remained

in same location so plumbing

wasn't required. I deducted $175.00

for the cost on the final

day I was there. I told him that.

The original contract

stated that the existing beam for bearing

wall will remain but 2 side walls will be removed to open up kitchen, which is why I didn't think I needed a permit because

the beam holding

up ceilingjoists was to remain. When I demoed the kitchen, I saw that a beam wasn't holding

up ceiling joists

but a poorly framed wall without a header for strength. The ceiling joists

spanned across the dividing wall and not a true two sister-joists which would make wall a true load bearing wall. Also because

of the poorly constructed dividing

wall without a header for support, the ceiling joists

were sagging. I constructed a temporary header with support

jacks to hold up ceiling

joists and removed

existing dividing wall. I then used support jacks to raise and level ceiling joists

to remove the sagging of ceiling joists that was occurring. I then installed

a double 2"x!O"x!O' beam with suppo1t

columns to left and right.

I also extended the beam approx. 18" to 20"

out to extend kitchen because

they wanted a bigger

kitchen. Because of the ceiling

joists spanning from outside wall all the way across kitchen, the existing dividing

wall wasn't a true bearing

wall. Removing it wouldn't cause ceiling joists to collapse as they

would if they were two sister-joists and also that I installed

a beam to hold up joists, I didn't think I needed a permit.

I was wrong. An inspector passing by in the area stopped by and explained

to me that a permit was needed

even for something

that wasn't a major change which is why we got the permit. He explained what I

needed, because each town has some different

requirements & I

went to the town to get all the papers. I filled the papers out for them, drew up a plan of the work to be done and the papers

were submitted. I called another

electrician that I work with and he gave me his papers

to be submitted to the town and that was it. Mr.

[redacted] didn't have any issue with this at the time. It happened, and then everything was

corrected and it was a non-issue.

All the correct steps were taken. I made a mistake and then

resolved them.

As for Mr. [redacted]'s GFCI receptacles that I supposedly walked off with during

demolition; at NO time, during

the demo, did he

mention a thing to me about these

GFCI's. He didn't tell the electrician who disconnected them, (but I

walked off with them), that he wanted them. I would have disconnected

them and given them to him if he said something and so would the

electrician. Drywall was installed and he didn't

mention anything about them. Wall and base cabinet installation began and he didn't mention

anything about them. I

found out about them only after he cursed me out first

thing on a Monday morning because the electrician made a

mistake and installed two outlets in the wrong location. I'll get back to this. I asked the

electrician

if he asked for them and he said he asked he mentioned something

about them after the work was done.

Also he received new ones with the new work.

This is how petty this whole complaint is. Mr. [redacted]

is just adding things to complain about

because he doesn't want to pay for extra work and electrical work. If theses GFCI's were so important to him,

why didn't he wait that long to say something or why didn't

he just disconnect them himself. He told me he was an electrician for 14

yrs of his life so it wouldn't have been a problem. Why would I "walk

off" with his old outlets.

If a customer at any time I've done a renovation, wanted

me save something, they let me know before

demo begins.

Also when I was on the estimate, I asked them if l would be installing a tile floor. Mrs. [redacted] told me that it was already

ordered and that it was vinyl flooring

with a glue adhesive backing. So for the installation, since they already

had 3 layers of existing

vinyl

flooring from previous

kitchen, I would

install \I.I'' plywood over the existing

flooring for a nice

dust free surface so the adhesive

would bond well to plywood and not come up over time. Its very easy to install and if installed

properly will not come up over time. Now ahead to

renovation, I asked Mr. [redacted] when the flooring would be at1'iving and they didn't know so they

called the store and handed me the phone.

I asked the person at the store when flooring

would be coming and he told when whenever I was ready for them to come

install it. this is how I found out that they also hired them to install

flooring

EXTRA WORK THAT WAS NOT ON ORIGINAL CONTRACT:

1. Remove existing

bearing I dividing wall and caii away debris

2.

Install support

jacks w/ temporary header & raise/ level

existing ceiling joists

3.

Install 2 support columns left and right of kitchen & install double 2"x10"x10' beam I

header atop of support

columns

4.

Remove existing

soffit on stove side of kitchen & cart away debris

5.

Install new 2x4 soffit

raised 2" from previous height & extend soffit approx.. 20" to new 2xl0 double beam

6.

Extend soffit on sink side of kitchen approx.. 20"

to new 2x 10 double

beam

7.

Install \12''

sheetrock

& tape, spackle, sand

8. Remove 3 layers of existing vinyl flooring and cart away debris

9.

Build and install

24"x24" platform for pantry cabinet

to raise cabinet

2" to meet height of wall cabinets

because soffit was raised 2"

I 0. Notch the back of pantry cabinet

around existing baseboard

so cabinet sits flush to wall

11.

Install 84"

tower pantry cabinet

and any trim/ crown molding

12. Assemble & install 8 rollout

trays I draws to pantry

cabinet and base cabinets

**.

Modify existing opening to tower cabinet for oven because

existing opening is approx..

30"x30" and customer

ordered 32"x38" oven. Remove existing

platform for oven ai1d draw below to accommodate for bigger height

of oven

14.

Cut stiles of cabinet so opening width is wider for oven to fit

15. After opening has been made bigger,

reinstall existing platform

in cabinet w/ new filler for front of cabinet

**. Depth of cabinet also had to be extended

so %" decorative fillers are installed

around

openmg

17. Cut/notch back of draw box below oven so draw can open and close properly

without interference from gas line for oven

18. Remove top draw from base cabinet

w/ cook top stove on top because

depth of stove will intc1fere

with draw below. Remove draw box from face of draw and permanently attach draw face to base cabinet

19.

Draw box for draw below

will be cut/notched to prevent

interference from gas line &

regulator for stove so draw will open and close properly

TOTAL PRICE: $2,375.00

LABOR, RAW MATERIALS

& DEBRIS REMOVAL

1-7.

$1,1**.00

8.

$200.00

9-10.

$175.00

11-18. $875.00

WORK THAT WAS ON ORIGINAL

CONTRACT BUT DUE TO CHANGES WERE REMOVED:

I.

Install new **" plywood over existing subfloor

& install 185 sq. ft. of vinyl flooring

$650.00

2.

Install 4 new recessed high hat lighting

in kitchen & and GFCI outlet with 3 new outlets

3.

Install new outlet above stove for microwave. (I installed a range hood instead

of

microwave) $4**.00

4.

Relocate existing **" hot & cold water lines & 1 W' drain line for new sink and faucet

$175.00

TOTAL PRICE: $1,**0.00

PRICE EXCLUDES PURCHASE OF VINYL FLOORING

I received a payment of $1,000.00 on 6/**/20** for deposit. On this day Mr. [redacted] read and signed contract

I agreement. We went over the entire

contract and I answered any questions he had. I believe renovation was

stmted on 7/**/20** or 7/**/20**. After demo, a payment of $3,000.00 on

7/** was received. This payment would get me through the next 2 weeks

for materials, labor & debris removal

and as progression of job takes place.

A $2450.00 balance is remaining. On Friday, 8/**/20**, a payment of$1,450.00 was received with

$1,000.00 balance

remaining to be received on the fmal day that I'm there. On the day I

received the $1,450.00, I told Mr. [redacted] that I subtracted

the work from contract that I did not do and figured in the new work. I

also informed him that I am still going to have some figures to do with

final payment

since job was not complete.

I told him that there is going to be a balance

for extra work 1 -7 plus the amount of the final $1,000.00 remaining balance which ended up subtracting additional

money from. So the payment for 1 -7, I

told him to just use it to pay the electrician since he would be the last one there. I never received

a payment for any of that work. The

balance for that work was more than enough to cover the payment for the original

electric, which

was subtracted, and then some. And on the final day that I

was to receive the $1,000.00

remaining, I subtracted $175.00 for plumbing

that did not have to be done and I took off an additional $200.00.

So the fmal payment that I received

was $6**.00. So the total amount that I received

for renovation was $6,075.00 for labor, raw materials and debris removal.

The original balance on the day we signed contract

was $6,450.00 for labor, debris removal and raw

materials. I never charged them for any additional work.

So I don't know if he does not

understand what I did, which I explained

to him 2 or 3 times on 8/** or he feels that he shouldn't

have to pay for anything, that I should

minus work that I didn't do, not charge him for any extra work and pay

for electrician. That's what it appears that he wants. That's not

possible. I helped

them out as much as I can and they couldn't

care less. I wasted additional time when cabinets

didn't arrive when they were supposed to and what cabinets that had to

go back because of damage. The appliances didn't not atTive when they

were supposed

and when they did arrive only

half came. Others came the following week. These are all things

that held me up. And that's

ok, it's not their fault. They were told they would be at job on time and

weren't. I tried talking with the suppliers but no one cares enough

to make an effort and go to the other supply house were they shipped to because of a mistake.

He also added more electrical work that he failed to include in complaint. I stated what was in the original

contract but he ended up making changes. He didn't want the 4 high hats anymore

but instead wanted to leave existing

light fixture for kitchen and add four under mount lights for under wall

cabinets which cost more than high hats but he agreed to pay for them.

He added (2) 3-way switches

to turn the light fixture

on from both sides of the kitchen

which is more labor and materials

involved to do. The original feed for dishwasher

was improperly installed so a new feed had to be run inside the wall as opposed to outside of the sheetrock between

base cabinets. The same went for the outlet for the stove. There

were 2 or 3 more outlets added

plus the labor for running

wires for under mount lights. I was

there for a few more weeks after

I received the third payment

and explained all of this to Mr. [redacted] which gave him enough time for me to discuss

any questions that he may have had. That is not how he handled it. The following

Monday it was brought to my attention that the electrician had installed

2 outlets in the wrong area. Between

Mr. [redacted] making

his marks on

the walls where he wanted outlets

and switches & plan for kitchen

on the wall, the worker put them in the wrong area. Morning

[redacted], can u please come here and take a look at something. These two outlets

were installed in the wrong location. Can they be moved? Yes Mr. [redacted],

I will call electrician and have him come move them. If only it were handled this way,

all this would have been avoided.

Instead Mr. [redacted] told me to come and look at the outlets and told

me they were in the wrong location

and I informed him that they will be moved to the right

location. What is that? How the [redacted] does that happen? Once again I told him it's not a problem.

The electrician will move. How are going to do move them? The [redacted]en

cabinet is installed. Once again I told him it is not a problem, they

will be moved. If I have to take the cabinet out I will.

The electrician must have read the plan wrong by mistake. Then it just escalated from there and he wouldn't

stop. Then he asked where his GFCI outlets are. I took them he told me.

Now as I wrote earlier, I never was informed that he wanted me to save

them nor was the electrician informed. And he just kept going with it

until finally I just walked

away from because no customer

has ever spoken to me like that or treated me in that manner.

Then he went into the other

room where he proceeded to curse me to his wife. How the [redacted] are you

going to do that? that! Get the [redacted] out of here! I guess he figured

that the plastic

dust barrier would

have blocked me from hearing him. So now I'm in the kitchen

wondering what just happened and do I pack

my tools up and leave because

it was that uncalled for and so uncomfortable afterwards. Do I call the town to let someone know what happened

and ask what I should

do? I didn't know so I stayed. So after that episode, as I'm setting

up tools because

this all took place first thing in the

morning, I notice little blue dots on the cabinets. He put them there to show shipping

"scuffs" because they are white cabinets and easily marked which is why the cabinet company

included 3 touch-up

kits. There was one damaged

area that caught

my eye because of how cabinet was damaged and also that it was not there the Friday

I left for weekend. Also it is 2 separate

pieces, one is a cabinet

and the other piece is a filler strip ( 4" wide piece of wood for in between

cabinets. The damage

went through both pieces. They came in two separate

boxes. They are on the wall so a step ladder is needed to get to the area. I have a picture of the damaged are if

needed. So at this point, after what just happened, I'm still

rattled and now I have to approach him about this situation. I ask Mr.

[redacted] if he can please come into the kitchen to ask what all this is.

That's nothing to do with u. He said he put the blue tape there to show

[redacted], the cabinet broker from R&S Cabinets, the scuff marks on the

cabinets. Then when I pointed out the

damaged area that wasn't a scuff mark do to shipping but a scrape

I gouge do to someone digging into it, he once again told me that it's

not for me but between

him and [redacted]. I asked him

if he

did the damage and that it wasn't on Friday when I left. I told him that it is my business

since I'm the contractor doing the renovation. I told him that they are 2 separate pieces

and that it is impossible for them to have been damaged before they

mTived to job and also once again weren't there

when I left on Friday and it just went on from there. So the way I see it, he

damaged the cabinets to get money taken off. Ever since that day their

attitudes towards everything changed and they just made it uncomfo1table

to work there.

I could keep going on about things but the bottom line is that this

whole situation could have been avoided if they just would have spoken

to me.

I hope that the information above has given you some understanding of the situation and if any questions

please call, [redacted],

[redacted] Construction Inc. ###-###-####. Thank you.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

[Your Answer Here]

Dear B.B.B. I have read the business response and I am appalled by his stories. He tried to get away without a building permit so he would do the electrical & plumbing himself. When he was caught, he told the inspector that he had a license electrician for the electrical. When the inspector asked about a plumber, [redacted] looked dumb founded and kept silent. The inspector looked at me and said as long as you hook up the sink, you will not need a plumber. Once [redacted] found an electrician, he came up with these bogus extras to make me feel that I should pay for the electrician. He never mentioned any extras to us until he was caught doing the wrong thing. As far as ruining cabinets to get more money off is ridiculous. If I would do such a thing, it would have nothing to do with him anyway, it would be with R&S Cabinets, but there was never an issue with them. [redacted] did use a screw gun to put up the cabinet doors and therefore stripped some screws. I all ready have a door swinging in the breeze. I will repair that myself after R&S looks at the work done. May I add that when [redacted] started the demolition work, he never secured the area. I had to put up plastic the next day and clean up the rest of the house. If this is the way he does work, I am surprised he hasn't had any complaints. True the original contract states he would install 4 Hi Hats, but before demolition I told him that We wanted the under counter lighting instead of Hi Hats, he said no problem. [redacted] needs to understand that when a contractor is hired, he in turn subcontracts electrical, plumbing, or any other specialty person. The reason [redacted] would get delayed from vendors was because he would not communicate with us, and wait until the last minute to ask when things would be delivered, then we would make desperate phone calls. We never cursed at [redacted] about the GFI`S receptacles and have not made an issue of it, but they were new not old, due to the fact that I installed them when my home went on the market 6 months ago. When my $350.00 faucet when delivered, the delivery person showed me a special tool that comes with it. He said it is important, when you install it, tape the tool to the bottom of the sink. [redacted] installed the sink, and when he left for lunch, I went looking for the tool. I found it in his tool bag. Rather than confronting him, because he seems to me like a time bomb. I just took it out and put it away. The blue tape not dots on the cabinets were to show R&S Cabinets where there were marring marks, again nothing to do with him. We had left [redacted] alone believing he knew what he was doing, but apparently he needs to be watched. It was only after I confronted him about ridiculous work, did he then begin to communicate with me on what I wanted. If the town finds out that he hooked up the sink and not me, he will be fined. He should not be doing any plumbing, he ran my water for 27 minutes. When I asked him why, he said he was checking for leaks. No plumber needs to run water for 1/2 hour to check for leaks. After he left I saw there was a leak. I had to take the trap apart to stop the leak. I saw what he had done wrong and repaired it. By the way the extra electrical work was a 3 way switch which I told the electrician I was willing to pay for, and if you ask the electrician, I installed the switches myself. All the original wiring had been there, just because codes have changed does'nt mean that the owner pays the difference. This is why you hire a contractor, then he coordinate with sub-contractors on pricing. I do not want to get into all the petti things [redacted] is stating, if anyone would like to come out and check the lousy job he has done they are quite welcome to do so, I am not correcting any thing until this is settled.

Bottom line, he sub-contracted the electrician and needs to pay him. The electrician did him a favor and got him out of hot water.

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,