RIM Development

Initial Business Response / [redacted] (1000, 5, 2014/02/05) */ What the consumer is calling a small switch installation is inaccurate and the scope of work he requested was more complicated than he is conveyingAdditionally, although the consumer suggests that it was relayed to him as being one hour of work, I actually quoted him $per hour when we were going for a walk through of his houseAt the time of the walk through, the consumer had asked for many items to be completed, such as the several switch installations, hardwood flooring installation, a new larger exhaust hood to be installed and the old microwave hood to be removed, to install new shelving in the master bedroom to match the existing custom built one in an adjoining closet in the master bedroom, remodeling of the basement and finally installation of a concrete patio Ultimately he asked for a switch to be replacedWhile, the consumer indicated that it was a small switch jobIt was not just the replacement of a signal switch or even the installation of a switch in the front den roomWhat he wanted required the removal of an existing signal pole switch and the installation of a three way switch, which could be operated in the hallway as well as the adjacent den roomThe consumer also had wanted as part of this job, a switch which they could also operate in the living room to be operated in same switch box in the hallway So what the job actually required was the installation of a three way switch and a four way switch where no conduit previously existed to the existing switch box for the hallway with only one existing three way which was being operated from both ends of the hallwayThis meant that the job needed additional conduit connection to be made in outlet boxes in the den room and the living roomThis was completed by removing the large four gang cover plate used by the former owner for an entertainment centerBy accessing this location I could see both boxes and would need to install conduit thus allowing me to completed the connection from the den to the living roomOnce that was completed, the switch box in the hallway was connected to the switch box in the living roomIn the hallway, to gain access a hole was cut to expand the existing box and connect the two boxesAfter all the conduit connections were completed it was time to run wireThree new wires were needed to run up the wall and back down to the outlet in the den through the new conduit to the living room outlet across the way to another outlet then up to the switch in the living room then out to the switch box in the hallwayThis was about feet times which would be feet for the first switch and about feet for the connection of the four way switch so about feet altogetherHe then came back to me and asked me to install a dimmer switch he wanted in the living room in place of an existing three way switchI indicated that would not work it as was a signal pole switch so I had to run out and get a three way dimmer to installAll of this was hours work not hoursThe other two hours where for working on a water system and helping with heating system (see below)Three additional hours were billed at $25/hour for making and providing samples to match existing flooringMaterials where purchased to complete the job and taken from owner stockIncluding 1- three way dimmer, 3-three way switches, 1-four way switch, conduit, - connectors, wire, switch box, cover plate While at the job site, the consumer asked me why it was so cold in the new house they just moved into and would I look at the thermostatI said yes and it was set at and reading degrees, I said the thermostat seem to be working because the fan was on and workingI went back down stairs to look at the furnace and after looking at the code information it indicated that there was a lack of gasI then indicated that to that to the consumer and we proceeded to the outside to see if the gas was on to the houseIt was locked off by the Gas CompanyThe consumer indicated that they needed help with turning off the water so the lines would not freeze as Gas Company indicated it would not be able to turn the gas on for several days and it was going to below freezing the next couple of nightsI turned off the water and helped drain the water lines Final Consumer Response / [redacted] (3000, 7, 2014/02/11) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) I am glad that the contractor provide more detailed explanation after Revdex.com was involvedFrom his description, he admitted that he actually spent hours on the electronic work instead of hoursHowever, on his bill, he was charging us $labor under electronic work and there is no comments about the other two hours on the bill at all until nowI think that has caused great confusion on our sideThe contractor did help us to drain water lines in the basementWe appreciated his work on thatHowever, as we were with him when he drain the water, we observed that it took him less than mins to finish that jobAnd we were not told that draining water will be charged the same rate as electronic work at 45/hourOn the material cost part, he admitted that he used about 140ft wires and a few switchesBut all of those won't cost $in total per their market pricesIn another email he sent to me after I filed complain to Revdex.com, he indicated he bought about ft wire lines and other extra materials not used for the projectHowever, those information were not communicated to us effectively before we went for Revdex.comWe would expect him to either refund us for the extra costs or return the extra materialsOverall, I think there are a great deal of communication problem in our experiences with the contractorThe same kind of communication problems occurred when I asked his quote for starting the electronic switch jobI asked him how much the job will cost and was impressed by him that it was one hour work and his rate is 45/hour, which is the reason I had the contract to start that jobIt is abto me that a consumer would accept a quote without knowing the scope of the job and that a contractor can give a quote of a project without giving the consumer a ballpark estimate of possible total cost

First class serviceBob remodeled my new store in BannockburnHe was honest with his commitment, honest with the price, and honest with all shippingI would highly recommend RIM Development to anyone on the North Shore looking for top notch remodeling Sincerely, Andrew [redacted]

First class service. Bob remodeled my new store in Bannockburn. He was honest with his commitment, honest with the price, and honest with all shipping. I would highly recommend RIM Development to anyone on the North Shore looking for top notch remodeling.

Sincerely,
Andrew [redacted]

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2014/02/05) */
What the consumer is calling a small switch installation is inaccurate and the scope of work he requested was more complicated than he is conveying. Additionally, although the consumer suggests that it was relayed to him as being one...

hour of work, I actually quoted him $45 per hour when we were going for a walk through of his house. At the time of the walk through, the consumer had asked for many items to be completed, such as the several switch installations, hardwood flooring installation, a new larger exhaust hood to be installed and the old microwave hood to be removed, to install new shelving in the master bedroom to match the existing custom built one in an adjoining closet in the master bedroom, remodeling of the basement and finally installation of a concrete patio.
Ultimately he asked for a switch to be replaced. While, the consumer indicated that it was a small switch job. It was not just the replacement of a signal switch or even the installation of a switch in the front den room. What he wanted required the removal of an existing signal pole switch and the installation of a three way switch, which could be operated in the hallway as well as the adjacent den room. The consumer also had wanted as part of this job, a switch which they could also operate in the living room to be operated in same switch box in the hallway.
So what the job actually required was the installation of a three way switch and a four way switch where no conduit previously existed to the existing switch box for the hallway with only one existing three way which was being operated from both ends of the hallway. This meant that the job needed additional conduit connection to be made in outlet boxes in the den room and the living room. This was completed by removing the large four gang cover plate used by the former owner for an entertainment center. By accessing this location I could see both boxes and would need to install conduit thus allowing me to completed the connection from the den to the living room. Once that was completed, the switch box in the hallway was connected to the switch box in the living room. In the hallway, to gain access a hole was cut to expand the existing box and connect the two boxes. After all the conduit connections were completed it was time to run wire. Three new wires were needed to run up the wall and back down to the outlet in the den through the new conduit to the living room outlet across the way to another outlet then up to the switch in the living room then out to the switch box in the hallway. This was about 40 feet times 3 which would be 120 feet for the first switch and about 20 feet for the connection of the four way switch so about 140 feet altogether. He then came back to me and asked me to install a dimmer switch he wanted in the living room in place of an existing three way switch. I indicated that would not work it as was a signal pole switch so I had to run out and get a three way dimmer to install. All of this was 8 hours work not 10 hours. The other two hours where for working on a water system and helping with heating system (see below). Three additional hours were billed at $25/hour for making and providing samples to match existing flooring. Materials where purchased to complete the job and taken from owner stock. Including 1- three way dimmer, 3-three way switches, 1-four way switch, conduit, 4 - connectors, wire, switch box, cover plate.
While at the job site, the consumer asked me why it was so cold in the new house they just moved into and would I look at the thermostat. I said yes and it was set at 69 and reading 62 degrees, I said the thermostat seem to be working because the fan was on and working. I went back down stairs to look at the furnace and after looking at the code information it indicated that there was a lack of gas. I then indicated that to that to the consumer and we proceeded to the outside to see if the gas was on to the house. It was locked off by the Gas Company. The consumer indicated that they needed help with turning off the water so the lines would not freeze as Gas Company indicated it would not be able to turn the gas on for several days and it was going to below freezing the next couple of nights. I turned off the water and helped drain the water lines.
Final Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2014/02/11) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
I am glad that the contractor provide more detailed explanation after Revdex.com was involved. From his description, he admitted that he actually spent 8 hours on the electronic work instead of 10 hours. However, on his bill, he was charging us $405 labor under electronic work and there is no comments about the other two hours on the bill at all until now. I think that has caused great confusion on our side. The contractor did help us to drain water lines in the basement. We appreciated his work on that. However, as we were with him when he drain the water, we observed that it took him less than 30 mins to finish that job. And we were not told that draining water will be charged the same rate as electronic work at 45/hour. On the material cost part, he admitted that he used about 140ft wires and a few switches. But all of those won't cost $120 in total per their market prices. In another email he sent to me after I filed complain to Revdex.com, he indicated he bought about 400 ft wire lines and other extra materials not used for the project. However, those information were not communicated to us effectively before we went for Revdex.com. We would expect him to either refund us for the extra costs or return the extra materials. Overall, I think there are a great deal of communication problem in our experiences with the contractor. The same kind of communication problems occurred when I asked his quote for starting the electronic switch job. I asked him how much the job will cost and was impressed by him that it was one hour work and his rate is 45/hour, which is the reason I had the contract to start that job. It is abnormal to me that a consumer would accept a quote without knowing the scope of the job and that a contractor can give a quote of a project without giving the consumer a ballpark estimate of possible total cost.