T&B Renovation Company

Review: I signed a tenant fit-out construction contract for my store, [redacted], at [redacted], **, Washington, DC, [redacted], on 12/26/2013 with T&B Renovation Company LLC (licensed in DC as T&B Construction Company)for a term from 1/7/14 to 3/20/14. The contract amount is $201,235. T&B is owned by Mr. Tae J[redacted]T###-###-####, and the project manager is Kevin M[redacted], T###-###-####. The contract stipulates 4 payment draws: (1) 30% at the beginning; (2) 30% on completion of rough inspection; (3) 30% at completion of ceiling, wall, equipment, flooring, and all fixtures (4) 10% at completion. Despite the schedule, the contractor repeatedly demanded payments prior to completing milestones (2) and (3). By 5/9/14, before they completed work for the 3rd draw, I paid T&B a total of $130,000, when only $121,740 was due. I also bought $10,570 of materials that T&B should have bought, making my total payments $140,570, including $20,570 in advance payments. T&B continued to harass me for more advanced funds, claiming they couldnt pay subcontractors, and that they would stop working. They promised that the money I would pay to T&B would go to their subs. Fearing a work stoppage, on 5/20/14 I gave T&B a $20,000 check. However, on the afternoon of 5/23/14, I learned that T&B did not use those funds to pay their subs, instead put a lock and chain on my salon space, (locking me out of my own space!) and sent out a Stop Work Order, in gross violation of the contract and their promises. Furthermore, I had to write additional checks payable to T&B's two subs($7,000 to electrical sub and $10,000 to the mechanical sub) to get the subs paid. In total, I have had to pay over $177,570, while only $120,741 should be due. I am paying rent on the space, the contract is far behind schedule, and T&B keeps threatening to stop work. Other many subs, to whom T&B apparently did not pay, are also threatening to withdraw their permits and file liens unless they are paid immediately.Desired Settlement: 1. Immediately pay all subcontractors current amounts owed to them.2. Immediately complete all remaining work on the contract, including plumbing, electrical, mechanical work, and installing all doors and completing other tasks.