Virginia Hardscapes Supply, Inc

Review: May 20,2016, initial agreement was signed for hardscape and landscape at [redacted] pool deck installation-(incomplete),52 ft of sitting wall for drainage-(not begun), Parameter fencing- partial privacy fencing (not to Code), partial bronze metal fencing -(1/3 complete),backwash hose -verbal agreement- (not started), soil mounds need to be moved to pool area to provide enough ground height to install fence, gravel debris unloaded in our grass, needs to be removed, re-soiled and seeded with a straw overlay (per contract). We are unable to apply for our final inspection because of these delays.

Contract dates read:"Work will begin on or about June 4, 2016. Completion date June 18,2016".

All attempts at communication with Mr. S[redacted] have failed and there has been no activity in the last four weeks. All attempts to phone, text or email have been ignored. Please advise on next steps. We want the job completed or the contract voided. Please advise our legal options. Thank you very much, [redacted]Desired Settlement: We are five weeks behind schedule, and want the job completed or the contract deemed null and void.

Consumer

Response:

The pool has finally been completed to our satisfaction and you may close the complaint marked, as is appropriate. Thank you kindly for your guidance. [redacted]

Review: we contracted a pool in march was told to pay the bulk of the 39,000 up front and was offered a cash discount, we never received the corrected formal itemized contract or a warrenty that I requested numerous times after I realized things were not adding up, we are 140 days out of contract and just had the fence installed just in time to close the pool that is still damaged , I had damage to my yard and had to pay to refill pool and do my own start up as the dealer was not available he has been absent during this whole project and left sub contracters who had not done pools before to figure it out the pool was put in incorrectly lopsided twice and he said it was level and had me have my cement contracters prep to cement then their forman said it was not level and we had to start over a third time I have to pay for all that and he said it was their fault and refused to pay for any damages ,he also has cracked the pool and drilled a hole for the light in the wrong place then said I would have an extra jet, I did not require an extra jet and the crack that was repaired once recracked when the put the pool in for the third time, if he had not tried to cut corners and used the crane he charged me for the first time he might not of caused damage to my pool or some of the damage to my property and this would of been done on time, I also lost my original concrete contracter and my back up one with the months of not getting the pool in and had to use a crew that works with him needless to say I am in lidigation with them for a poor job that they did not finish either, I have no idea how many calls I have made but I started texting to keep record there are about 40, this pool was supposedto be a comfort to my husband and daughter he has stage 4 terminal cancer and we were told only months, this could be the last summer and my daughter is 12 I realize we could of used our money somewhere else but this is something he wanted and dave knew this and that makes it worse I feel he stole from a dying man. I feel he needs to refund the full amount we had given we have put out a few more thousand fixing the yard, buying supplies, cleaning the pool, and now we have a damaged not new pool, we are still waiting for a pool cover and stone that he told me I could come and get so I would not track the mud in my house all summer , a little late for that. there are still tires in my yard from march when the pool was delivered he did not even remove trash , I made 4 trips to the dump.Desired Settlement: 33,930.00 total refund we had no use of this pool , damaged property some still to be fixed some fixed , i'm over the fake apology and saying he will make it a priority to help fix this summer is over this has gone on all summer, calls ignored and not returned and texts ignored for weeks, he went on several vacations , cookouts and had family fun and we did not, shame on him.

Business

Response:

We have received the complaint regarding [redacted]. Please note the following.

An estimate was prepared on March 29, 2013. Included in the estimate was a Pool, equipment, Pool Cover and 100 Linear Feet of Fencing. [redacted] met with [redacted] and [redacted] (a designer). [redacted] hired [redacted] to draw a plan. On April 4th, 2013 I received the plan back from **. [redacted]. After making corrections to the estimate I made arrangements with [redacted] and [redacted] to go over the plan. **. [redacted] asked if he could get a better discount if he paid cash. I obliged him on his cash offer and reduced the estimate. During this time there were septic drain field issues that **. [redacted] uncovered with his tree removal company that had to be addressed. [redacted]e ([redacted]) and I drove out to look at the job site and it was determined that we have to relocate the placement for the pool after he removed another a tree. It was also discussed that **. [redacted] was to use another Hardscape company to install the pool deck out of stamped concrete. I encouraged him to use the same company that he had used to install a previous patio as they had a better chance to match his existing patio. [redacted] showed us where to place the excavated dirt and said that he had another contractor doing the finish work around the yard which we saw that they had already begun by removing trees. We were also shown where to place the trash from the job site. We were told that we did not have to haul anything away. We explained to him that the area of the cobbles next to the shed would more than likely be damaged. He said that he was aware of that as he was going to be making changes to his driveway anyway.

On April 26th a Permit was applied for at [redacted]. The County informed me that they could not issue a permit until a Reserve Septic Drain Field Study could be performed. I paid the fee of $300.00 to the county for the study to be performed. I called **. [redacted] and informed him the permit could not be issued until the study could be performed and that it was going to take up to 2 weeks. He was very upset. I called [redacted] (Pool Installer) and told him that we would not be installing a pool the next week. He is located in [redacted]lina and does factory installs for [redacted] Pools.

The following Week I received a call from **. [redacted] stating that the county decided it was not going to need the study and that I should call the county.

After speaking to [redacted] at [redacted], I was told that I could pick up the permit after he signed off on not needing the study.

I called the [redacted] and attempted to schedule the install and I was informed that he had already taken on another job and could not get to ours for another 2 weeks.

I called **. [redacted] and informed him of the timing and he said that he could not wait that long as the his doctor gave him 6 months to live 6 months ago. I was shocked and I asked him what he meant? He informed me he was dying of cancer.

I told him that I would prefer that [redacted] installed the pool but if I had to, I would get a different crew. He agreed to a different crew. So I called [redacted] and asked for his best excavator in which he sent out [redacted].

On approximately May 6, the pool arrived and we installed the pool into the ground.

Upon setting the pool we heard a cracking noise and upon inspection found that a crack had formed at the Factory installed Skimmer. We noted that the crack was located at the skimmer cutout where the factory had over cut the ridge of the fiberglass edge in 2 places. ([redacted]). I called [redacted] Factory and I was told to have a [redacted] repairman come out and make the repair.

I called [redacted] Repair Company) to come out and it was determined that the over cut from the factory made the edge weak and that he could repair it at a cost of $600.00 . The repair was made.

The next day it was reported that the pool had settled. Was not a surprise to us as this happens on all pools. Only this time it seemed it was a little more than usual on the shallow end closest to the house. Upon inspection we found that a Sink Hole had been forming over time prior to the pool install extending under the existing patio. . We had to drain the pool. Homeowner called to have water replaced and we agreed to reduce the final balance by that amount. We filled and compacted the area. and brought the pool up to level.

It was also noted that there was white streaks in the steps of the pool. I called [redacted] and they stated that there was a defect in the non-skid surface of the steps and that the factory would repair this in the fall when she closes her pool so that the pool can be drained. I told [redacted] that I will provide her pool cover at that time when I close the pool. I also told her I would give her instructions at that time on how to close the pool.

The next day I received a call from [redacted] stating that there was a hump in the bottom of the pool floor at the shallow end. I went back to inspect it and found that we had created a burm under the pool while setting it in place that gave a little more than average slope. [redacted] did not like it and asked for us to remove the slope. I told him that I was going to have the factory installer come out and reset the pool at my expense.

[redacted] arrived a few days later. Knowing that we had to pull and reset the pool, the homeowner allowed their concrete contractor to lay gravel and steel wire around the pool. We had to remove it. We also noticed that the gravel that the contractor had used was incorrect and would have to be removed or the pool would flood underneath. [redacted] stated that he was aware the cement contractor used the wrong gravel and said for us to move it over in a pile behind his shed which we did at no charge. The pool was pulled and reinstalled to level as requested by the customer. I told them that they should call me when I can have the fence installed and [redacted] told me that it won’t be for at least 30 days because the concrete needs to cure. There was a final balance due of $3,500 after the credit for water ($270.00) I told her also that she owed no additional money that I was forgiving the final $3,230.00 left on the balance I also told her for her inconvenience I would give her 2 Pallets of Field stone she wanted and a pallet of Granite cobble but she would have to pay delivery. The pool reinstall was completed on June 21, 2013.

Please note, while, Installing the pool I had 2 labor helpers [redacted] and [redacted] digging trenches for plumbing and electrical.

On July 25th , I received a call from [redacted] asking when we could get her fence installed. I told her that I would arrange a crew to install it.

August 12th, I called [redacted] and asked if she would be home this week. She said that she would but she did not want [redacted] out to her property as she had contracted them to do her Pool Deck with stamped concrete and they did a terrible job so she was suing them. I asked her why she hired them to do the concrete and she said that they had made her a good deal and that her original contractor could not get to her job fast enough. I told her I would find her a different installer.

I had [redacted] of [redacted] contact her to schedule a fence install. He could not get to it until September. [redacted] informed me that she had extended the fence by 50 linear feet.

I called [redacted] and stated that she needed to come verify the stone she wanted and also she would have to pay for the additional 50 feet of fence. She agreed. I told [redacted] to go ahead and install the fence.

October 7th, 2013 I received a call and a letter of complaint from the Revdex.com. [redacted] requesting for all of her money to be refunded from the sale of the pool.

October 8th, 2013 [redacted] called and wanted to know when she was going to get her free rock and her Pool Cover. I told her that I was not comfortable dealing with her since it seems nothing that I can do is enough.

[redacted] has not paid for the additional fence that was installed which would be a total of $1,250.00 plus tax. She came to the shop and verified the stone she wanted but did not pay for the delivery or the fence.

Her accusations of fraud makes it impossible to complete the transaction. I was never told that [redacted] was dying until the valdrighis found out that due to the county not approving the permit when requested was going to set the install back. Being told that you have 6 months to live 6 months ago was a definite game changer and we were trying to accommodate them. Since then [redacted] has told contractors she is getting a free pool. I don’t know when the pool decking was completed but I was not involved in that part of her project. The pool was ready to swim in June 21st, 2013.