Business ProfileforTiny Tom's Chimney Sweep and Repair - Toledo

I first contacted Tiny Tom Chimney Repair on Nov. 21, 2023. **** *******, representing himself as a long time employee of Tiny Tom came out and cleaned my fire place. I paid him $189 for that service then told him I really wanted to get my fireplace up to code so that I could use it either as a wood burner or preferably to get a gas insert installed. He inspected it and told me I would need $1600 worth of work to get it ready for use. I said let's do it and he said he would need 1/3 of the cost down before starting the work. He also told me to go to Country Hearth to price gas inserts, which I did. I gave him a check for $533 (ck #****) that day to begin the process. On December 6, 2023, **** contacted me and told me since I really want to get a certain kind of gas fireplace insert installed that I really didn't need his services. It would be unnecessary to spend $1600 for work on the fireplace that I really didn't need if I was ultimately interested in getting a ventless insert. He said I should just take the money I had given him back and put it on the insert. He said he just wanted to be honest with me so that I wouldn't spend unnecessary money. He promised me he would return the check ASAP. The check cleared my bank on Nov. 21, 2023. Since then, **** has produced numerous excuses as to why he has not refunded me but says its on the way. On Dec. 27, I finally called the owner of Tiny Tom....****** ****...who first said he knew a little about the case and that he would check on it and call me back. He didn't. On Dec. 30, I called **** again and he basically disassociated himself from **** saying he sometimes goes rouge and he can't control him. He took NO RESPONSIBILITY for this employee representing himself as a Tiny Tom employee. My last conversation with **** was Dec. 30 when he said he's broke and begged me to give him 5-7 days to refund me at least part of the funds. I told him I don't believe him and I'm taking further actions.