ComplaintsforIngram Drilling

• Initial Complaint

  08/22/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 9/30/2020 I got an estimate from Ingram Drilling for a well on my property in ******* County I liked the bid of $24,000, so I went with it, and they ordered and got a permit for the well on 11/13/2020. So, Kevin Ingram told me that they would not be able to do the well till the spring of 2021 which has all right with me. Then the spring of 2021 came, and I called Kevin to find out when they would be coming to dig the well, he told me that I was on his list for June or July of 2021. Nothing happened, when I called him, he said that he was having truck problems and he would call me with a new date. Again, nothing happened, when I called him, he always had excuses, he was having problems getting materials or problems with problems with his trucks. I am calling monthly to find out when I would get my well done it seemed like he kept putting me off for over a year. Then on 7/11/2022 he said they could dig the well and he sent me a contract to sign but it was for $32,000. that was $8,000. more than the original bid. I feel that this is like a bait and switch, when they got my permit, I filled out a letter saying at Ingram Drilling would act as my agent for this permit which I felt was a contract to work only with him. I felt the increase was unfair since the delays were all his problems and not mine. I was being patient and understanding and should not have been penalized with a higher charge. I discussed this with him, and he said it wasn't his fault that his truck broke down. I feel that he should have stuck with the original bid. I waited for him for 18 months.

  Business response

  09/09/2022

  ***** ***** ****** ************************** *** *************  *** ********************** ***** *** ** ***** **** ** ******** **** ********

  *****,
  
  In regards to case # ******** and Mr. **********. The original written estimate (attached to this email) that was sent on 9/30/2020 was valid for 45 days and stated on the estimate as such. I was in communication with Mr. ********** throughout the entire period he was waiting. We did have several equipment breakdowns that were out of our control and had to wait for parts as supply chain issues made parts very difficult to obtain over the past two years. This property is also in an area that weather affects our ability to service in the winter months. As for the price increases we have like every industry had many increases due to inflation that are out of our control. I met with Mr. ********** on 4/5/2022 on his property and had a discussion about why it had taken so long to get there and also that the pricing had increased due to inflation and supply chain. On July 11 2022 I sent Mr. ********** our standard drilling contract to sign that had the current pricing as of July 11 2022. This was contract #2908 (attached to this email with the invoice) and was signed and emailed back to me by Mr. ********** after a phone conversation where I explained the pricing on the contract and that it was and would be at the current pricing not the old pricing from the original estimate. The invoice was sent on July 15 2022 once the work was completed and all the pricing was inline with the pricing on the signed contract. Therefore we cannot make any billing adjustments on this project. 
  
  
  --
      Thank You,
     Kevin Ingram 
    Vice President 
  
  2 Attachments
  
  

  
  

  Customer response

  09/13/2022

  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:  I received the original estimate on 9/30/2020.  After I got the estimate I sent Ingram the application for the permit, which says I, ***** ********** hereby appoint Stephen E Ingram of Ingram Drilling Inc, to act as my agent of record in obtaining a well permit on our land, etc.  I further request that all future correspondence be addressed to Stephen E Ingram of Ingram Drilling.  

  I received a copy of the permit dated 11/13/2020, after I got the permit Kevin Ingram informed me that due to the weather conditions, he would not be able to do this this until the spring of 2021.  I know the estimate said that it was good for 45 days but when I filled out the paperwork to get the permit I thought that was the contract since they were working as my agent and they never sent me anything else.  

  As for their equipment breaking down, I do not feel that it was my problem and he never mention that it would increase my bid.  I tried to work with him for a year and a half, and never during that period did he mention that the bid was no longer valid and that he would have to rebid the job.  

  I only discover that the bid was increased when he sent me new contract and finally said he had time to do my well.  The bid was increased considerably, by $8,000.  I thought I had to go with him because the permit was in his name and if I went with another vendor I would have to start the process over again, delaying my well by easily another 6 months to a year.  I felt this increase was unfair because I was patient and understood his equipment and supply problems.  

  If he had been straight with me at the onset that he did not have time to do the well in a timely manner, I would have gone with other vendor and had my well done at least a year earlier.  I think he kept putting other customers in front of me, since I am sure he drilled other wells in the year and a half I waited for him to drill mine.  

  Signed ***** **********

  Business response

  09/26/2022

  ***** ******* ****** **************************** *** *********************** ***** *** *** ***** **** ** ******** *** ********
  
  Regarding the above referenced ID#
  The contract documents signed and dated July 11, 2022 are the only legal documents which clearly state the pricing structure and should have been read prior to signing those documents.
  The letter of agent clearly states to obtain the well permit only, and is not a contract to perform any work. Future correspondence pertains to the well permit only.
  The well permit is not in our name it clearly states
  Permit Applicant ***** ********** and Authorized Agent Ingram Drilling Inc
  The estimate clearly states Estimate valid for 45 days Only that is exactly what it means
  As far as we are concerned our business practices were completely open and in writing
  We consider this matter concluded
  Regards
  Stephen Ingram
  President
  Ingram Drilling Inc
  

  
  

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