Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/11/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  9-1-2022 commenced , completion feb-***** Paid the man $160,000. Two $80k checks.*************** committed to providing a home that is built to code, and done correctly.The nature of my dispute, is absolute devastation.After $160k in hand, with me working in ******* expecting this to be done when I came home, *************** began advocating for $14k aggressively to begin electrical. Saying things like we cant hire an electrician for peanuts.I had to tell him to leave the job, and that Ill just finish it myself.He said I owe him $14k after I fired him.That were not exactly square in text.I was appalled to see what build quality awaited for me, on the work that WAS completed. Completed things on the home that are built deficient include All of the framing inside done in 2x4 walls , horrible framing, the worst!The walls to code are 2x6.The roof material has nails perforating from the back side, and fasteners are all over tightened, causing the rubber grommets to span out.To fix is quoted at $6200.The framing inside has all the wires ran throughout them, and to reframe also will require electrician.Theres siding popping up on the exterior.Theres massive viscosity inside the caulking, no flashing.Incorrect sized doors with no shimming, causing a tight French door and basement door as well, upon first open actually chipped the top of the doors fiberglass, as it was so tight.I have a detailed inspection, from a well known company, that indicates 24 items inspected, 14 items deficient.To repair what is done incorrectly, its going to cost me being time. People tell me horror stories, on his reputation, and even the lawyer said hes up to his old tricks again, advocating for me to get him off the property.I also have countless pictures of the absolutely appalling job site trash, and much proof of drinking on the job site. They at one point for example placed all the trash on MY lowboy trailer, and I had to ask them to clean it off so I could use it.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/12/2023

  ****************** did contract with us to construct an ICF home consisting of a full walk out basement, first floor and partial second floor.  He was very much in a hurry and could not wait to get started, but yet continually made changes as things progressed.   His mood was different many times a day depending upon how much marijuana he had smoked before conversing with us.  the trash he refers to being on his trailer was not trash, but rather some not yet used ICF materials that were placed on the trailer because of space limitations and the trailer being in our way.  Had he asked, it would have been immediately removed.

  As worked continued, his attitude and demeanor went further down hill and I spoke with him concerning this.  He told me he suffers from depression and has to smoke marijuana frequently to make it through the day.  He also said he has psychological issues and a severe distrust for contractors as he was dealing with another contractor fixing a home in ********** and it was not going well.  He kept saying they were ripping him off and doing poor work.

  ****************** texted me frequently saying how great things looked and he was glad he had chosen us to do his work and would then follow with a barrage of text complaining about trash everywhere on his property.  I immediately went to the site and found no trash of ours.  He had plastic oil drain pans, batteries, vehicle parts etc at various places on the property.  We had a small pile of cut offs next to the building and I picked them up removing them from the property.  This was Sunday morning about 8 AM.  I took pictures of everything.

  ****************** took more than ******************************* complaining about quality of work and stating that he could do better himself.  Those pictures were of a temporary hand rail erected to comply with OSHA regulations.  It was quickly put together to prevent falling off the second floor area and stairs as the crew worked.  Since it would be taken down soon and was made of framing materials, we did not take great care in making it look like a finished product.  I explained this to him, but he brought it up many times afterward.  

  The house was closed in, metal roofing in place, siding completed, and interior framing completed.  ****************** had gone to ******* to deal with a property there and communicated via text message or phone call.  He sent me many pictures of his "fantastic" work that he was doing there to restore a mobile home damaged by a water leak.  The work was terrible, but he was of the impression that it was great and stated that he was going to try to come to work with us when he returned from *******.

  I told him that an electrician was going to do the rough wiring the next week and he agreed.  I hired the electrician and had the work completed to code (which was then inspected and approved by code enforcement).  ***************** then refused to pay the bill for the electrician.  We paid the bill (********* for rough in) and attempted to communicate with ***************** about that and going forward.  There was still more than ********* remaining on the contract which stated as work was completed would be paid incrementally until complete.  ****************** refused to pay and talked very rudely to me each time we spoke.  He then threatened to take us to court and made a statement that he was in the pocket of a millionaire and could keep us in litigation " until you f****** die".  

  We had a window that had back ordered and I did not want to leave the house in a compromised state.  I obtained the window and we installed it in his residence, completed the siding around that window and cleaned up.  This took us a day and a half as it was winter and very snowy.  We locked the house and left the property since it was obvious that ****************** was not going to honor the contract and was holding us up from finishing the job.

  ****************** returned from ******* weeks later and sent me a text stating, "Hey *****, I'm back in town. What's up".  I did not respond to his rudeness.  He replied with "coward".  Days later he texted asking where the keys were.  I did reply and apparently he found them as he replied thank you.  A few weeks later he parked on the side of the road near my residence with another individual and screamed obscenities about me and the company loudly before spinning out and leaving the area.  

  ***************** has since texted rude and ignorant comments at various times and has made post on ******** with false claims damaging our reputation.  He asked about an extra that he agreed to and did not pay for (snow bar to prevent sliding off the roof) .  Since he refused to pay, I did not install it  He was aware that heating was not included in the contract as it specifically states that heat has not been discussed and is not included in this contract.  He called me saying that in addition to heat pumps, he wanted hot water baseboard heat.  This is offered as further evidence of his lack of reality and understanding.

  I had the home inspected by code enforcement just prior to us leaving the site and was told that everything was in perfect order.  I also have numerous photos of the entire project.  His comments that "many people" have told him about our bad work is obviously false as we have a great reputation and have only had one other complaint from a similar individual in many years of business.  Unfortunately ****************** needs professional help with his issues.

   

   

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/27/2023

  Better Business Bureau:I have reviewed the response submitted by the business and have determined that the response does not satisfy or resolve my issues and/or concerns in reference to complaint # ********. Please add your rejection comments below; if you do not provide any details, your complaint will be closed as Answered. 

  I respectfully deny the allegations regarding mental health issues and any threats. Although building a home is stressful as anyone knows, I feel I am most of the time handling it in a professional manner. This complaint is more about the defective work found by the inspector and the significant amount of money given to this company upfront, rather than about my character. The issues related to the home were not addressed in the company's lengthy response. I have photos of the trash left at the job site on several occasions, and I have a certified inspector's report verifying there were at leaat 14 defects which now need addressed, at my own cost, from the work done by **************** and his company. I gave **************** two checks of $80,000 each totalling $160,000 for completion of  2/3 of the build. He was then asking for another $17000 while I was out of town for an electrical change order, which I did not approve because I had no way to verify the change at the time, and I felt I had given his company a significant amount of money upfront already.  I do not feel his company kept its end of the contract due to the defects, the requesting of another $17,000, and what it is now costing me to remedy those defects.
  
  Please let me know if I can provide the certified inspector's report, photos, and any other information needed. Thank you. God bless.
  

  
  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/29/2023

  ****************** is still confused and refuses to accept facts in place of his fantasy wishes.  

  The electrical was not a change order.  It was in fact part of the work included in the contract which clearly states that as portions are completed, it would be invoiced for payment.  The electrical rough in was completed by a licensed and professional electrician to code and inspected by the code enforcement officer for the town of Lincoln.

  The structure was "closed in" and water tight with interior framing complete and ready for wall coverings.  The structure is ICF so the exterior walls were insulated and only needed insulation at the roof level before ceiling coverings could be applied.  

  ****************** could hire any one of a hundred "inspectors " who would state anything he wished to make his complaint look valid, when in fact the only reason he did not get a finished product is that he did not pay his invoice for the electrical rough in.  If the inspector is trained and certified in ICF installation with 20 years experience as we are, then he should present documentation stating so.  I highly doubt it.

  ***************** states that the interior framing is not up to code because it is 2x4 framing not 2x6.  Code is 2x4 framing for interior walls and 2x6 for exterior walls.  Again he is talking as though he knows what he is talking about, but in reality does not.

  I highly doubt that any amount of talking with ****************** could resolve his issues as he told us of his complaints about another contractor in ******************** dealing with a log cabin.  He complained about everything they did and stated that he had to straighten out the whole thing himself because he could do a better job.  I only wish I had known about his "issues" with reality and personality before we accepted the job.  His statements that numerous people have told him of our shoddy work are totally false as we have an outstanding reputation and pride ourselves in pleasing the customer.  Some people just can not be pleased and he is one of them.  This is only the second customer in 24 years that I could not deal with to get a job completed.  

  When a customer does not pay, we of course do not continue to perform work knowing that we will take a further loss.  In ****************** case, I paid for a window that had been on back order and paid crew to install it and complete the siding around that window and caulk it as needed.  We did this to make the house water tight and complete to the level that we were paid up to.  We in no way took money for work that was not completed.  ****************** again has not educated himself properly and made statements that we did not caulk the joints of the ** Smartside siding.  ** changed their manufacturing process last year and the end seam no longer gets caulking.  It has a "shiplap" type joint that allows movement during expansion and contraction and is waterproof by design.  Apparently his "inspector" is still looking at the product as it was in the past when end seams had to be caulked.  We continually learn as products evolve into what they are at time of use and do not try to stay with the past.  Perhaps they should do the same.

  We do not often ask people to rate us at the conclusion of a job because we do not feel the need to.  Word of mouth has carried us through many years because of our workmanship and honesty,  See attached text screenshot for an example of a true customer communication.  I will also include a screenshot of ****************** communications.  I think it speaks for itself.

   

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

  C & I Custom Builders LLC