ComplaintsforCunningham Well Drilling, Incorporated

• Initial Complaint

  12/01/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I just lost over 1k words typed.....this is the short version. Mr Cunningham started to dig a well on my vacant property. He stopped drill after 325ft and attempted to change the verbal agreement. I did not accept that change and stopped the drilling process. That was on November 8th 2023. I wrote a check to Mr Cunningham but stopped pymt on said check November 30th 2023. I have text messages showing this was a fraud just to get money with no intentions of delivering a water well.

  Customer response

  12/04/2023

  After I declined the proposed change to the verbal agreement which was nine thousend dollars for a well and all the accessories to provide water to my future house, Mr. Cunningham suggested to me to try "fracking" for water and said he would provide a contractor's information once he returned to his home. I did recieve that information later on. Turns out it was the same contractor I had contacted previously and had left a text message the same day and three hours later coincidently Cunningham text me saying he would be on my property the next morning to drill. The fracking contractor turned out to be ** ******** well drilling who I had contacted earlier via text message. I have since learned that the empty hole in the ground will cost me more money to have it properly abandoned to county code or if I can find a contractor to drill in the same hole it will cost a set up fee to drill. I called Cunningham back two days later on Nov. 10th two ask two questions, 1: will you come back to my property and finish drilling for water? Cunningham said, " no", I said to him I will pay you a minimum of 100ft to drill, he said, " get it why you can", I said , wow...I asked my other question, 2: with your 30+ years experience, how did the bedrock earth that was laying on the ground from the drilled hole, if it had any signs of getting colse to water?, Cunningham replied, "no telling", I said, thank you for your time and have a nice day and hung up. That was the last contact with Cunnungham....answers to BBB follow up questions, 1: no written contract, just verbal agreement.  2: the terms of the price agreement.  3: the work performed that day.  4: the agreement per cost of project was not met.///...also Mr. Cunningham asked me if I wanted a receipt after writing the check to him and I said "yes" that's six thousand dollars, that's a lot of my money. I found it strange that he didn't want to write me a receipt. I have text messages and call logs for all that transpired for all of this mess. Thank you, Mr. **** *****

  Business response

  12/27/2023

  10/21/23 - After several previous phone conversations, I drove over an hour to meet Mr. ***** on his property to obtain the well permit and a sign contract. Upon arrival Mr. ***** did not produce the well permit. I however spent over an hour and a half answering his questions and providing two options and pricing. 10/30/23 - Mr. ***** call and left a message stating he wanted to proceed with the Well and Pump Installation option at the stated price of $9,000.00. I later replied to Mr. ***** via text that we could be on site 11/08 and that I need him to provide the well permit.  11/07/23 - Mr. ***** called and left a message assuring me he had the permit and was ready to go. 11/08/23 - Met Mr. ***** onsite, he did not have the complete well permit with him and stated he would contact the **** that wrote the permit to email me a copy. Taking Mr. ***** at his word, I proceeded to the location Mr. ***** indicated the well was to go, then moved the drill to the indicate site and proceed to drill to a depth of 325 feet. (25 feet deeper than Industry Standard). At 325 feet I stopped drilling. There was no water in well, so I explained the three options to Mr. *****. 1. Drill deeper at an additional cost per foot, 2. Drill in a new location at an additional charge, or 3. Stop drilling and have the well fractured at additional charge. Mr. ***** decided to stop drilling and stated he wanted to have the well fractured. I do not offer well fracturing and indicate I would provide the contact information for a local fracturing contractor. Mr. ***** then asked what he owned me for the well. I told him $6,000.00 and then proceeded to take down the drill. Before finishing Mr. ***** returned with a check for $6,000.00 and was provided the attached receipt. Upon return to the office, I provided Mr. ***** the name and number of the fracturing contractor who also drills wells. I had no knowledge that Mr. ***** had previously contacted this same company about drilling his well. 11/10/23 - Mr. ***** called and asked if I would come back out and drill deeper to which I replied no. In 30 years of drilling, I have not returned to a site to drill deeper in well. He then asked if the rock on the ground showed signs of getting close to water, to which I advised that I have no way of knowing if water lies below.About a month later, I received a Stop Payment Notification Letter from the back indicating Mr. ***** has stopped payment on the check for the well drilled on his property that unfortunately did not produce water.Mr. *****, please be advised:- There are other companies that provide well fracturing services.- Your well is not required to be abandoned per Virginia Water Well Regulations.

  Customer response

  01/03/2024

  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me.  I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved. Regards, ******* *****

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