ComplaintsforChimney Champs

• Initial Complaint

  10/26/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Champs chimney was engaged to put in a liner in my mother-in-law‘s house a year ago. They had to knock out some bricks from the chimney in order to fit the liner in properly. We paid them off at the end of the day when 95% of the work was completed. we called back to have them replace the bricks that were removed and didn’t hear from them for months. When a phone call was returned. I was told that there was a balance of $500 for all the extra work that was done. This information was never provided at the end of the work process where they were paid a check in full. Now a year later, Chuck is trying to charge me another $500 and said he has proof that he told me about the charge. He has not been able to show any phone calls, emails or letters to prove his point my last email to him five days ago Was to please come out and complete the job as was contracted over a year ago. He has not tried to get in touch with me at all. After reading through the other complaints, I now understand why this company has an F rating from the Better Business Bureau. It’s sad when a local company doesn’t take care of people.

• Initial Complaint

  05/26/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  1/14/2023 Chimney champs came out to my house to do a cleaning on the chimney and inspection. I was informed that I needed some work on both my chimney for the wood stove and the furnace chimney. I was given a verbal quote. I had to borrow the money to have the fix done no matter what. I agreed to have the chimney for the wood stove done. Chuck called me and told me that if I were to have a check made out for cash he would discount the amount being charged for the repairs. My father made a check out for cash in the amount of $1000. I had asked for a receipt and a Repair order for the work being done to which I was told that it would be furnished to me as soon as he (Chuck) was home. I communicated mostly exclusively though text message as I had a feel after not receiving a receipt I needed to cover myself. Two days later 1/17/2023 i informed Chuck that I would be postponing the work and asked for a return of my money at that time. Chuck then ignored my request for a return of money and anything else as far as a RO or acknowledgement to request for refund. In addition I never signed any paperwork (contract) of any sort. I had several heated discussions with him including involving the Plainville PD. Chuck agreed to repay the amount in full in amounts of $200 weekly until the $1000.00 was paid off. Since then he has made a few small payments in the amount of $400 and has now stopped responding to me in any way and has not made any sort of effort to speak with me or continue making payments.

• Initial Complaint

  05/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  2/5/23 pd Charles J****** owner of Chimney ****** *** $3208.50 deposit to restore fireplace/replace chimney liner by credit card. 2/15 he requested I dispute charge as he hadn't received funds. I reluctantly did. On 2/20, he requested I withdraw dispute as he had funds. Unbeknownst to me, once a dispute is withdrawn it cannot be reopened. Now I have no financial recourse. Despite repeated requests, J****** has failed to provide business id, proof of insurance, warrant or obtain legal permit to replace chimney liner. He denied needing permit. Without a permit and passed inspection, if fire, I would not be covered by home owners insurance. J****** failed to keep scheduled appointments. I learned on 12/28/22 the S******** ** ***** revoked his business for failing to file proper reports. License through **** ** ******** ********** expired on 3/31/23 and was not renewed. In an effort to recoup my $ and get job done, I asked J****** to provide proper documentation and complete work by 4/27/23 or refund money, or I would bf filing complaints and taking legal action. He stated on 4/24/2: that he would comply but did not. On 5/1/23 he communicated that he was operating under a new name, ****** *** with business id and insurance. I learned through small claim court documents, where he's listed as defendant, that Champs has been in existence for several years. J****** continues to own Chimney Champs in ****** *** where initial credit card payment was sent. J****** answers phone for this business. J****** also owns property listed as ****** *** in ********** *T where Chimney Champs trucks are parked I have filed complaints with ** ******** ******* and **** ** ******** **********. Will be filing suit with small claims court. I believe J****** intentionally defrauded me, a senior citizen, out of $3208.50 and I would like help getting money refunded

• Initial Complaint

  03/30/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  They left our house a mess!! It was everywhere! It might be hard to see in the pictures on the floors but our feet were black!! It was even in the water we had on the table in the kitchen!! I have two small kids and there was soot all over my house and in their toys! This is bad for their health and the owner said they would pay for a cleaner and even gave us the address to have the cleaner send the invoice to. After months of them not paying them, after saying they would, the owner finally told us they would not pay them! If the owner made things right and paid for the cleaner and made right by his company’s mistake then my opinion of them would be different! They are unprofessional, unethical, and unreliable. I paid them cash when they left even though I was more than I pleased with the results!! I would appreciate if they stuck to their word and paid the cleaning service!

• Initial Complaint

  04/05/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Chimney Champs was engaged to install wood stove and liner on 8/31/2021 - work completed on 10/5/2021 (attached). On 2/18/2022, the chimney cap, improperly installed, blew off and landed on by car causing damage (attached). This was not the first time - first instance occurred on 1/17/2022; no damage; blew off house and onto front steps. The owner Charles J*****e came to my house 2/18/22 to see damage - he stated "I will pay the damage; either to you or repair shop" and "will fix the cap ASAP"; fifteen+ (15) calls/emails later, no response from the company or owner to fix the cap nor repair the car damages they caused. (Was communicating with office secretary but there was no response from management/ownership to rectify complaints.) I finally received a call from Charles J*****e on 3/23/2022 at 12:12pm, he stated "there was a delay in payment" - unreal since he owns the company. He agreed check to be mailed on 3/28/2022 for receipt 4/1/2022 - of course, no check was mailed/received. I paid $2,400 for services rendered, Charles J***** and Chimney Champs have not made good on that payment nor met their warranty (attached). In addition, a lifetime warranty is guaranteed by Chimney Champs if they are used for annual cleanings; how can I possibly trust they will adhere to contract when they don't take responsibility for work or damage to personal property.

• Initial Complaint

  11/24/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Chimney Champs rebuilt our chimney in 2014, and the work has a lifetime warranty. In the past year (2021), we twice observed rainwater leakage around or through the chimney, resulting in water damage to the ceiling in our upstairs hallway. The most serious damage occurred following the heavy rain from Hurricane Ida in September, 2021. We first consulted with an experienced roofer (********* ***), who determined that the roof and flashing around the chimney were sound. We then called Chimney Champs, and they sent a representative to inspect the chimney on October 6. It was unclear to this person what the cause of the leak was, but they promised to call back. I have since called Chimney Champs four times and sent an email in hopes of learning their diagnosis and proposed solution. Each time a message was taken and a promise made that they would respond. It is now November 23, and there has still been no communication from the company. I suspect that the necessary repairs will be extensive and that Chimney Champs is trying to escape their warranty responsibility.

*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. ↩