ComplaintsforAngus McDonald/Gary Sharpe & Associates, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  10/17/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  In 2022, Angus McDonald's firm completed survey work for the re-construction of a family cottage in ********** **. He initially quoted an estimate of $1,800 to complete the survey. Additional work was required, including determining elevation, and the fees increased to over $5,600, which we paid. We questioned some of those fees because they seemed exorbitant and were not broken down/specified. Over many months, we called, emailed, and wrote a letter asking for a break down of the hours/services - without response. Because of the difficulties in dealing with this firm, we'd intended to never to do business with them again, but in November 2022, our construction manager asked Mr. McDonald to return to the building site to reconfirm elevation and foundation markers before pouring concrete, which he did. We didn't receive a bill for this service, and assumed that the (high) fees we'd already paid had covered the verification of the previously-determined benchmarks. Then, on August 20, 2023 - nearly 9 months later - we received a bill for $2,200. We immediately called and asked for a breakdown of the services/hours to justify such a high fee. There was no response to our phone call (a live person does not answer at the firm); instead we received a new bill a few weeks later, with a late charge fee included. So, we sent an e-mail on 9/18/23 asking, again, for an explanation of these fees (and expressing dismay over the extremely delayed billing) - we have still not received a response. We are extremely frustrated and find this firm's business and billing practices to be completely unacceptable.

  Business response

  11/22/2023

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

  Please accept my apologies for the delayed response to your request for verification of our charges.  While there might be real reasons for that delay, there is no excuse. 

   

  I have attached accounting for all of the hours we have put into the project, both original scope and subsequent efforts.  Please note that we did not conduct any work without first being contacted by either **** or your contractor.  Also, please note that you one hour of my time amongst these charges, when I assisted in a field check requested by your contractor.  I spent a minimum of six hours on management on this project over the course of it's run, and did not charge you for any of this time.  While that might not seem like much, that would add up to $1050. 

   

  As I said earlier on, I do apologize for the lack of response to your most recent request.  For that, there really is no excuse, but while my communication skills were admittedly lacking in this regard, it is my recollection that actual work was completed in a timely manner.

  Please feel free to contact me after you have had an opportunity to review the hourly charges and I will be happy to discuss any questions you might have.

   

  All the best, and I hope you have a good Thanksgiving.

   

  Angus

   

  Angus L. McDonald, Jr.  L.S.

  Angus McDonald-Gary Sharpe and Assoc.

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

  Customer response

  11/27/2023

  Hello Angus -

  Thank you for providing the breakdowns for the three invoices we've received from you. None of the invoice totals actually match the "Pending Invoices"/breakdowns. In two cases, the charges total up to $500 beyond the actual billed hours, and in the third, there are three different totals ranging from $2,200 - $3,045, so it is difficult to say that we understand or agree with your billing. From the beginning we have felt that your fees/hours went beyond what would have expected, given that we knew you'd recently completed surveys of the properties to our east and west and that all those markers were already in place. The final staking - on what is a postage stamp size lot, with markers already in place, and no change in the footprint of the structure - should have taken a 2 man crew no more than a half day. No drafting or documentation was needed/produced. 

  As we are more than tired of dealing with this matter, we will withdraw the complaint we filed with the ********** ** ******** ********** (which was filed after we were informed that the case was closed by the BBB due to your lack of response). In return - as we never received one - we ask that you provide us with a copy of the survey. And, it should go without saying, that we will not pay the late fees you added to the August invoice, given your delinquent billing, and your lack of response to our multiple requests for a breakdown of services/hours. 

  Please let us know if you are in agreement with this resolution.  Thank you. 

   

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

   

  P.S. You never responded to a letter we'd sent (after getting no response to phone calls and emails) in August 2022, requesting a breakdown of Invoice #********. Included with that letter was a 'good faith' check for $1,000 - which has never cleared. If it should resurface, please void it - it is check #****. 

  Business response

  11/29/2023

  Hi  *****,

  Thank you for your note.  If it is all right I will take a few minutes and try to address some of your comments, if not, please feel free to skip to the bottom of the note:

   

  The first invoice, *******, for the original survey and elevation certificate totaled less than the low amount of the estimate provided and signed on June 9, 2021.  Please note that this invoice includes none of my time, most of which was spent preparing the elevation certificate.  

   

  The second invoice, ********, was for practical purposes, all based on preparing plans for submission and revisions to said plans.  Again, please note that the actual charges are less than the time spent on the work, and that you see no time charged to me, regardless of the time I spent working with ** ******** and our engineer on the project.  I know you chaffed at the cost of those plans, hence your original complaint about cost. 

   

  The third invoice, ********, is based on time spent computing and staking the septic system and foundation for construction, requiring two trips to the site and another visit to verify the bench mark elevation as it appeared to be disturbed.  I understand that you think that it should have taken less time, and might have if the stakes that we set for baseline points were still there, but working on such a small site it appears as though your contractors were not able to save our control, requiring us to bring it in from the street.   Again, please note that the time charges total more than what you were invoiced.

   

  Regarding your check #****, please see attached, the check was destroyed when we received your payment.  Feel free to ignore the interest charges.  Again, my communications should have been more timely, but I stand behind our work.

   

  Be well,

   

  Angus

   

  Angus L. McDonald, Jr.  L.S.

  Angus McDonald-Gary Sharpe and Assoc.

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

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