ComplaintsforFSM Services, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  01/17/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  In Feb 2022 we contracted with FSM Services to build a septic system, and to coordinate the drilling of a well at our property. We payed Frank $18,750 and then another $30,000. This was $9,000 more than work that we had been invoiced for at that time, but we gave the money freely in anticipation of the work that would be needed to finish the job. Frank assured us that he would be able to finish within this budget, including putting our excavated driveway back together. He stopped working in March. For all of April he apologized by phone and text, saying it was too rainy to work. He continued to send apologies and then dodge our phonecalls throughout the summer, occasionally sending someone to do a few hours of work. We have been living in a home with two small children, a dug up driveway, no functioning septic and no potable water for close to a year now. Suddenly, after all the apologizing, in November of this year he stated that he would need an additional $25,000 to complete the work.

  Business response

  01/19/2023

  In February 2022, FSM Services was hired to install a new septic system and to perform driveway excavation required for the customer’s well contractor to drill a well. The well contractor could not access the area with his well rig because the existing driveway was too steep.

  Septic system installation was quoted to be between $45,000-$50,000 based on access to septic fields which could only be accessed from a neighbor’s property.  It was unknown at the time of quote how access would be obtained.  The customer had to  contact their neighbors.

  The customer elected to excavate their driveway for well rig access and use the opportunity to improve/lessen the driveway grade as well as widening it to allow for more parking.  Septic system installation would begin in the spring when weather conditions improved.

  The driveway excavation needed for the well contractor began on February 10th.

  On February 16th, the customer was notified by the Town that a permit was not in place for the driveway excavation nor the well installation and would be required before work could continue.

  On February 22nd, FSM was informed by the customer they received required approval to continue driveway excavation.

  Driveway excavation was completed after one month except for the final grading and topcoat of stone. The driveway was widened, and the grade lowered as agreed upon and is fully accessible and functional. The final grading and topcoat of stone was to be done after the well was drilled along with the trench line and pipe installation under the driveway.  When the well contractor went to the ****** ********** to obtain the permit to drill the well, he was informed that the septic system needed to be installed before the well.  FSM then began the septic system installation, as per the ****** **********’s requirement.

  FSM installed new septic fields. The ****** ********** inspected and approved the septic fields.  FSM contacted the engineer hired by the customer to complete their required inspection and was informed that the customer has an outstanding balance and they will not do their inspection until that is resolved.   Inspections are required by the ****** ********** and the engineer hired by the customer before septic fields are backfilled and before septic installation can proceed.

  Upon completion of the septic fields, FSM Services invoiced the customer for the septic work completed to date, which was $25,000. FSM Services received an email from the customer stating they do not have the funds to continue.

  Customer was invoiced for driveway excavation in stages as it was performed. Below is a breakdown as to what was invoiced versus what was paid:

  Invoices sent to customer were as follows:

  -First invoice for driveway excavation = $18,750.00

  -Second invoice for driveway excavation = $16,350.00

  -Invoice for down payment of septic system materials = $5000.00

  -Invoice for installation of septic fields = $25,000.00

  Customer paid as follows:

  -First invoice for driveway excavation = $18,750.00

  -Second invoice for driveway excavation = $16,350.00

  -Invoice for down payment of septic system materials = $5000.00

  -Customer chose to pay $8,650.00 over the invoiced amount. These funds were used towards the cost of septic materials.

  FSM Services has made several attempts to contact the customer regarding the unpaid balance for work performed and how to move toward resolution.

  To date, the customer has not responded and the balance to the engineer also remains outstanding.

  Customer response

  01/23/2023

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  1) the septic work was initially quoted as 35-45k total. We've already paid more than this.

  2) the statement that the driveway was anything close to finished is ludicrous. Happy to provide statements from neightbors- one of our neighbors has been kind enough to let us use his driveway for the last 10 months, because ours is not useable. Our other neighbors actually offered to let us live in their garage, because they were so concerned about our kids falling trying to get to and from our car and the house.

  3) when Frank claims that he then went on to install the septic system and contact the ****** ********** and engineer for approval, this happened 7 or 8 months after the work was supposed to be finished. This is absolutely NOT what held up the project. He was unresponsive throughout the many, many months that we were left with an excavated driveway, no septic and no well. We have zero outstanding balance with our engineer, all bills to Howland et al were paid immediately and in full. The inspection was put on hold until the septic tanks were to be installed; unsurprisingly, this never happened.

  4) When we tried to get the well driller back to resume work, he stated that he was unwilling because he did not trust the work or timeline provided by FSM Services

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ******** *******

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