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:11/07/2024

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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.

  In October 2023, we spoke with the business to discuss a quote for partially finishing our basement. They came out a few days later and gave us a quote, and stayed in constant contact with us up until February 16th, 2024 when we paid them a $5,000 deposit via certified check to begin the project expected to likely to start around late spring. Since then, we’ve made numerous attempts to communicate with them regarding the status of the project, but we’ve repeatedly been met with excuses or delayed responses. They mentioned things like being sick, wife’s birthday, dad’s illness, he’s at the hospital, he’s driving and various other reasons for the delay. We tried calling them several times, but they only responded via text with more excuses. In June, they sent a text mentioning that they are currently working on 15 jobs and a lot of unforeseen circumstances keep coming up. He promised to send us a check on June 7th 2024 which we never received. On June 20th, he again stated that he would send the check that month, but nothing arrived. On July 9th, he texted about selling our window well, which was unclear, because you never mentioned anything about purchasing one in prior conversations. On July 26 after several calls, he mentioned he was dealing with sick dad. August 7, he sent a text message that he was sending a check on the 12th of August. September 3 after multiple calls and text, he send a text that he didn’t forget about us, he is still trying to sell egrass well, steps, cage etc. This month would be a year since we’ve be communicating with him and we’ve still received no refund or resolution on the propose project Due to his unethical behavior, misleading statements, incompleted work and breach of contract, we don’t feel comfortable working with him moving forward and just wanted our money back. We sent him and email October 3, 2024 and certified letter and still no resolution.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/10/2024

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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.

  This complaint is being submitted on behalf of myself and my Mothe* ** *****. On 3/16/2023 F. Devonshire was contracted to build an addition on my home as an in-law suite for my Mother. A permit was not obtained from the county until approx 11/30/2023. Since that time, the contractor has been paid $31,893.00. Over a period of about 1 week in December footers and foundation were installed. Over a period of about 1 month in May 2024, 1 worker was assigned to install a sliding door with a steps including a small landing. During that time, the contractor advised me that the patio portion of the job would be completed within 2 weeks, he even went so far as to call the sub-contractor in my presence for a start date, and texted me within a day to say the pavers were ordered and would be dropped off at my home. Neither has been done. For 1 day in July 2024, a single worker was assigned to complete unfinished portions of the door/steps. (Some of those details remain unfinished ) In terms of time spent on the job, this amounts to approx 1 and half months of work during the 1 1/2 years since being hired. Since July, there has been little or no contact from the contractor. He was asked on several occasions for a time frame to complete the job with no response. In light of the foregoing, I sent a certified letter on 8/14/24 (it was received and acknowledged) asking for the deposit amount of $16,893.00 to be returned and for him to remove his name from the permit. He did reply to say “it’s coming certified on Monday” . When I asked him to clarify what exactly was being sent he did not respond. I will now have to get a new contractor to complete this job, which I expect will cost more than the amount I was charged over a year ago, since the price of materials have no doubt escalated in that time. My Mom, a senior citizen has been inconvenienced since that time and has a medical condition which will require a larger bed and safety equipment which is being delayed by the contractor

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/04/2024

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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.

  paid a deposit of $6800 for a bathroom remodel to Frank Devonshire contracting June 2024, no work was ever completed and not getting a response from the business

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/16/2024

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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.

  Porch renovation. Contract signed in February 2023. Still incomplete with substandard work as of August 16, 2024.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/29/2024

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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.

  January 9th 2024 Deposit $29675.00 Building Framing New Structure Promised Work Start to Start Within 2 Weeks From Concrete Work Completed Feb 7th2024 Was Not Able TO Start Until Feb 19th 2024. Arrived on Feb 9th worked 4 hours, Couldn't Continue Until Feb 20th Due TO Holiday Funds Transfer. Feb 21st 2024 Supply Delivered - Contactor Indicated Problem With Block Wall And Couldn't Proceed Until Structure Confirmed Proper. Engineer Confirmed Proper And NO Problems Found OK To Continue. Meeting with Frank J Devonshire Monday Feb 26th 2024 TO Request Detailed Cost & Completion Date OF Job? OR Receipt FOR Material Delivery & Supply TO Date Amount TO Deduct From $29675.00 & Refund Balance = Terminate Contract Unable TO Contact - Calls/Text/Emails NO Return Contact By Frank J Devonshire as of today Feb 29th 2024.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/08/2023

  Type:Product 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.

  Devonshire construction was hired to renovate the entire interior of the house I own. The renovation which was supposed to be less than a year went on for years and the project manager overseeing the renovation allowed shoddy work to be done and had to hire other contractors to consult and to come in and tell me what was wrong with the installations. After bringing this to Mr. Devonshire‘s attention to promise to radiate all these issues and did make some attempts but currently I have mold, growing in my house from improper basement construction practices, mold in my bathroom and walls from improper construction practices. The paint is peeling, in just about every room. I have told Mr. Devonshire about the things that need to be mediated, and his attempts are futile because the employees that come back to remediate it are in capable of doing proper construction practices as noted from contractor statements and Mr. Devonshire on crew told me what needed to be remediating and nothing has been done properly. I am now out over $150,000 in renovation cost and I have health threatening mold growing in my basement which was the primary concern for the remodel, and Frank Devonshire assured me that it will be taken care of. he has not gotten back to me the last few weeks because the warranty for the work and September 1 edits things do not get remediated to a state livable home. If no reply or plan to remediate is reached, I have legal counsel standing by for litigation. I have contacted Devonshire construction dozens of times by phone text and email still with no resolution as of today August 8, 2023.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/24/2023

  Good morning,                All the documents I have sent you consist of The contract in which has nothing to do with any HVAC.A letter from a master HVAC company stating that we had nothing to do with the issue the customer had. A letter from a master plumber stating the original dishwasher which was brand new that was missing parts and got broken, I took responsibility for and replaced it with a brand new one, the customer switched models in which the plumbing was okay on the first one but would not work on the upgraded one the customer picked out, I was also paying the plumber to go and move the water lines and drain lines so the new dishwasher would work even though it had nothing to do with me. We have attached a copy of the last email we sent out on Friday 08/18/23 stating all of this including stuff that was repaired that we were blamed for and had pictures of existing damage before we started the job.We can not call, text or email this guy every single day like he wants us to because we have over 40 jobs going on and we are short staffed. He needs to clean his shower area out so I can send someone over to caulk around the tile which is my responsibility and to repair a few ceiling tiles in the downstairs, this is also my responsibility.I have learned one thing in over 40 years of business, that when you are nice to people they take advantage of you and this is how I feel about this guy. If you have any questions please email us at **********************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:11/16/2022

  Type:Billing 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.

  we hired FD to construct addition to our house. Original plans reduced to one room on Feb 28,2002. Previously we had given a deposit of $25,000 in October of 2021. Communication was almost non-existent. Based on the lack of a schedule and no response to requests for a schedule, the project was cancelled on Jun 28th. Since that time, I have yet to receive any refund on my deposit. It has now been over one year since I provided those funds and 5 months since cancellation.

  Business Response

  Date: 01/25/2023

  Good afternoon,

  This is in reference to *** *********’s contracts. Address **** ******* ***** ********** ** ******

  On everyone of our contracts, the first 6 lines, #6 says “ Please be understanding due to the COVID-19 causing MAJOR delays that are beyond our control.” This had to do with the county, the county working from home, material shortages, materials taking months to get in and we are still dealing with it today. Line 4 Specifices that if customer adds on to the job that this will delay the finish date. There also is a star line stating that lines and grades are not included. On the fine print on rear of contract, it specifies customer is responsibe for lines and grades, plot plan, and any varineces on any job that is needed. With the addition that the customer wanted built of 640 sq. ft. it was in the set back lines and the customer would of needed a varience per Pelsa’s report to me with New Castle County, in which would have taken another 4 ½ months.  We also went and bought all the lumber, and plywood for the customers work because the cost of materials were sky rocketing. After going out to sign the first contract with the customer, that was for $164,201.00 on September 14, 2021, he added extra work to the original contract. We went back and typed up a new contract for $169,951.00 that includes his added changes on October 04, 2021. He signed this contract on the same date October 04, 2021. While waiting for his plot plan from Pelsa that was needed in order to pull a permit to do the work, Mr. ********* came by on March 7, 2022 and changed the contract again removing work due to him having money issues, which is stated in one of our emails from him. We had done drawings for the covered front patio, we did drawings for removing the exsiting roof over garage and build a second floor addition. We had did drawings for a 2-story addition on the right side of the garage. We also did drawings for demoing the deck on the rear and building an addition to be approx 400 sq. ft. which is below the requirements of 480 sq. ft. in which if you went over, you would need lines and grades per New Castle County. Then Mr. ********* called us out again to either have us tear down, or him tear down the covered porch on the rear of the house and make his addition from 400 sq. ft. to now 640 sq. ft. in which now lines and grades are required. I was helping him go back and forth with Pelsa to get the lines and grades, in which prolongs what needs to be done. Now I have to stop the paperwork with the county that I originaly drew up and redo drawings for the county per Mr. *********’s request. So after Mr. ********* explained that he wanted the addition to be changed I explained to him that on his county papers that the exsisting deck is illegal, the 3 season room on the rear is illegal, and the addition that was supposed to be an open porch ground floor that we had to tie into was illegal and that we may have problems with the county when building. Sometime after that Mr. ********* called and said he was moving and wanted a refund. In which we had already did many hours of work, measuring, we had to do take offs and drawings for all materials with numerous suppliers being roofing, windows, doors, siding, lumber, plumbers, electricians, HVAC company, remeasuing, drawings, muliptle meetings, typing mulitple contracts, changes to contracts, discussing plot plan with Pelsa, going over lines and grades with Pelsa for more changes, buying all his lumber, and paying for storage.  I have about $7,500.00 of office time invested not including waiting on about $5,000.00 in taxes that I had to pay on his diposits, in which I hope I get back. Then after he canceled everything we had to use piece by piece of his materials on other jobs to help get the money back for buying the materials. When we bought the materials everything was skyrocketing, plywood went from $8.00 a sheet to $60.00 a sheet, 2x went from $4-$5 a piece to $17-$18 a piece. We ended up paying taxes on his deposit, in which I will not get back until after 2023 tax season. I am currently paying a customer who I let back out of a contract for $21,000.00 minus our office expense when I have the money. I still owe her approx. $4,500.00 in which I have not been able to pay at the moment and she is understanding. When I am done paying her I will start sending payments to Mr.*********. I have never expierenced this before where somebody has backed out of a contract but I have also never expierenced anything like COVID in which has made major delays across the board on everyones job.

  If you need anything else please call me directly on my cell phone at ************* If you could call me to confirm that you did receive this email, I would appreciate it. We are a family owned business and this is a priorty to our company and to me. Things are very tight and I can only pay one person at a time, I am doing everyhting I can.
  

  Mr. ********* is owed $17,500.00, this includes all our expenses subtracted.