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:07/24/2024

  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.

  We entered into a bathroom renovation agreement with *********************************, founder and principal of One Stop Construction, **** in *****, **, on February 5, 2024, and paid a retainer in the amount of $2,350 on February 10, 2024.After five months, One Stop Construction has not obtained a building permit from the ************ building department due to incomplete and inaccurate submissions and lack of follow-through. Construction on the project was never begun. We canceled our agreement with ********************** and One Stop Construction verbally on July 2, 2024, and in writing on July 8, 2024, due to non-performance and requested that he refund the retainer in the amount of $2,350. ********************** has ignored our requests and has not responded to communication.At this time, we are not implying fraud, but the fact that ********************** only submitted an incomplete and inaccurate permit application and did not follow through in a reasonable and timely manner makes it appear that he only wanted our deposit and never truly had the intention of doing the work.We are filing this complaint to highlight the unprofessional and unethical business practices of One Stop Construction and ********************** and want to be refunded our entire deposit of $2,350.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 09/27/2024

  Dear *** *****,
  
  Thank you for your patience as we reviewed the details of the complaint from ****** ****** regarding the bathroom renovation project.
  
  We would like to address the concerns raised and provide clarification on the situation:
  
  Project Delays and Permit Issues: The project did experience delays due to the Miami Shores building department requiring additional and specific documentation for the permit process. This included updated electrical plans with calculations as requested by the department's electrical reviewer. We communicated this requirement to the client early in the process, making it clear that the submission of these plans was necessary to move forward. Unfortunately, the client was unwilling to incur the additional costs associated with acquiring these necessary plans. Despite our best efforts to find alternative solutions to expedite the permit approval, we were ultimately unable to proceed without fulfilling the city's requirements.
  
  Efforts to Resolve the Situation: We understand the client's frustration and assure you that we did everything in our power to navigate this situation. However, the nature of city building codes is such that we cannot proceed with construction without proper approvals, and this required additional steps that were beyond our control.
  
  Refund Request: Regarding the retainer, we made several attempts to explain that part of the retainer was used to cover initial expenses related to preparing and submitting the permit application. The clients cancellation of the agreement came after we had already engaged in significant preparatory work, including consultations and submissions to the building department. However, we are open to further discussion to resolve this matter amicably.
  
  We have documentation available, including correspondence and plan requests from the ************ building department, which support our explanation that additional plans and calculations were required. We would be happy to provide these documents for your review.
  
  Please let us know how you would like to proceed. We are committed to resolving this matter professionally and ensuring that the facts are clear in this case.
  
  Sincerely,
  ***** *********
  One Stop Construction

  Customer Answer

  Date: 10/06/2024

   
  Complaint: 22038292
  
  Dear BBB,
  

  Thank you for reaching out to One Stop Construction on my behalf to resolve the matter.
  

  Unfortunately, we must reject the business response as no resolution was proposed.
  

  However, we would like to respond to the comments made by One Stop Construction.

  Project Delays and Permit Issues: The delays in the permit approval were not caused by the Miami Shores Building Department, but by the faulty document submission on the part of One Stop Construction and its permit expediter (see exhibit G). In addition, the building department never requested an electrical plan created by an engineer and such engineer letter was never required or authorized (see exhibit H).
  Efforts to Resolve the Situation: It was clearly communicated that a simple contractor drawing would be accepted by the electrical reviewer at the building department to approve the permit. As described, I called to the building department myself on May 31, 2024, in an attempt to resolve the delay of multiple months (see exhibit H).
  

  Refund Request: *** ********* did not make several attemptsto explain the situation. He ignored our many emails for months (see exhibits I, J, and K) and responded with the attached email (see exhibit L) only after we had filed a complaint against him with the Better Business Bureau and the ****************************** and Professional Regulation.
  

  Proposed Resolution: We understand that *** ********* may have incurred certain expenses related to the work required for the preparation and the submission of the permit application. However, we do not believe that significant work was done and the work that was done, in our opinion, does not reflect the highest standards of quality and professionalism. Be that as it is, we are willing to resolve this matter in a professional and courteous manner as well.We propose that we will pay for 50% of the permit processing expenses, which amounts $287.50, and 25% of the drafting fees, although those were never discussed or agreed to, which amounts to $162.50, to resolve this matter. We will not pay for an engineer letter because it was never authorized as *** ********* himself notes in his response.
  In summary, we will consider this matter resolved, if ************ refunds us $1,900 of the $2,350 we initially paid.
  

  Sincerely,
  

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

  

  Business Response

  Date: 10/23/2024

  Dear BBB,

  
  Thank you for relaying Mr. ******** response. We respectfully disagree with his claims and would like to address the following points:
  Permit Delays: The delays were due to evolving requirements from the Miami Shores Building Department, which included the request for an engineers letter. We followed all directives provided by the department.

  
  Communication: We made several attempts to explain the situation through both email and phone, but many of our efforts were either ignored or unanswered by ************************************** Significant work was completed, and our charges reflect the efforts and resources invested. We do not agree with his refund request of $1,900, as we have met our contractual obligations.

  
  While we remain open to a resolution, the proposed terms are not acceptable.

   

  Best regards,
  One Stop Construction

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/06/2024

   
  Complaint: 22038292
  
  Dear BBB:

  Thank you for reaching out to One Stop Construction again on our behalf.
  

  Unfortunately, we must reject the business response because no proposal was made to resolve this matter.
  

  Please see our response regarding Mr. ********** notes below.
  

  Permit Delays:

  As evidenced by the exhibits we submitted, the permit requirements were consistent and the ******************************** did not request an engineers letter.
  

  Communication:
  

  As evidenced by the exhibits we submitted, Mr. ********* made no efforts to explain the situation until after we had filed complaints with the BBB and state agencies.
  

  Refund proposal:
  

  With regards to contractual obligations mentioned, we maintain that no permit was obtained or expedited, and no construction work was started or completed. We understand that some work was done during the permit application and have offered to pay for part of that work.
  

  If Mr. ********* is not willing to accept our proposal or make a reasonable proposal himself, we agree that it will be challenging to resolve this matter through this avenue.
  

  Best regards,
  

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

  

  Business Response

  Date: 11/07/2024

  
  Dear BBB,
  
  Thank you for sharing Mr. ******* additional comments.
  
  Permit Delays:
  While we understand Mr. ******* concerns, our records indicate we met all permit requirements promptly as information became available from the ****************************************************** Permitting can involve evolving requirements, which we worked diligently to address.
  
  Communication:
  One Stop Construction made consistent efforts to update Mr. ******* While the exhibits may not reflect all exchanges, we strived to provide clear communication on project status and any delays.
  
  Refund Proposal:
  We acknowledge Mr. ******* offer and confirm that initial work was performed to begin the project, including necessary steps for permit application and preparation. Although physical construction hadnt begun, these efforts reflect our commitment to the contract.
  
  We remain open to further discussions to reach a mutually agreeable solution.
  
  Sincerely,
  One Stop Construction

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/16/2024

   
  Complaint: 22038292
  
  I am rejecting this response because the business did not propose a solution. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****** ******

  

  Business Response

  Date: 11/22/2024

  Dear BBB,
  
  Thank you for your message regarding complaint ID ********.
  
  In response to the inquiry about our position on providing the consumer with a refund, we previously communicated with the complainant on this matter. On July 31st, 2024, we explained via email that their deposit of $2,350 was a retainer, covering services such as permit expediting and engineering, as requested by the electrical reviewer.
  
  Out of this amount, $1,800 was allocated to specific services, including:
  
  Permit processing: $575
  Drafting fees: $650
  Engineer letter: $575
  Contrary to the typical definition of a retainer, we offered to reimburse the remaining balance of $550 as a gesture of goodwill, which we are still willing to honor.
  
  Please let us know if further clarification is required to continue the conciliation process.
  
  Thank you,
  ***** *********
  One Stop Construction

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/29/2024

   
  Complaint: 22038292
  
  I am rejecting this response because Mr. ********* has not presented new facts or arguments. The proposal made had already been rejected previously. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****** ******

  

  Business Response

  Date: 12/10/2024

  Dear BBB,
  
  Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. I would like to address the concerns raised regarding the reimbursement process and provide clarification on the agreement terms and the costs incurred.
  
  To begin, I would like to explain the concept of a reimbursement retainer on a contract. A reimbursement retainer is a payment agreement where a client pays a professional in advance for ongoing services over a specified period. This retainer provides access to the professionals time and expertise. Costs associated with services or materials are deducted from the retainer fee, and any remaining balance may be reimbursed to the client after the contract is executed.
  
  In our case, we proposed reimbursing the amount paid, less the costs incurred for services rendered and materials provided. These deductions are supported by receipts and align with the terms outlined in the signed contract.
  
  To further clarify, the contract specified "N/A" for architectural plans because it was initially communicated that the city might accept either no plans or the rendering provided by the client. However, during the permitting process, the electrical reviewer required additional electrical plans, which were not part of the original proposal. This requirement was communicated to the client, who agreed to proceed with engaging an engineer to draft the necessary plans. The associated fees for this work are part of the costs deducted from the reimbursement.
  
  Our goal has always been to operate transparently and fairly, strictly adhering to the terms outlined in the signed agreement. We remain committed to resolving this matter amicably and are open to further discussions to address any remaining concerns.
  
  Please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly at ************** for additional clarification or to discuss this further.
  
  Thank you for your understanding.

   

  ***** *********
  One Stop Constrution, Inc.
  ************

  Customer Answer

  Date: 12/19/2024

   
  Complaint: 22038292
  
  We are rejecting the business response because the business did not make a settlement proposal or offer any new information. Mr ********* continues to contradict himself and refers to events that never happened. As a sign of good faith, we are willing to settle this matter for a refund of $1,775. We reserve all rights.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****** ******