ComplaintsforC-U Under Construction

• Initial Complaint

  01/11/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I hired this business to do a sewer line replacement in my basement/underground outside foundation on 10-23-23. I received an initial quote of the job costing $1400, then it rose to $2400 as the work started that day. When I received the final invoice, my total had risen to $3283. I had a manager from this company (******* *****) on my property watching over the job and he gave me his word that this job would be finalized to "around $2000". We shook hands and I was given his business card with his personal cell phone number and was told to call or text anytime and when the bill showed up, he would make adjustments to reflect the price per our conversation. I have cameras on my property that can prove this conversation happened. As work was being done, there were numerous times I was asked by the contractors to provide them with a tool, bucket, 1 hours worth of water from my own tap, and various other requests, again all recorded on camera. The rented piece of equipment they brought on site was leaking diesel fuel all over my yard and driveway, which I had to pay for a cleanup to avoid any potential issues with EPA. The digging machine also left a huge mound of dirt against the foundation and is nowhere near level as it was when the job first started. I have pictures to prove this. Management is reneging the entire agreement and demanding I pay the $3283 and refuses to let me speak to owner **** *********, and has no remorse for the way they left my property and blatantly lied several times over the job cost. For a desired settlement, I will agree to pay the $2400, and am asking the remaining $883 be removed from my invoice. If pictures are needed, I will upload upon request.

  

  Business response

  02/06/2024

  ******** Response: 

  
  Oct 3   
  Service call requested by ****** to get a quote on replacement of T and piping that was leaking in the basement at the foundation wall. This was a quote only. Technician provided a quote of $2400 with a T&M line item and explained to home owner that since there would be underground digging involved to determine further issues that portion would be time and material once exposed. Customer verbally agreed.
  It is company policy that any job over the amount of $1000 have a signed proposal before moving forward with work. This was a process not followed by C-U as we moved forward on a verbal commitment from the client. Company was addressing an emergency do to client needs on good faith and his word.
  Oct 6
  Plumbing technicians arrived on sight to begin excavation and repair. Once the excavation of the piping was completed and piping was accessible. Technicians attempted to also clear line with sewer machine do to tree roots causing blockage. After running sewer machine technicians then began the new piping from the inside of the home, through the basement wall and outside approximately 10’ to attach to existing. Once piping was installed to Illinois code, technicians completed new piping in basement to kitchen fixtures. Excavation was then backfilled to rough grade as explained. C-U does not final grade do to settling over time. Company had 2 technicians on site for a total of 16 hours, load, clean up and travel for a total of 4 hours. During this time there was also the use of a rented mini excavator which was charged to C-U at a rate of $700 for the day.

  
  Invoicing
  Once the client received the invoice he asked to speak with the COO of C-U Trade Services who upon returning his call was met with hostility, cursing and threats. The clients said he did not agree to this total and C-U was out to steal from him and he demanded to speak with the President of the company. At this time the COO returned his call yet again to speak on the Presidents behalf. At that time the client was threatening to make life hard to live in the town for the COO, threats of going to BBB, threats of social media if his invoice was not reduced to $2,400. COO reviewed the invoice, removed the sewer machine fees and reduced the total invoice from $3533.00 to $3283.00. The client still unhappy then made comments in regards to the company and the president being cowards and he would post videos and ruin C-U on social media. COO reached out yet again agreeing to reduce the bill one more time from $3283 to $2400 since that was the number the client claims he agreed to pay. C-U admitted to slacking on their procedure of written and signed documents from the client and explained that would be process moving forward. Client agreed to remove any negative comments on social and BBB since we came to an agreement on the invoice. 

  
  Total invoice amount for $3,533.00 was our time and material price. No more and no less. C-U took quite a loss on this project to honor what the client felt he owed in good faith since our contractual process was not completely followed on our side as well. 

  Customer response

  02/06/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

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