ComplaintsforIron Garden Structures

• Initial Complaint

  05/01/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  October 23, ************************************* amount of $2,850, and that I needed to put a deposit (no where stated non-refundable) of half to get in line for the job. A Check for $1,425 was cashed in November and and *** said that he would get the install done after the holidays but would have framework done before. On November 22,2023 he said he had a job in ******** and would like to put them together. I has been one thing after another and I have given great accommodations for said family emergencies, and yet any attempt to secure a date for my project has been met with hostility. I have all the text conversations to prove this. I have in no way badgered this man and am due the respect of my money returned if he is unable to preform what I contracted for. He now claims that my deposit is non refundable! Never stated on his statement or verbally - I would NEVER have sent someone this amount of money with that policy. As my last attempt to have my deposit returned, he stated that all the materials were purchased specific to my job (a 9' plain hand rail, no frills or custom design - basic flat stock iron). I can send pictures of what the design was if needed. I wish to Have my money returned and be done with this person.

  Business response

  05/06/2024

  ***** to accepting this job from ****** we agreed upon the price and that I was not going to provide a date of installation at this time due to a ongoing family emergency. Its normal for me to be booked out months in advance but at this time I am also a caregiver for my father. I told her upfront that I would not provide a time and she agreed to be patient. I also told her that her refund was non refundable. I ordered the metal with her deposit check that I deposited in my business account, not cashed as she stated. I cannot return the materials and dont feel as her impatience should come out of MY pocket. She has been anything but patient. She has been extremely pushy and called me so many times AFTER HOURS and interrupted my wife's birthday, our family Christmas, my sons soccer games and more. I told her she was the next job on my list, but I have to finish the current project for my customer before starting hers. I also asked nicely several times for her to remain patient and allow me to do my scheduling. The numerous doctors appointments and hospitalizations for my father get scheduled by the medical providers and they get first pick at my time. In all reality It has not been that long since I took on her project, and it was almost her turn. I have completed multiple projects the past few months including two hand made copper gates that I shipped to a customer in ******. Everything I do is hand made and requires time to complete. ******* rail, even though she says was plain was not. It was custom designed to match a existing rail in her house and required more materials and pricier materials then a average handrail. I spent the deposit on the materials and held her spot in my schedule. I also fielded way too many of her calls demanding that I stop my current project to do her project and that violated our agreement. all her calls cost me a lot of time that was not figured in her quote. I didnt quote for being rushed either, I told her if she was going to do that to me I didnt want to take her job on. She agreed to be patient and not push for a time.

   My father was beaten within a inch of his life by my mother. She was arrested after 15 separate police reported incidents of abuse that I had to deal with. I had to move out of my home and away from my wife and 8 year old son to care for my 79 year old father. After being beaten over the head repeatedly he developed a infection in his head that spread into his lungs. As a result he had trouble breathing and he suffered a heart attack, was intubated on life support and suffered multiple strokes. He was left debilitated and in need of help with basic tasks including cooking, eating, and using his arms. He cant drive anymore. I have to take him to all his appointments and he has been hospitalized numerus times since the attack. He was urinating blood for over a month. He also had a fall and got a hematoma on his leg requiring a blood transfusion. He had psysical therapy that I has to take him too. He had a triple bypass in January. He is being set up for a pace maker soon We have three appointments tomorrow for his doctors. I also had to see to the prosecution of my fathers assailant. The no contact order put in place expired last week and we have to go get it renewed today. I dont have any extra time to waste, I am busy. If people cant understand this and be patient they can go elsewhere for their ironwork. I am a respected artist and I am ALWAYS busy. Being a caretaker is extremely time consuming but it is a honor to care for my father and I will continue to do so as long as I am needed. I do my best to see my wife and son but ****** sure has caused a lot of wasted time with her complaints. This is unfair to my family, my father, and my other customers who have been waiting patiently. Not I am forced to goto my lawyer and have my terms of service put in a legal document that new customers will have to sign. I wont be dealing with the impatience level of ****** ever again. I dont need more stress in my life at the moment. I also am going to ask my lawyer about a defamation suit against ****** for this report and violating our agreement.

  Also if ****** choses to wait patiently for me to finish up with my current customer I will complete her railing before I move on to my next customer who is waiting patiently. Or she can find someone else to do it faster. I only do top quality work. I dont do rush jobs. I wont even take them on or do anything pre fabbed. Its all hand built artistry here.

  Customer response

  05/13/2024

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your rejection of the business's response. 
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of why I am rejecting this response appear below:
  
  [You must provide details of why you are not satisfied with this resolution. Please type details here:]
  
  Regards,
  
  *********************

  Customer response

  05/14/2024

  I have all my text correspondence and the dates of the very few phone calls that were ever made.  ******************* has exaggerated and way over embellished any of my attempts to get a ballpark date for the railing work he was to complete.  The interaction between us began on September 25, 2023 and I was told that for me to get in line, I must pay him $1,425 for my spot.  On November 22, he had another small job in ******** and was going to try to combine them for times sake, he then did not call or text until December 12 when we sent pictures of my current railings and wished the metal to be similar - very simple I did not want anything ornate, appx 9' of railing.  I knew holidays were busy for everyone so I waited and contacted *** on January 27, to get an idea on timing - response "not a good time"...
  my response sorry to hear this and if this was a bad time that he could just return my deposit but that I wished he had the time to do the job. This is all in writing.He said "yeah No. That's not how this works" wait patiently and I will be with you soon"
  I said I would wait and was then told that he (now) had more work ahead of me. 
  I waited for any information on timing until March 6th when I was told that he was hoping to come that week but was bit by a cat - I sympathize with him and hoped he was better soon.
  March 13, how are you doing? response, Dad is back in hospital...
  ok let me know how it goes.
  March 16,He responded: I'm busy but will get there. Me: great things are about  to fall off. I understand your family issues but my parents will not be able to use my entrance to get in my house. 
  March 20 he responded: ....I have to wait my turn, 
  I have been second in line many times but seem to get pushed off and things just keep happening. I'll I wanted was an idea of the timing of this job, it is very small but it is necessary and we have things to prep when we know he is coming - VERY IMPORTANT and although I kept on waiting and being patient, I started to get the feeling that he was NEVER going to do this job.  I am a professional and run my own business and would never treat a person this way.  I just want my deposit back and I want nothing to do with this person ever again.  I will gladly share word for word, his texts to me and my kind responses.  
  His account of our interactions is false.
  His last response to me was that he would only give me my money back IF I stopped the BBB report. I have also a small claim now with Lapeer county for the return of my deposit.  I do not believe that he purchased any material for this job or he would have scheduled to get the job done and also the fact that we neve finalized any material purchase AND this is the most basic and simple railing you could make.  I'd love to see the invoices for the material!
  Sorry this is so detailed BUT much is left out of his long and CAPPED texts to me.  I will gladly get them printed up as I will be using it all in court.
  Sincerely *********************
  

  
  

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