ComplaintsforLineberry Builders

• Initial Complaint

  10/19/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  Lineberry Builders was engaged to do site work, grading work to prepare the Site for a Cabin. Once other the Cabin was erected(by a 3rd party), he was engaged to do 100% of the Interior Fit-out for the cabin. The Bid/Estimate was executed in July 2023. The Bid was signed by both Parties. Lineberry was to hire all of the sub-contractors and oversee the entire project. If there was to be any additional charge for any work that was included in the Bid, The GC would reach out to me and explain it. If anything was agreed to, then the GC was to send me a Change Order for my signature. It was clear that any changes to the Cost in the Bid, required a Change Order, regardless of whether there was any messaging/discussing the work. In late September/early October, I was onsite at the Project and chatted with Sub-Contractor the GC hired. The sub-contractor informed me that more work was required for the home site preparation. The Sub-contractor was finding it most difficult to contact the GC. The GC was never on site and the sub-contractor was having a problems connecting. I was having the same problem, as the Lineberry/GC was non-responsive many times. They sub-contractor then detailed the site problem and the need for more work and more dollars to get the work done. They said it could cost $5,000 or $20,000, all depending on whether the site was sufficiently sound, as to soil etc. They suggested we hire an Engineer before proceeding. I agree. They reached out to the Engineer to do an assessment for about $800.00. And, he would be there on the following Monday. So, I follow-up with the Sub-contractor on Wednesday, 2 days after the Engineer was supposed to visit. The Sub then proceeds to tell me that he did not reach Lineberry, to discuss the matter. On his own, the sub-contractor cancelled the Engineer site visit AND the sub-contractor started doing work on the Site again. They stated they their solution to firm up the sire (which had an UNKNOWN Cost), would be better than what an Engineer would say. And the problems began: When Ray and I did connect, he would always say the thing: That he did not know what the cost would be. I was not happy. He continued to say he was trying to figure it out. I told him this was unacceptable AND I had not approved it. What ensued were a lot of nasty text and email messages back and forth. No Change Order was ever signed for this work. Then, on October 16th the GC he emails me an Invoice in the amount of $33,974.74 for the Site Work that was done by the subcontractor. He also rebilled me for Permits which had been previously been paid. Bad bookkeeping or false billing. I do not know. I reached out to him that this was a fraudulent invoice for costs I did NOT authorize. Told him that we needed to discuss this and work on a resolution. Told him that a surprises Invoice for $33,974.74 was just unacceptable. Later that same day, I told Ray that the Invoice would not be paid until we discussed the entire issue of the work being done. On the same day that the ACTUAL Invoice was sent to me via e-mail, the General Contractor/Lineberry then commences two(2) Actions that are outrageous for any GC to do: They are: 1) Calls my Bank and informs them that there is an unpaid Invoice(the erroneous invoice) that was outstanding for a long time and demanded immediate payment. 2) Filed and places a Contractors Lien on the property...All in same day. My Bank has now frozen my construction loan and I cannot hire a new GC for it. And, the Lien needs to be resolved. I have contracted to build 10 homes in my lifetime, mostly as investments, and this company was the worst I have dealt with, by a mile. . *** ********

  Customer response

  10/30/2023

  I have not heard from the business in response to my complaint.

  LIneberry Builders and Ray L******** have been non-responsive, as they were during the Job.  The GC was never on site and did not manage the Subs.They performed work without a proper Change Order and did not do some of the work they claimed to do... I was billed over $70,000 more than the price we agreed to. 

   

  Disreputable is a understatement. I am going to file a Lawsuit against him, but wanted other potential customers to avoid this Contractor.

  I also filed a Complaint with the NC General Contractor Licensing Board.

   

  Thank you

   

  Business response

  11/19/2023

  This is about  ID ********  we have not heard from you on this matter. The only complaint that this homeowner has to make is that we don't work for free and I had to file a lien on his property to get him to pay. He still hasn't paid his bill and it's been two months. I have several emails and texts from him to dispute any claims he has.

  Customer response

  11/20/2023

   I am rejecting this response because:
  

  Lineberry Builders has just made FALSE statements to you.  It has not been 2 months since he sent me an Invoice, It has been 4 weeks.

  He authorized his subcontractor to do work at my home site that was: 1) Not approved  2) No ESTIMATE was provided and 3) NO CHANGE ORDER was signed... That was the Agreement we had in place.

  He is extorting me for funds.  They have not been paid, because they are not valid.

  That is it

   

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