ComplaintsforLakewood Home Improvement, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  12/18/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Miguel R******** of Lakewood Home Improvement bought and took cabinets from us, AND DID NOT PAY! In my experience, Mike has lied, underdelivered and stolen from us! This says little for me, trusting this fraud to pay me for cabinets he took with repeated promises to pay. This is in addition to the totally botched countertop job I had to do myself after a disastrous 6-month long saga exactly like the other reports I have read. I am keeping my word to only review him if he didn't pay me. Now it has been 1 YEAR, and he now has blocked my "request to pay" texts - which is what people with no integrity do. They take without paying, they do not deliver on promises, they misrepresent themselves and then they lie about whatever may reflect negatively on them. It is with a heavy heart that I cannot recommend Lakewood Home Improvement and disconcerting to label a contractor as a liar, a thief, and devoid of integrity, but these descriptors unfortunately align with the experience I have had. I have a detailed account of his every visit from when I accepted his offer after being referred by another contractor all the way to terminating further work and then every text after asking him to pay for the replaced cabinets he was to re-use on another job. Needless to say, I am out the $1600 I paid down on epoxy countertops he had no idea how to construct and botched, I did keep the new materials he bought intending for a second try - which I did myself. But after this, per our agreement, he bought my existing cabinets at a discount to re-use; $500 is all he owes me for them! I wrote off ever getting any of the original down payment back. Don't be foolish like I have been, thinking that you can undermine the intent of a conman with civil and honorable interactions, it's not the way they are wired. Shame on him - shame on me! For even dealing with him. A good lesson for my kids on how to identify a fraud and disingenuous person with a dishonest business.

  Business response

  01/02/2024

  BBB spoke to the business owner and the following was relayed: My business in the process of being dissolved due to COVID hardship.  The customer has been made aware of this and I told him regardless of us being closed, in good faith I told him and his wife I would provide a refund as soon I can.  

• Initial Complaint

  08/10/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  On February 14th 2022, this company installed a custom made bathroom vanity. I paid in two installments. One was January 24, 2022 $775 and February 12, 2022 $425, both via *****. Michael has stated numerous times that he gives a one year warranty on his product. Upon my arrival June 2nd, I notified him that the install had not lined up and the silicone had not dried properly. He told me on numerous occasions he would replace it. He has since given me several excuses and no shows and I am tired of listening to false promises. I would like a refund $425 so that I may replace the countertop on my own. I can forward you all of the emails and text messages to prove all of his excuses. Please let me know how to proceed from here.

  Business response

  08/12/2022

  This was reported a few months ago for the same issues. Everything was built to the specs and colors that April chose. When I met with her her complaint was the caulk was not setting up also she was asking me to make the countertop larger than what I was hired for. Also she asked about placing her sink closer to the front of the vanity. It was already to late for any modifications. Unfortunately she had shown pictures of her tile molding at the bottom of the vanity. It was never secured before the installation plus the new vanity was larger than the previous one which would allow for an extra tile. At this point I am not interested in working with April. She lied about some of her issues about charging more for the job. I actually saved her almost $200 off the vanity original price that she didn’t Indicate in her complaint. She made her previous invoices and receipts to prove that. Thank you. Miguel Rodriguez

  Business response

  09/20/2022

  BBB spoke with Miguel at the business and the following is relayed: I am willing to return and correct the backsplash, address the caulking issue, correct/switch the hot and cold water hoses, and change to white and gray marble finish. This will be for the same size, not anything larger.

  Customer response

  09/23/2022

  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.  I reject this offer as he has failed to make right on this same promise for 3 months this summer and cancelled many times as previously stated and referenced in my previous attachments. I have lost all trust in this business. 

  Customer did provide additional response:  If Michael is willing to remake the countertop and drop it off and refund $150 for me to have someone else install, I would consider resolved.  Regards,  ***** ***********  

• Initial Complaint

  07/25/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  Miguel was a 50% deposit in the amount of $837.00 on March 15, 2022 to complete 3 bathroom sink vanity tops, install glass bowls to include plumbing per his invoice. Project was to be completed in 3 weeks. He received the 50% deposit monies through *****. After various excuses, phone calls and over 114 text messages, Miguel had his plumber Regan bring the countertops to my house to be installed on July 2, 2022. Regan showed up with 2 countertops, not 3 as Miguel indicated and Miguel told me the 3rd one was was still drying. The countertops that Regan brought to my house were 3" too short and unable to be used. Miguel indicated he would make new ones. I have not seen any countertops in person and still have no installation date. Miguel has not kept any of his words verbally or text messages commitments. I have taken off work to wait for him and cancelled many weekend plans for him to do no call, no show. I was on a time table that I shared with Miguel as I was waiting for this to be completed to sell my house. We are months and months delayed and still no progress. My house goes on the market for sale, July 27, 2022. Miguel verbally told me on 7/22/2022 he would give me back my money for the deposit and pay for the sinks over the the past weekend, as he was aware due to his delays the sinks are now nonrefundable. Miguel asked for the receipts and I sent them to him. On 7/23/2022, I called Miguel he indicated he was coming over Sunday 7/24/2022 and agreed to give me back my deposit money and pay for the sinks. He texted me at 4:20 am on 7/24 indicated he was not coming over and would mail the checks. I offered to pick up the checks in person, I have not heard from him as of 7/25/2022. He does not answer my calls nor texts. He made tons of excuses to why these countertops were not completed, to date 4+ months later, I am out total $837 (deposit) +$399.91 (cost of sinks) = $1236.91. I want my money back. My house goes for sale on 7/27/2022.

  Business response

  08/22/2022

  Lakewood Home Requirements for any project is 59% down and 50% on completion of the project. This was not done by the customer which I can prove by *****. Her bank declined the transaction. She was also trying to get a refund on the project that she never paid for. Once I submitted proof to ******** from ***** she then tried to get me to purchase her sinks that she bought from ****** which I wouldn’t purchase from her because she felt that I was responsible for because of her not management of her bank accounts.

  Business response

  08/23/2022

  Based on these transactions ******** did not hire us based on our business requirements. Lakewood Home Improvement requires 50% down on every project balance due when completed. This provides all the proof that the customer did not pay her deposit to hire us for her 3 Vanities. ********’s transactions was declined by her bank.

  Customer response

  08/29/2022

  Attached are text messages from Miguel/Michael back in March 15, 2022, that he indicated that he did in fact receive my payment. As the text messages show, he acknowledged receiving my payment through ***** and agreed to meet a few days later to pick up the sinks to start my project.  As you can see from the text messages never did he acknowledge there was an issue with my deposit, that we led me to believe he received it.  Miguel/ Michael wrongfully kept my sinks past the 30 day return window from ****** by giving me the sinks back to on July 2, 2022- day of installation.  On July 2, 2022, there was only 2 countertops, not 3 at my home and both were too short, incorrectly measured by Miguel.  The 3rd countertop he indicated was drying.   Miguel was frustrated they were the wrong size and agreed to remake new ones. To date, I never saw the new ones in person. Miguel was not able to secure a plumber and wanted to do the plumbing himself, I said no that was not part of the deal as I knew I was selling my home and did not want plumbing issues.   Miguel finally agreed to pay for the sinks as he kept them past the return date and as you can see from the text, he kept changing him mind.  Bottom line, I put my house up for sale, July 27, 2022 and I could not long wait for any more excuses from him to why the project was not completed in a timely manner.   Only July 25, 2022 Miguel notified me that he never received my 50% payment through text message and that there was "no deal".  His sloppy bookkeeping, record keeping and poor time management was not my issue. He should of contacted me in a timely manner and not keep my personal property and continue to mislead me that he was going to keep doing the project.  He quoted me in the beginning it would be 3 weeks, 4+ months later still had no date as he kept doing no call/ no show's and lying about showing up.  I have 2 wittiness (his plumber and ***** **** that are willing to provide statements) and 160+ text messages and over 20 calls - he is not truthful business owner. 

• Initial Complaint

  03/29/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I called Lakewood on 3/1/22 and asked owner if he could put handles and knobs on my cabinets. I also asked to line up the cabinets and put caulk on the countertops. The owner said take a video of your kitchen and send it to me. I did that and he told me it would cost 500 dollars. He wanted half down and when he finished the job I would pay him the rest 275 dollars. We agreed on that and he was supposed to come to my house on March 8. I sent 275 dollars to ****** and he took my money. (275). March 8 came and he never showed. Called him and he said he couldn’t make it, I can come March 10. I said ok, March 10 came and he called me I’m going to be late, I said you were supposed to be here, 7:00 is too late to come. I told him I wanted my deposit back and to mail me a check. He said ok. I waited to see if my check for 275 dollars would show up. I called him on March 16, where is my money? He said the girls were supposed to send it out. I still haven’t received my money! Another week goes by called him couldn’t leave a message, mailbox is full!! Text him where is my money on March 23. He said your check is in the mail. I still have not received my deposit of 275 dollars from him as of today! March 29! Left another message on voicemail? This guy is a crook, I want my 275 dollars back!!!

  Business response

  04/19/2022

  This was all handled with a full refund.. it was all due to a Covid setback. 
  

  
  

  Customer response

  04/19/2022

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

*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. ↩