ComplaintsforBlackhill Restoration & Roofing Systems

• Initial Complaint

  08/05/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This company installed a pole in my backyard indicating they needed it to do their abatement work. We had discussed repeatedly what work would need to be done and they assured me no job was too small if it meant they could earn my business and a good reputation. I spent 11+ hours on phone calls with the utilities company, going over to the house locking dogs up, unlocking the yard, so Blackhills and the utilities company could get in get the pole installed and activated, because Blackhills said they needed the pole installed to do the water damage abatement work in the house, only for them to (1) not use the pole at all, and then (2) walk off the job and delay the abatement work.They want to charge me almost $1000 for installation and removal of a pole they didn't use at all and they walked off a 1-2 day job, did not complete the abatement work at all. If they weren't going to do the work, they shouldn't have installed a pole.They are now threatening to send the bill to collections. I had told their vice president ***** that if they did the abatement, and I was satisfied, because of our good communication (with ***** one of their managers) that they would have the rebuild job, but I guess one of their scheduling managers decided that because I hadn't chosen them for the full reconstruction that they would just walk off the job. If they walk off a job, they shouldn't get paid. There was no work done, and installation of a pole was a requisite need for abatement and still is, so they didn't solve any problems installing it/produce work that did anything. I'm going to need to have a pole installed with the new contractor (and will need that insurance money to cover it). It is not my fault they walked off the job. They created a scenario wherein almost $1000 comes out of my mother's pocket (my 85 year old mother's home). They are retaliating because they thought we weren't going to use them for the full rebuild. T

  Business response

  08/11/2022

  Blackhill performed work with customer approval. This was submitted to insurance, and they paid Blackhill directly for work. Customer had check stop paid and sent instead to her. She is refusing to pay for work done. Blackhill has offered to reduce our invoice to $750 (our cost) to settle with customer or send to collections. We will honor one final attempt at $650.00 (a loss on Blackhill's part) to settle or we will send customer to collections. We have email from adjuster stating that our invoice was due and paid and she is responsible now to pay us for work completed.

  Customer response

  08/17/2022

  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.
  
  Regards,
  
  **** De ****

  Customer response

  08/17/2022

  Complaint: 17653891
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  (1) Allstate approved funds for installation of an electric pole based on the belief that water mitigation would actually be done and that the pole was needed for that;

  (2) Blackhills walked off the job before starting the job;

  (3) Blackhills and no one else used the electric pole;

  (4) Blackhills manager indicated that the electric pole was only needed to dry up water in the house and since by the time they were called in to do the work, the water was dried, they did not need the electric pole (see attachment A email);

  (5) I argue that Blackhills knew/or should have known they would not need a pole and should not have installed a pole; Blackhills was notified by me and by the Allstate adjuster that they could not enter to dry any water until the asbestos was abated from the house.  Blackhills knew/or should have known because I provided the information from both the adjuster and the asbestos expert that Blackhills would not be getting into the house for at least three weeks and the water would be dried by then.

  (6) As the consumer, I rely on the expert to know what equipment they need for work to be done;

  (7) Blackhills installed a working electric pole, not the day of, not the day after, but several weeks after the water had dried up;

  (8) I never signed a contract with Blackhills;  Blackhills never produced an estimate for the work to be done; Blackhills Vice President, in a phone conversation, agreed to do the water mitigation work, "no matter how small", her words in order to win the contract to restore the rest of the house.  

  (9) It is my belief that Blackhills installed the pole to do the reconstruction work (work we had not yet signed anything for) and when they thought they wouldn't get the work OR they got a bigger job than our water damage job, they pulled the pole and walked off the job to place the pole at another site. 

  Finally, had Blackhills left the pole, contacted me about the pole, left the pole for ServPro's use in the rebuild even if Blackhills was rejecting the job and walked off the work, then if ServPro would have use and use the pole, I could understand Blackhills being paid.  But, since Blackhills installed a pole, knowing they didn't need one for the small mitigation work they were asked to do, and then pulled the pole before it could be used for anything, I feel that is the cost of doing business for them--They walked off the job, to pay them is unjust enrichment.  Those funds (whether approved or not, are not approved for non-use), the funds were approved for whatever contractor actually does the water mitigation/construction.  Since Blackhills walked off the job having done nothing, what they are asking is to be paid for a pole that was unused, and to take funds that are allocated for use for a pole that is actually needed and will be used.  ********************* has refused to pay that bill twice, so the funds will be released to ServPro.  They have recently installed a pole and will be starting work soon.  I will not allow Blackhills to steal money from my 85 year old mother.  They are now trying to charge, per a phone conversation with ******* of Blackhills yesterday, over $900 for installing a pole.

  This is ridiculous.  

  The only way I will feel this is resolved is if:

  (1) Blackhills writes off the invoice cost; and

  (2) Does not try to *** me or send this to collections and ding my credit, because they are not entitled to those funds by their own admission in email

  Whether the charge was approved or not, it was not approved based on the outcome of them walking off the job.  It was approved only in the case that the mitigation work was done and the work required use of that equipment--which per Blackhills' employee, it wasn't since the water dried.  

   

  to be paid if a pole was used for the water mitigation; however, Blackhills installed a pole after learning that they would not need the pole for water mitigation (I have an email from one of their managers indicating that a pole is only needed to dry up the water and since the water was dry when they were approved to do work, they didn't need it).  Additionally, I have emails showing that Blackhills knew the Allstate adjuster would not let them enter the house to do water mitigation until after the asbestos was abated just one day after the flood.  Blackhills contacted the adjuster on the phone trying to get in earlier; he denied them and they told me that they'd have to wait.  However, three weeks later the pole was installed and working.  But, no work was done using the pole.  We still need a pole for the contractor who is actually going to do the work (ServPro); however, Blackhills, without speaking to me, pulled the pole and took it to one of their other job sites, walked off the job, saying they wouldn't do the mitigation because it wasn't enough work for them.  I still have to use the funds that were directed for pole installation and use to the company that actually does the work, so NO, they are not owed the money.  They installed a pole knowing they didn't need it for the work they would do.  They installed the work hoping they would get the full reconstruction contract, but were asked to deal with water damage (created by a flood, by ********************** a contractor warranted by Allstate).  I will not remove funds from our reconstruction budget to pay a group that if they are going to be paid at all, should be paid by Allstate.  And, if I were Allstate, since Blackhills walked off the job, didn't use the pole, and ***** used the pole, Blackhills chose to walk off the job, they should take their installation costs with them--they certainly took the pole with them.

  
  
  Now, they are threatening to send this to the credit collections agency, after calling me at least 20 times and me telling them the same thing over and over.  This is ludicrous!  I signed no contract with them, they didn't do any work, just because the insurance approved the cost, doesn't mean the cost should be paid out when NO WORK WAS DONE!  If I hired them to paint my house and they brought all their paint over, tools, paint brushes and tarps, left them there, then decided they weren't going to paint, came and picked up all their equipment--there is no way you'd pay for the equipment and the paint and the work of the painting.  They didn't do anything.
  
  Regards,
  
  **** De ****

  Business response

  08/17/2022

  BBB, The message says that the resolution is satisfactory to the customer but then says rejected at the bottom, can we ******** which it is please?

  Customer response

  08/19/2022

  Complaint: 17653891
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  (1) ********************* flooded our home causing water damage. Allstate warranties Rainbow's work for 2 years.  The mitigation costs are Allstate's responsibility.

  (2) The funds sent to me were removed from the reconstruction budget, which is not Allstate's pocketbook, but mine.  

  (3) Allstate approved the charges; Allstate can pay for them if they deem those charges proper.  I merely informed Allstate that Black Hills had not performed any water mitigation, but pulled the electric pole and walked of the job, having done no work.  I will not turn over funds from our reconstruction budget to Black Hills.  If Black Hills is owed anything, Allstate will need to pay them.  And, because Black Hills installed a pole, knowing that Allstate told them they could not enter the house for three weeks to do water damage, and their employee stated that they pole was only to dry water, Black Hills installed a pole that would never be used unless they were awarded the rebuild contract.  They pulled the pole, because as they stated, it "wasn't enough work."  They claim there was a delay, but it was a delay they were made aware of within the first two days of contact.  They knew or should have known the pole would not be needed.  

  I will be satisfied when they either (1) write off the charges completely; or (2) pursue payment from Allstate.  Allstate is liable for the water damages because of Rainbow's negligence.  The funds received from Allstate have been applied to ServPro, because they will actually do the water mitigation/abatement and repairs.  Since, Allstate has indicated that they will not pay twice, I'm not paying Black Hills anything.  They did no work, installed a pole unnecessarily per their own admission, and if they recover anything, they will need to do so from Allstate.

  Now, I have explained this to Black Hills on at least 20 calls with their representatives, *******, Juli, etc. and have over explained this in emails to both Allstate and Black Hills, and now the Better Business Bureau.  Black Hills has informed me they are sending the amount to collections.  If they do so, I will need to get attorney representation.  They have not heard my complaint, they have not understood their own liability, but I am certain a judge will.  And, if they want to recover funds for non-work they did on water damages that ********************* caused, they need to go after Allstate, since Allstate warrantied the work of ********************* and is responsible for water mitigation, abatement, repairs.

  Regards,
  **** De ****, owner and agent for ************************* (property owner)

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