ComplaintsforTransblue Spokane

• Initial Complaint

  05/11/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Pursuant to a signed contract in April 2022, I paid Transblue $17,750.68, representing 50% of the contract price for replacement of a retaining wall and dock.. Since receiving payment, Transblue has neither performed any of the contract work, nor arranged to have it performed. In fact, Transblue has refused to return phone calls or answer email about the work. The owner of Transblue appears to have disappeared and closed his business. Transblues conduct constitutes breach of contract, conversion, and violation of the Washington Consumer Protection Act. I request an immediate full refund of my $17,750.68 payment.

• Initial Complaint

  12/29/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We paid Transblue $32,364.33 on February 28, 2022 to complete a remodel on our home. They started demo on our home in June, removed a wall, installed a beam and a small portion of the electrical & plumbing. In September, they fired our project coordinator and never paid *********** or electrician for work completed. I sent several letters and made several phone calls asking Transblue to pay the subcontractors and they never did. On October 30, 2022 I sent a letter stating that we would finish the job on our own and demanded that they pay the ********************* and refund us the remaining $5,170.60 for work not completed from the amount we paid (I have a spreadsheet outlining these amounts).

  Business response

  01/17/2023

  We reached the halfway point of the project and billed for the halfway payment in order to pay the electrical and plumbing subcontractors for their work up to that point.  The client refused to pay claiming that the subs should be paid from the initial payment they made on the project.  We explained how we had budgeted the job and that the work done by the electricians and ******** would be paid for from the halfway payment.  The client disagreed and has refused to pay and is being turned over to collections.

• Initial Complaint

  12/23/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Transblue took our 50% down and now has a suspended license according to ********** Secretary of State. We hired them for two retaining walls, concrete stairs with a base concrete pad and a concrete pad at the top of the stairs with a drain system. Stairs were also to include lighting in the concrete. We received the estimate in mid September of 2022. Revised the estimate to add the lighting options. We paid 50% down ($5,100.72) on 9/29/2022. We were told by *********************** ASM, a point of contact at Transblue Spokane, that the job would be on the books and starting 10/24/2022. Our deposit was cashed on 10/6/22 with still no communication from Transblue. There was no contact from Transblue until after multiple voicemails and messages sent via their preferred project site. We finally were told by *********************** on 10/21/22 that a subcontractor would be contacting us to schedule a time to start the job. Subcontractor contacted us the first week of November 2022 took a look at the job and then put concrete forms into place on or around 11/8/22. Once the subcontractor made contact there was no additional communication from Transblue despite the many attempts to discuss the project. Due to weather the job has not progressed. The subcontractor let us know that Transblues license had been suspended which is listed on the state website. We have since left another message for Transblue regarding this situation. We are seeking a full refund and release of contract due to their misrepresentation and lack of licensing status.

• Initial Complaint

  11/22/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  We signed a contract with Transblue of Spokane to build a 20' x 25' detached shop on our property. We were assured by the salesman, ***********************, who bid the job that they would be able to begin work in April when things started to thaw out. We obtained financing through the company they recommended and paid 50% of the job bid up front which was $24,249.69. We received a prompt welcome letter after paying our deposit telling us who our project manager would be. Despite several phone calls and emails, we didn't hear from them again until March 17th when we got an email asking us to set up an account in their CRM, ************, so they could "be in constant contact" with us on every phase of our project. They didn't present us with a site plan or drawings until May 27, 2022 and didn't obtain the permit from the city until August 8, 2022. At the end of September, they still hadn't turned a shovel on our project so we tried to fire them and requested a refund. Instead of any kind of apology or promise to do better, I got yelled at by *******************. Turns out it was harder to fire them than we thought. They came out finally and dug up our back yard and built forms for the foundation pour. After two failed inspections, they finally passed and scheduled the concrete. They let us know someone would be there and no-showed multiple times. ******************* told us trusses had been ordered and then a month later told us they'd be ordered when "they have a better idea when concrete would be further along". We are now 11 months into this project with nothing to show for it but a destroyed yard and depleted bank account. We don't even have a project plan or timeline from them. My best advice to potential customers is to run the other direction. Don't sign a contract with them. They have no problem lying to get your business and will never perform on their promises. We gave them until Monday, November 28, 2022 to provide a detailed plan for correction before I get a lawyer.

  Business response

  11/22/2022

  We began working this project in April, as the complainant noted.  Within a month we had siteplans and initial drawings done by a professional engineering firm in town and provided those to the client.  By the end of May we were in Permitting with the City.  The city permitting process completed on August 8th, that is NOT when we applied for the permit and the complainant knows that.  It took the entire summer to get the permits through the City's backlog.  That isn't our fault.  When we were through permitting we had to begin to fit the project into our production calendar.  The client was understandably frustrated by this, and by the poor performance in communicating from our Project Manager. Once forms were in, we called for an inspection. Our former PM, now fired, had not put the final copy of plans on site and, as such, the Inspector didn't know that we had been approved for a footing depth of 24" vice the 3'2" noted in the drawings.  This was rectified within a week and we began prepping for concrete. That's the point we are at now, with concrete scheduled for next week.

  On the topic of the trusses, it was my understanding that our former PM had placed the order for the trusses.  I was wrong and when the client asked about it, I said that we would order when we had the concrete pour and foundation work plan worked out with the crew.  That's where we are right now.  We haven't lied to get anything and frankly I find that kind of language in a public setting like the BBB to be slander.  The project is just taking a long time.  Sometimes that happens in construction.  But trying to tell the world that we are liars and insinuating that we are stealing your money is probably not the best way to go about this.  

  The documents provided by the client actually show that we HAVE been working on this project the entire time in some form or another.

  As for the November 28th "deadline", I have already said we will get a plan once we understand the concrete and foundation schedule, which should be next week.

  Happy to part ways after the foundation work is complete, but there is no refund coming when we have been working on this for the better part of the year.

  Customer response

  11/25/2022

   
  Complaint: 18452083
  
  I am rejecting this response because:  I gave an accurate timeline in my complaint.  I stated we signed our contract in January, they didn't communicate anything to us until March and didn't do any work until April.  I stated in my complaint that the permit was issued August 8th.  As far as the failed inspections, the former project manager had already been fired by the time the site plans were posted on my fence.  The plans were posted by the interim project manager that came from Transblue headquarters.  I have no way of knowing who printed them but after failing an inspection because they weren't posted in the first place, I would have expected them to be checked over to ensure they were the right plans. It's news to me that they will be pouring concrete next week since the current project manager said he would "provide me with a schedule" for pouring concrete on Monday.  I did give the owner a deadline of November 28, 2022 to provide me with a complete timeline of the project.  The stress of being told repeatedly that a crew will be here to pour concrete and then not having them show up is unnecessary and substantial. I don't think it's too much to ask at this point to be provided with a detailed timeline and to expect the materials to be ordered.  The timeline should have been provided at the beginning of the project and the materials should have been ordered as soon as the site plan was approved and the permit was issued.  I have multiple emails over the last couple of weeks stating that I would be provided with a schedule for the concrete pour.  I still don't have it.  I would have been satisfied with a revised contract that includes a timeline and penalties for non-performance.  When I requested it, the owner refused. "Revised Contract" wasn't an option on the BBB resolution portal.  As for the strong words I used, I think that while it is unlikely that I will have a satisfactory outcome on this project, I can at least warn other people before they make the same mistake I did.  

• Initial Complaint

  11/14/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Issue pertains to REFUND of a DEPOSIT in the amount of $3,427.37 that was made to Transblue back on 9/21/2022. Agreed upon JOB / Fencing Project was never completed or even begun.Nor the requisite materials ever delivered. This customer thus felt the need to formally CANCEL the previously established Contract on 10/31/2022 due to the former and no communication or firm promise of an actual START date for the work to be completed.In a very nice and courteous way initially, I thus made a very straightforward request that the above DEPOSIT amount be refunded to me ASAP, especially given that I am on a semi-retirement income and have been left in an enormous bind, practically and financially. With Winter now upon us, I am still in urgent need of at least temporary fencing at this point, so that multiple farm animals can have adequate shelter / access to a big Barn during Winter.Having made the above request to Owner at Transblue, NO refund has been forthcoming. He has told me a number of times that I signed a "legally binding contract" and that they have until 12/21/2022 to REFUND my Deposit money.This is simply WRONG and profoundly UNETHICAL business practice to keep a customer's money 'tied up' for that length of time, and essentially hold the customer 'captive' in the process. The Deposit I made was clearly NOT used for the purpose for which it was intended, namely the agreed upon 'Fencing Project', or a REFUND would have been forthcoming right away.In addition, because I DID write a negative but well founded and factual REVIEW on Yelp, Transblue Owner informed me just yesterday that he is "filing a lawsuit against me." Simply unfounded and in complete VIOLATION of the Consumer Review Fairness Act (CRFA).I am thus requesting an IMMEDIATE REFUND of the above mentioned DEPOSIT in order that I can have the available CASH flow to pay a different Contractor. This should have been a 'no questions asked' done deal in the first place!

• Initial Complaint

  11/05/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We provided Transblue our 50% down payment for an external garage shop to be built and electrical to be ran to it in May of 2022. We were originally told they could start in June or July by the sales rep that came out in April and looked at the site project. Since the down payment they have been out to look at the site three times looking and discussing things. Over this time period I asked to see Plans /products when the work is going to start etc. with nothing to show but a few emails and few visits. Their last email to us after having our money for 6 months was that they were on our property that day looking at the site. Which was a complete lie. I have reached out to them asking for our money back and no response to phone calls or emails. etc. This companies license needs to be pulled/ suspended till they resolve what looks like many recent customer complaints. Recommend an investigation in to this company.

  Business response

  11/05/2022

  *******,

  Apologies for not getting back to you personally, I thought you had been responded to already.  The email to you regarding the site visit was sent to several clients who had been visited that day.  You were supposed to be in that group, but we didn't make it out to you.  The email was sent out to everyone visited and unfortunately we missed removing you from the distro list.

  I am in receipt of your request to cancel your project.  Normally, we do not cancel projects for convenience.  However, you have been delayed for some time and I appreciate your frustration.  We will refund your down payment.  

   

  Thanks,

  ****

   

  Customer response

  11/06/2022

   
  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 once we receive our refund.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

  Customer response

  11/15/2022

  This case has not been resolved.  The business owner is now asking to do the job again when we asked and they stated that they would refund us.  When the sent ** and email we replied to the email asking for our money back as soon as possible.  However the owners email address they sent the email from is not accepting responses.  Please assist.
  
  Thank you 
  *****************************
  

  
  

  
  

  Business response

  11/15/2022

  We are absolutely accepting responses.  The kickback may be because you cc'd an employee that is no longer with us.  The refund will be issued, as requested.

• Initial Complaint

  10/28/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I chose Transblue last January 22 to do my backyard because they said they could do it for this summer it still isnt near done. My backyard is a disaster. Early August they opened my fence. I asked them to make it a gate, they never did anything, I just had the fence put back up by someone else before HOA came down, it had been down for 100 days. They worked a few days in the whole month of August and September, thats it. Then they finally poured the concrete and its defective, worst patio ever seen. Like fluid mudflats its so wavy. This was Sept 20 and they have not anything about it. Now its too cold to set cement. Then, it wasnt. No one calls me, or communicates, I feel like Transblue used my $25,000 for other things. Im just an old lady, but thats no excuse for this low level of business from Transblue. They should be communicating to me and not go weeks without showing up. They have broken two promise dates to demo the cement. The phone numbers often go to fax. They do not reply to emails and messages on the app. Im just left out here never knowing what or when or how Transblue is going to work with me. $25,000 is a ton of money to me. Maybe 12 days of working over 100 days. I am new to Spokane, chose them because they said in January it could be done for summer

  Business response

  11/08/2022

  We have eliminated the Project manager who was handling this project. This project has taken far too long and we are fast-tracking it at this time.  This is an awesome customer and the Owners have personally taken over this project to show our client how important she is.

  Customer response

  11/11/2022

   
  Complaint: 18328022
  
  I am rejecting this response because:just because transblue fired ***** doesnt fix it. They couldve pressure washed and sealed it by now but they never showed up. Now its freezing for ten days and I still cant put in the hot tub  sure they cant work on it now that its freezing but this is their fault for s******* around all summer with this. Almost 11 months ago **** said theyd do it for summer 22.  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ******** (mags) Enfield

  Business response

  12/06/2022

  Customer has been notified that we will complete this project this Spring when the weather allows for the concrete work to be completed properly.

• Initial Complaint

  10/04/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We hired Transblue back in April of 2022 to pour a patio, curbing, install a fence and astroturf in our backyard. We signed a contract and paided them half of the total contract. Our original salesman, got fired shortly after in May. We were told we were going to be on the schedule in June, then July, then priority at beginning of August. In September, our project manager comes out with the concrete crew and there is some difficulty in matching the existing aggregate stairs, which we were told by Transblue twice that they could match. After that visit, we received a message from Transblue that we were not a good fit and they were not going to do the project. The owner *******************, said he would deliver our roll of unistalled turf and they would figure out how much money we would get back. We do not want the turf delivered We have asked for a full refund and haven't received any correspondence from Transblue.

  Business response

  10/13/2022

  Client signed their contract with us in April 2022.  We special ordered the turf, as requested.  The current economic climate is challenging, and we had two concrete crews (on different dates) back out the day before/morning of the job start.  The turf has been in since early August.
  
  Our General Manager went out with a concrete subcontractor to review the site and our client was extremely rude to both my employee and subcontractor; demanding work that was not in the contract, etc.  The Sub called later that day to say they did not feel comfortable working with the client.  It was that day that I learned the client had called my GM the week before and yelled at him "like a child" for 10 minutes on the phone.
  
  I cancelled the contract immediately and was very amicable.  There was no weird confrontation or angst; I simply let the client know that we were not a good fit and that we would refund them their deposit, less money spent on preparations for the job and the turf that had already been purchased.  I let the client know we would deliver the turf they had paid for.
  
  They refused and sought legal council, who threatened all sorts of interesting ways to attack me, my family and my business.
  
  Resolution: Per the contract, we have 60 days to refund the portion of the deposit that is owed to the client.  It has been less than 60 days at this point.  We fully intend to issue a refund and are unsure why this has reached the level of legal threats when we have never claimed that we would not issue a refund.
  
  Thanks,
   
  *******************, ASM 
  

  
  

  Customer response

  10/23/2022

   
  Complaint: 18168664
  
  I am rejecting this response because: After 5 months, (the entire construction season) nothing has been done to our backyard. We have asked for a full refund, since the project was cancelled by ******************* via a message over BuilderTrend. I have sent a copy of our contract to the Better Business Bureau and it does not state anywhere in it that TransBlue has 60 days to refund our money, another fabricated lie from this business. We also have no idea who the General ****** is. We had a project manager named ******************* and I did call and speak with ***********************, the Vice President of Franchise Operations. He stated that he has no control over his franchised organizations. Legal counsel has been retained for multiple reasons. 
  

  Sincerely,
  
  *******************************

• Initial Complaint

  10/04/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I hired Transblue Spokane to build a vinyl fence. They finished the fence but both gates are not square or plumb. There was a dispute with the property owner behind me that my fence was on their property. Transblue had a sub-contractor come out and remove a section of my fence to look for the property pins. It was determined that my fence is on my property but Transblue has not come back to put that section of fence back in. I have contacted them via their website and also phoned them but have not received a response in over three weeks.

  Business response

  10/13/2022

  Transblue Spokane installed the fence per the contract and, when the property owner behind our client claimed we had installed the fence on his property, we paid for a survey to be done for our client.  We were correct on the boundary dispute.  There was an internal miscommunication where I believed we had replaced that panel.  When the client brought it to my attention, I had the matter handled within 24 hours.  As for the gate issue, we are scheduling our crew to take a look at the gate within the next week.
  
  Client has been awesome, patient, and gracious and we are committed to ensuring he is pleased with our work.
  
  Thanks,
   
  *******************, ASM 
  

  
  

  Customer response

  10/18/2022

   
  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.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

*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. ↩