ComplaintsforSlonakers Custom Paving LLC

• Initial Complaint

  06/15/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 9/22, I received an estimate from Slonakers Custom Paving to fix a few cracks and seal our large circular driveway. The estimate was for $3009. We elected to wait until Spring 2023 to complete the job. Early Spring 2023 we had some damage to our driveway from large trucks. We called Slonakers to see if they could patch them before sealing. The two spots were 1' x 10'. The estimate was updated as per attached. It was unclear that the patching alone would cost more than the entire sealing. The patching was completed 5/2/23 but too cold to seal. When I called back to schedule they sealing yesterday, they stated I had a balance due of $3600. I told them I was under the impression that $3600 was the price for the repair and the sealing. I was in shock. I called back today and told them to cancel the sealing. That $3600 to repair (2) 1' x 10' sections was astronomical. I am having surgery on Thursday and am unable to pay that entire amount right now. They changed the bill and emailed it to me stating the balance was due immediately. Then they sent someone to my front door to ask for a check within a few hours of calling them. I did not feel comfortable paying that amount. The owner, ************** Slonaker (************) asked me to call him. He stated they were more expensive than most companies and that I could have gotten someone to do the same work for about $1200 but it is expensive for them to bring all of their equipment out for a small amount of work. But they would be happy to setup payment arrangements. I do not feel that $3600 for repairs was clearly communicated. I definitely would not have agreed to it had I known. The work has been done and the way they handled it, especially sending someone to my house to collect payment was bullying. I do not want any further communication with them and I definitely will not be using them in the future. I would be happy to pay them for the work they did but not $3600, more like $600

  Business response

  06/30/2023

  I had went out to the customers job originally for a seal coat estimate.  I met with the customer and sent a quote over for the seal which was for $3,009.  They accepted the estimate, but wanted to wait till Spring just as she has stated.  Spring came around and the customer called back in to schedule another estimate because of damage done by some large delivery trucks.  I met with the husband of customer this time and he was telling me that some delivery trucks had ran off the edge of the driveway and cracked up the edge of the asphalt that had been done a year or so prior by another company.  I explained to the customer that we are a fairly large company and not the best fit for these small jobs.  Due to being a larger company we are more geared towards larger projects and we have a company minimum for any asphalt work performed.  I explained that if it were my house I would place topsoil along the sides, plant grass, and this would help with any future problems as the issues were not that bad.  He stated that he was going to try to get the company that did the damage to pay for it and he appreciated my honesty, but to go ahead and send the quote anyway.  After sending the estimate the following day via email the customer decided to go ahead with the job.  After scheduling the job and completing the patchwork portion of the job, the customer had wanted to hold off on the sealing portion for a few weeks.  We said no problem and we would wait till job is complete to accept payment.  A week of so went by and we contacted customer to schedule the sealing portion and she had said great come do it.  The day before sealing was scheduled she called the office and asked what the total was going to be.  We told her the total which was $6,609 ($3,600 for patching and $3,009 for sealing).  That is when she asked if she could cancel the sealing, we weren't sure why, but said no problem and revised the bill to only reflect the patching portion for $3,600.  I had a crew close by working so had the foreman stop in to collect payment since the contracted work was complete, not knowing at this point that she had a issue.  The foreman called reporting she wasn't happy, not going to pay and that was the first point I knew there was a problem.  At no point were my employees rude or confrontational at all during any transaction as we pride ourselves in customer service.  After failed attempts to contact her we had left a message to call one of the owners on his personal cell which she did.  Customer stated that she had a surgery coming up and did not have the money.  We said we totally understand things happen and we could set up a payment plan.  She then hung up the phone and have had no communication since.  I would love to work this out with the customer if they could just speak with us in a professional manner.  We are a very understanding company and willing to work with people.  

  Customer response

  07/04/2023

  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed as Answered]
  
   Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  1. The "foreman" sent to my house indicated $3600 was for the patching and the sealing.
  
  2. I have NEVER not answered anytime the company has contacted me.  
  
  3. Absolutely nothing was mentioned in regards to the actual problem.  Which is, the estimate provided did not clearly state the patching was $3600 in addition to the $3009 for sealing.  It was never made part of the total.  
  
  Regards,
  
  ****************************************

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