Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  10/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  My mother, 79 years old, contracting Shaffer Masonry to: tear down and build a new deck, remove a french door and add a door and window in its place, build a planter. The contractor billed my mother a total of $23,207.79. $16,612.50 of this is labor. The last payment of $7425.00 has not been paid for two reasons 1) my mom understood the payment before was the last payment and 2) the work has not been finished. The contractor, John Shaffer, has since put a lien on my mother's property for final payment despite the fact that his invoice cleary states "Customer will be be billed the remaining balance due at completion." The work has not been completed and my mother has signed no document to support the work has been finished. I have documentation to support my claim, however the files are too large to include with this.

  Business response

  10/05/2023

  She was billed for removing and hauling away scraps lumber from old deck. She paid that payment when completed.  She was billed for replacing the new deck in three payments, when it was finished and the bill stated “deck final payment”. She paid that bill. That bill did not include door, window or planter, which was not started.

  Then she wanted me to replace a door, a window and build a planter. She bought trim for the house, the baseboard she bought did not match what was in the house. I cut the piece and asked her “if she wanted it installed because it did not match?” she said “no”. I tried to find some trim that would match but could not. She was going to try to find a piece in Chicago from someone she knew. I told her if she found it, I would come over and replace it. The final bill was $7,425.00 (seven thousand, four hundred and twenty five dollars) . This has not been paid.

  Customer response

  10/05/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  As you can see from the invoices attached my mother was billed the following for labor:

  6/21/23 $1687.50

  6/23/23 $2500 (clearly STATES FINAL)

  7/05/23 $2500 (1/3 for deck, (you can't continue to bill for a project AFTER you've stated you've billed the final amount). I therefore contend THIS invoice should be applied toward the removal of the door and replaced with door and window).

  7/6/23 $163.00

  7/19/23 $150 and $2500 (1/3 deck, 1/3 Paid already, NOT accurate 2/3 had been paid) and again, this payment should be applied to the door/window project and is the final payment for that project.

  Not dated $7425.00 which should apply to the planter and only the planter, this amount is egregious for the project done.  IF the contractor agrees to 1) remove the lien from my mother's house and 2) provide an invoice more in keeping with the job done, then I will consider the final payment and if satisfactory pay it AFTER the lien is removed.  

  
  Regards,
  
  ***** **********

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