Complaints for Bill Davis Handyman Services in Altoona, PA

Complaints	Type of response
0	Making a full refund, as the consumer requested
1	Making a partial refund
0	Agreed to make an adjustment
0	Refusing to make an adjustment
0	Refuse to adjust, relying on terms of agreement
0	Unanswered

Customer Complaint

6/13/2024

I think this company got in over their heads on this job but their website indicates they have done this type of work before. It started out wrong from the start, the very first day they sawed my husband's sawhorse in half down to the metal. We have never seen that before. We thought they were just having a bad day. They put the floor in and it was done incorrectly. The plywood was directly on the floor when it should have been placed on top of other wood due to previous moisture issues in the basement. My husband noticed this and asked them to pull it back up. My husband then wrote instructions/diagram on the floor showing them how he wanted it done. He wanted to fire them at this point. I told my husband to give them another chance. They also installed a slop sink and drywall, then our shower. The sink already has to be fixed. It isn't usable, the shower wasn't level. That had to be taken back out twice. The drywall job was poorly done w screws not screwed into anything. The wall anchors for the shower were put in the surround instead of the wall. He cut so many corners. We have pictures /video of the poor workmanship that was done on this job. Nothing went right. We felt like they kept trying to do a good job but over and over again nothing productive happened . We are now back to square one. They got paid 5100 for basically doing nothing correctly. We feel we should get most of our money back since everything basically has to be redone. Resolution Sought Since everything except the floor had to be ripped out and redone several times, I don't feel this company deserves the approx. 5,100.00 we paid them. In a text msg, Bill agreed to give back the last installment of 897 because my husband did that work and Bill didn't honor that. We are now asking for 4000 plus any fees. That allows him to keep approx 1100 for installing the sink/flr but everything else has to be done over by another contractor and we've been without a bathroom for two months.

Company Response

7/11/2024

Company states: Regarding the specific point pension: Sawhorse Incident: We apologize for the accident with the sawhorse. It was an unfortunate mistake made by one of our new workers. While this is not an excuse, please note that the saw horses were made of lumber and we have since repaired them. Floor Installation: We initially installed the subfloor using our standard method, placing plywood directly onto the concrete without sleepers. The customer did not specify any particular requirement or mention moisture issues beforehand. Once the customer saw our work and requested changes, we immediately stopped, remove the subfloor, and redid it according to their instructions. Had we been informed of their specific needs and expectations from the start, this issue could have been avoided. Sink and Shower Installation: We installed the shower according to our standard practices, ensuring everything was plumb and level. The shower unit, a fiberglass model from Wayfair, was not as rigid as expected. When the customer expressed concerns about its stiffness and requested additional support, we promptly removed the shower and added new blocking behind it to reinforce the fiberglass. We have pictures documenting that everything was plumb, level, and securely fastened to the studs. The sink was installed correctly, level, and with all connections properly hooked up. We tested it multiple times to ensure there were no leaks. Drywall Work: We have pictures showing the drywall was installed, with all joints properly aligned and budded together as they should be. At the time the customer asked us to stop work, we were still in the process of mudding and sanding the drywall, and it was far from complete. Every screw was drilled into a stud, and the drywall was securely fastened. Payment and Refund: We acknowledge the agreement regarding the final payment of $897. Considering there was no specific contract detailing the exact specifications the customer saw, and the numerous revisions required, we believe a refund of $897.00 is fair and justified. We have invested over 160 hours of Labor and a portion of the $5100 on materials. It would be unreasonable for us to refund $4000 when we have dedicated significant time and resources to this project, not to mention all of my overhead costs. The project was nearly complete, with only mudding, sanding, and painting remaining, when the customers decided they no longer wanted our services. It is unjust for them to receive an almost finished bathroom and still demand a full refund. In conclusion, Janice and Dan presented challenges from the beginning. While Janice wanted the project completed, Dan was opposed and resentful throughout. We take great pride in our workmanship and have successfully completed numerous similar projects without any issues. We stand firmly behind the quality of our work, with pictures to demonstrate its correctness. The claim that we receive $5100.00 for essentially doing nothing is subjective and does not reflect the reality of our efforts and commitment.

Customer Rebuttal

7/12/2024

If the contractor was willing to return the $897 for work that he admitted to us that he did not do, then why didn't he return the money? Janice has a copy of a text between Bill and her on May 3, 2024 with Bill stating $897 would be in her account in a few days. It is now July 12, 2024 and there is no sign of the money. Therefore, our rebuttal is if the contractor is unwilling to mediate for the monies that we feel are owed ($4000), then a lawsuit is forthcoming.

Company Final Response

7/18/2024

On April 14th, I issued an invoice for $897 covering drywall, mud, electrical, plumbing, and painting. Though mudding and painting were not fully completed, I agreed to refund the full amount. The clients are not entitled to a $4,000 refund for our invested time and effort. Expecting free labor is unreasonable. The received money covered: Bathroom demolition, disposal of old materials, reframing walls, framing and subfloor installation, drywall installation, initial mudding, addition of a slop sink, stand-up shower installaiton, plumbing for shower, toilet, sinks, slop sink, 320 hous of labor (160 hours myself, 160 paid to my helper) Approximately $1300 in materials. The clients are likely seeking more compensation due to hiring a new contractor who only modified the shower surround; the rest of our work was utilized. I stand by the quality and completeness of our work, adhering to all relevant codes and standards. If the clients pursue the $4,000 refund, I am prepared to file a suit for breach of contract and am confident in our case. This offer to refund $897 is final, valid until 07/19/2024. If declined or taken to court, we will seek additional compensation for defense costs.

Complaints and Resolutions

Bill Davis Handyman Services complaints