Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. 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.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/24/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  UnresolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On April 19th Monarch Fencing And Decks Entity ************* Walked of the Job to biuld a 40ft by 12ft deck for me for the estimated price of $10,905.81 after I had already paid them ********, Giving the reason, "we felt that the final payment would not be issued to ** either in a timely manner or at all which is concerning for a small business." In a email, I called **** and told him if final payment was a problem I would make a payment of Half of the remaining balance that day with a contract giving a complition date and the remaing the day he completed the job before he left the proerty, He declined, I texted him later the same day asking if he was sure he didnt want to finish the job I have heard nothing back as of 04/21/2023. Other then a invoice demanding payment of ********, I contacted another contractor to complete the job and the advised me that I permit was not pulled for the work and that the deck has a number of City of ****** code violations, and it is going to cost me a additional ***** in labor and materials to complete the job that Monarch Fencing And Decks Entity ID *********** started.

  Business Response

  Date: 04/27/2023

  Original discussion with the client was requested not to pull permits and to achieve a deck that its maxed height would be 30" from the ground which does not require permitting in ********. When client requested to go out 12 ft from home it was discovered in fact that it will be higher than 30" from the ground. Which in turn did require ** to obtain a permit and as that was the potential plan. The deck being incomplete was a result of multiple situations to which the client made changes halfway through the project specifically the access to well and increasing the size of the steps leading to the access of the back yard. Of which these changes were not included in the original estimate. Regarding the customer communications with the measuring errors on our part that we rectified by return material in exchange for more expensive material. As you can see the total amount purchases for customers material added to $5479.85 there was also a debris removal that we came out of pocket as business for to the landfill for the concrete of which we didn't originally charge the client. We also came out of pocket for a tool rental as well of which I'm not including on the purchase history for job #*** at $350.00 total amount. When the deposit was already used on materials and with the changes requested by the client the conversation that occurred was **** requesting a draw of $500 towards the already owed amount $5,451.09 and at this point the deck was already 85% completed. For such a small request in materials to complete the job and not charging an additional amount in the estimate to the client, the client response was, "that's not my problem." Yes at some point the client agreed to send $300 and told **** to figure it out with the rest. Of which at that point **** purchased what material he could with the $300 and completed to where he could for the material provided. This small request originally for $500 gave our business the feeling that the final payment for labor would become a problem once completed, with that concern putting more labor into a project that we may not get the remaining amount for work done and coming out of pocket already we did decide as a business to stop the project return the handrails towards what already out of pocket expenses we incurred and for labor that has been done thus far and separate business matters with the client. A number of red flags concerned ** was no signature for estimate or invoice from the client. The small request when we have already completed 85% of the project. As we can already see the client has no intentions to pay the labor already completed and is making accusations of codes which we did follow through with anyways as building the frame since we were going to have to file for a permit. If saying codes that are missing are the stairs and handrails well that's where we cut ties for continuing the work but the original intention and purchases was for the required handrail system and stairs for being compliant with code. Work was already completed at this point and with the simple request for materials to complete the project was not the client's problem but ours even though Changes were requested by the client does not negate the fact work was done and labor for the completed work is due. As you can see from the supplied invoice from consumer with adjustments made that I have applied the return handrails and adjusted the one day in labor it would have taken our business to complete the project. Therefore requesting for labor that has been completed thus far at an amount of $2,147.88. We as a business cannot delegate what another company may charge to complete the deck work which was minimal to say the least. I can't assume that company B is even carrying or offering the same handrails we supplied the client with before. On a more personal matter I do think that based on the situation that was experienced with latest communication of client directly his intentions where not to pay for the remaining amount so even offering to pay half of the remaining amount due could still leave ** in a position of not receiving a final payment. Our decision was based on protecting ourselves from doing free labor. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 04/27/2023

   
  Complaint: 19965889
  
  I am rejecting this response because: On the original discussion with the ****, I asked if a permit was required in ****** to build a deck, I was advised that a permit is not required in ****** due to the deck being under 30". The deck size that was requested was 12" by 40" from the beginning, I have text messages from **** stating this. The size of the deck that was requested never changed.When it comes the request for extra funds, **** said it was for rotted wood that he needed to replace, That is why I questioned the money. I was told by **** that night it was in addition to not taken off the balance. Later that night after making the additional payment **** texted saying he would take it off the balance due, I also have texts stating this. The code violations are for the deck it self not for hand rails or stairs weather stripping and a number of other things that weren't completed by ****. I have attached a copy of the ******************** DECK BUILDING GUIDE WITH COMMENTS.pdf. With the code violations high lighted in red, They keep saying the reason they left the job was they didn't think we could pay or would pay. We have had several contactors do work for us and they have all been paid, everyone of them in full once the job was completed.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************