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:04/08/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore 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.

  Risa Construction was hir** to execute a $60,000 renovation on October 24th, during which several change orders were issu** in full compliance with the terms of our contract. Each change order was provid** in writing, carefully review**, and sign** by me, to be responsible for payments and work to proce** accordingly. On December 27th Risa conduct** work, stat** it wasn’t extra, however on February 7th, a perplexing fourth change order emerg**, involving $2,000 worth of work for December 27th. We were unexpect**ly held responsible for it. Since we had not receiv** the appropriate change order for authorization and payment, we met with the company's attorney to negotiate a settlement encompassing the additional work as well as the remaining 10% of the renovation cost. Upon reaching the settlement agreement on February 28th establishing the terms for the release of funds, the funds were transferr** to Risa Construction's attorney. On March 8th, to my utter dismay, a FIFTH change order surfac**, once again neglecting to adhere to the terms of our contract, which mandat** written notice and my sign** approval for any supplementary work. This unauthoriz** change order, dating back six months, is completely unacceptable and constitutes a breach of our contract. Our agreement explicitly states that any work exce**ing the initial scope must be accompani** by a written change order and my sign** authorization, ensuring both the work and the associat** payment are legitimate. Furthermore, the work carri** out was not properly permitt**, which raises serious concerns about the company's practices. The builders permit only covers half of what they actually did, and the electrical permit wasn’t even fil** until after the fact.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 05/12/2023

  My response: 

   

  Here at Risa Construction we take pride in delivering quality and safety throughout our homes and our labor crew. When we enter** the contract with ****** *****, he ask** us NOT to pull permits. We inform** him that we do not do any work without permits. There are documents stating these conversations attach** to this letter. We pull** permits for *** *** ** before proce**ing with the work. Once we receiv** our permit, we began construction. The reason there was never a permit pull** for *** *** *t was because *** *** ** did NOT exist prior to work being perform**. Even though it was a duplex, there was only one meter going into the house so the property only had one address. When applying for the BUILDING RESIDENTIAL - ADD/ACCESSORY & BLDG we stat** that we were renovating BOTH properties and list** (2) of all the work that we were doing to perform. I have attach** the permit details to reflect this. The City of ********** was inform** that work was going to be perform** in both apartments. When the client request** we perform additional electrical work and split the service into two was when *** *** *t was born into an address and is when we pull** electrical permits for both properties. I have attach** permits to show. Both meters were inspect**, pass**, and releas** by Duke. 

  I am disgust** that ****** ***** practices business in this manner. We have been in a civil lawsuit against ****** ***** for three months now trying to collect payment that is still ow** to Risa Construction for the work perform**. We are not the first contractor on this job as the last one he states did not work out. I can now see why the last contractor left. The lawyer that ****** ***** was working with during our case dropp** ****** because there was no case present in his eyes. Mr. ***** ne**** to pay. ****** ***** is now falsely accusing my company, Risa Construction, for not lawfully practicing the Laws and Regulations of General Contracting in the State of North Carolina.  We have built many new homes and have renovat** many more. We have work** with many people in our community and have always deliver** our promises. I hope you take into consideration that this was a misunderstanding and ****** ***** default** on our sign** contract and is putting in effort to taint our reputation. 

  **Permit is attach** but their information is list** on the permit. This is to show that **'s complaint is invalid. 
  
  

  
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 05/17/2023

  I am rejecting this response because:

  I've reach** out to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) due to unfair treatment by Risa Construction LLC, Salvador S****** C******, and ****** I*******. I contend that they have exploit** me. I have a grievance pertaining to a $4,000 invoice I receiv** after making my final payment. This invoice alleges I owe for work that was suppos**ly complet** seven months prior without warning as display** in our attachment “it’s already fix**”, yet I had neither authoriz** nor approv** it per our contractual agreement.
  Despite numerous attempts, I have been unable to secure proof of authorization or an explanation from Risa Construction LLC, Salvador S****** C******, and ****** I*******, including their legal representative. Even with the engagement of my own attorney, they and their lawyer ignor** our outreach. As a result, we ceas** our attorney's services and sought assistance from the BBB. I would like to clarify that there is no unresolv** case, no ongoing lawsuit, and no outstanding payments. I have fulfill** all payment obligations I agre** to, including the final balance. The only unsettled invoice is the contest** one that was issu** post my final payment and the reason I contact** BBB for assistance in resolving.
  I am seeking the BBB's assistance in resolving this issue with Risa Construction LLC, and I would appreciate an explanation from ****** I******* about why they are not complying with our contractual terms.
  Following ****** I*******'s response to my complaint suggesting a second permit wasn’t necessary because it was “inform**”, I independently sought verification from Sherri Call at the ********** Inspections office regarding ******'s assertion. Sherri’s response was contrary to ******’s as the single address permit attach** made no mention of the second address, ***. It became clear that the inspections office hadn't been "inform**" about any work being conduct** at the second address. Not only was a second permit not pull**, the first and only builders permit pull** had not been inspect**! I have attach** the transcrib** phone call and recording in which Sherri Call of the Inspecitons Department contradicts ****** Isavoliks of Risa Constructions claim and unequivocally states that only a single permit was fil** for the first address, 705, with no mention of a second address, *** and that Risa Construction ne**s to contact her to add a second permit and sch**ule an inspection for both. 
  Further, both electrical permits were only fil** after the completion of the work to exp**ite the process, as stat** by ****** I******* (refer to attach** document). If this is standard practice, then it may not require further inquiry. However, considering the dubious nature of permits where I was told I paid for them in the original quote, and then I paid for them via an invoice later, and since confirm** permits have still been improperly handl**, I felt compell** to voice these concerns. 
  I am hopeful that the BBB or ****** I******* can provide clarity, assisting us in finding a resolution regarding the fifth change order, and the process and costs relat** to the permits.
  

  

  Business Response

  Date: 06/08/2023

  Final payment was never receiv** by ****** *****. When clients request additional work, they should expect to pay for it. If you do not wish to pay for it, do not request it. We are in a civil lawsuit with ****** ***** and his business partner, who we did not go into contract with but he decid** he was going to put up the fight for ****** *****. Liars and people who cheat others never make it big in the world. ****** ***** has no knowl**ge about construction and the process of construction therefore he can not comprehend why only one permit was ne**** at the start of the project. RISA CONSTRUCTION creat** the second address for the duplex and add** a second meter which is when we request** the second permit. There was no address to request the second permit prior to our work. City of ********** was inform** about all of us. There is no issue here. 

  On Christmas morning, ****** ***** text** the whole staff at Risa Construction to ask us to run to his property because of the inclement weather and make sure that his pipes are not frozen. I explain** to him that we are clos** for the Holiday's and that my contract does not state that Risa Construction will respond to inclement weather. That is his house and his problem. He explain** that because there is no power running to the house it was our fault if the pipes burst and that Risa will be held responsible for all damages. There is no power to the house because we were still working there and you can not call for power until final. I explain** even if he had power, pipes can still bust because the weather was severe. He proce**** to continue to email the whole staff while they were out for the Holiday's to let us know they have call** ********** Emergency Department and they went out and turn** the faucet on a little to "prevent" the pipes from freezing. Next email was to tell us we ne** to head to the house and clean up the water that was in the house. ****** claim** that Risa is at fault for water leaking everywhere because we did not unplug the kitchen sink when ********** Emergency Department went out there. Also a toilet crack** and someone from his team damag** the shower handle and he claims he will not pay for it because it was our fault the toilet crack** because of the weather and it was one of our techs that damag** the shower head even though we just install** it properly and sent a video showing it was just install**. 

  ****** ***** is a liar and I will not allow him to make fake accusations against Risa Construction. We perform** our scope of work and the additional work that was request**. The last day we were in the house working we facetim** both partners and show** them around and ask** them if there is anything they want us to do. They inform** us the work looks great and they are really happy. I guess they are not happy to actually pay for the work. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/16/2023

  I am rejecting this response because:
  Hi Salvator S****** C******,
  Regardless of who has been in construction longer, the City of ********** has confirm** in the attach** email that your statement is false. I am being truthful and basing my claim on what the town has told me, which is that both *** and 705 still require a builder's permit from the City of **********, and inspections for both properties are also necessary. Please conduct the permit process for both properties. Otherwise, our lawyer will ensure that you comply, or you may risk being cit** for builder's permit violations, similar to the electrical permit violations for which you were previously cit** and plac** on leave.
  Additionally, I have attach** evidence where Risa Construction, stat** that cleaning up the leak would incur no additional charge. However, the business has since reneg** on their commitment and present** an invoice through their attorney, forcing me to make the payment.
  This matter and final payment have been made as I have paid the invoice and sent the payment to your lawyer. If your lawyer has not provid** it to you, it is not my problem, as I have ask** him several times to release it.
  The resolution we require here is for you to cease the name-calling and games and obtain the permits that I have already paid for. 
  Furthermore, drop the additional unapprov** invoice for which you have no document** written authorization from me in accordance with your contract and no cause to charge me.
  

  

  Business Response

  Date: 06/26/2023

  Hi ****** *****, 
  The reason we have been in construction longer than you have is because we know the building codes, as you do not. Sherri from City Of ********** is letting you know there is no permit for *** *indsor because it did not ne** one the start of construction. City Of **********, my attorney, your attorney, and Risa has all explain** why a permit was not ne****. There is no ne** to continue on this topic as RISA has follow** Building Codes for duplexes. What you fail to understand is not our problem. We have not call** in final building to obtain a CO because you chang** the locks on the property and call** the police. NC Building Department is aware of this incident. 
  RISA holds a Building GC license therefore we do not have violations against an Electrical License. We also do not have a Builder's GC violation against us. The department is well aware of the mess you are creating and they do not take such thing lightly. 

  Inclement weather damages, as I have stat** many times to you, are not our responsibility. It is your house, not my house. When you request additional work you should be prepar** to pay for that work. You have not paid the full balance the invoice, therefore attorney has not releas** funds. The attorney also will not releas** funds until there is a settlement between ****** ***** and RISA Construction.