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:09/17/2024

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore 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.

  I contacted Meagher Engineer 7 Mar 2024. I immediately started providing the building plans, pictures, and history of my house since time of build, as requested. Signed Contract 16 May 2024. Provided the retainer of 1500.00 on 20 Jun 2024. Total Time Phone calls is 2 hr and 37 mins. Approx 28 emails - almost half were me providing information or checking to see what's going on because I hadn't heard from them in days/weeks. I'm not disputing the charges for Principal Engineer for 7 hours @ 185.00 per hour or the Admin Hours of 10.5 hours @ 55.00 per hour. I am disputing the charges for the Project Engineer for 15.5 hours @ 130.00 per hour. The contract I signed said that I would get a monthly invoice, listed on page 3 Schedule of Payments. I never got an invoice until 13 Sep, when I said there was nothing more to be done. Prior to this, I was never notified that we are getting close to using the 1500.00 retainer I provided or an invoice as to what's going on or the charges. So I never questioned it. I figured they'd let me know. Only to be blindsided with the 1 invoice sent on 13 Sep saying I owe 1586.70 due by the 13th of Oct. No confirmed fix was identified as to justifying a Project Engineer the entire time, and until the site visit on 28 August the suggested idea was not going to work. So what was the Project Engineer working on, if a decision wasn't approved. I have a right to know. Afterwards we talked about testing the cement on 9 Sep, and said it was 1500.00. I replied I haven't heard that we are over the retainer yet, so I agreed to test the cement. She didn't correct me and said she only had a few hours in along with the 3 visits. At the end of the day, I wasn't kept informed at any point and never received 1 invoice until 13 Sep 2024. Had I known they were reaching the 1500.00 retainer I would have had the option of continue or not 6 months in. Now billed for 1586.70 with no fix or report. Owed amount should be 372.50.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 10/03/2024

  Meagher Engineering takes pride in providing professional and quality services to our clients.  Sometimes they are not always satisfied with the results of our findings upon investigation.  It is heart breaking that this client was wronged by their builder prior to our involvement but we worked through a lot of historic material, photos, design plans, engineering reports and documentation that was presented by the client, we had to wait for contractors to resolve certain issues like removal of insulation, and we had worked through the process with the client being the mediator to the builder which made it challenging.  All of which takes time.  In regard to invoicing, we do not always invoice on a 30-day period and some projects are invoiced at project milestones depending on the process.  Regardless, they are always with a detailed description of what was completed. We will reach out to the client to get this resolved.  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 10/07/2024

  In response to Meagher Engineering reply to my complaint on Oct 4, 2024, I reject their reply.  I understand that customers may not always be happy with an outcome.   However, how I was wronged by the builder remains to be in question since we never got to the root cause of the problem throughout the entire 6 months.  Is the situation normal, absolutely not.  Hence, hire an expert.  I provided all of the historical information both verbal and email to include; pictures, design plans, and One Engineers Report that was about ground elevation and the corrective measures to be taken (which was completed April 2020).  As far as myself being a mediator with the builder making things challenging, ***** specifically said she works for me and not for her to work for or with the builder for concern they would skirt ownership of any problems.  Waiting for “contractors to resolve certain issues – like removing the insulation”.  At no point was there a contractor(s) involved.  Our 3rd meeting via **** call on Aug 13, 2024 was the first time ***** mentioned that my house was structurally unsound and it’s not a matter of “IF” but “WHEN” the foundation will give way.  During this **** call was the “first time” she asked me to have the insulation removed.   I took immediate action and called the builder and they immediately scheduled the work to be done without question and was performed on Aug 21, 2024.  I immediately called ***** and *** ********** to schedule a site visit on Aug 28, 2024.  During this visit *** ********** said “****** ******” will “NOT” work on the basement walls.   I expressed concern about what are we going to do now.  ***** said she didn’t know and that she recommended we have the cement tested.  I reiterated what the builder said about what the report had to state “structurally unsound and the cause”.  I had routinely conveyed whenever asking what the status was about the report.   In a panic after that I continued to research on what I could do to save my house.  I found a company that inspected the basement and recommended a fix that would have a life time/transferable warranty and that the *** Engineer would be providing the township the required paperwork to obtain a permit.   Once I did that, I called ***** and told her about all of this.  As my original complaint reflects; On Aug 30th ***** and I had spoken on the phone about cement testing and the cost.  I said at this point since we haven’t reached the retainer, I agreed to the test.  Only to find out the company doesn’t test residential properties.    I’ve kept all the phone calls and emails.  I’m not looking to be difficult.  I’m looking for honestly and fairness.  Meagher Engineering had me sign a contract and I’ve done everything asked of me.  I won’t be repetitive to what I’ve already stated.   At the minimum I should have been provided an invoice prior to reaching the retainer of $1500.00.  The only invoice I received was Sep 13, 2024 owing an additional $1586.70 I would respectively pay 7 hrs @ 185 per hour and 10.5 hrs @ 55 per hour = $1845.00 minus the $1500.00 retainer that was previously provided at Wendy’s office.    Balance Due:  $345.00 
  
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