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:09/21/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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 July 25th, we contracted with S&B Construction to build a cedar fence along our property. The owner quoted us a price of $4,886.00 (including taxes & permits), of which $3,175.90 was due as a deposit. We paid the deposit, signed the contract, and set a relaxed timeline of mid-September to finish the project.Work did not commence until August 23rd, 2023. Approximately 24 hours after starting the project, ********************** requested an additional $700.00 for labor and $1,500.00 for the same materials stated in the original quote. In response, we stated that we were unwilling to approve the increase without supporting documentation, which ********************** refused to provide. Instead, he indicated that he would not complete the project, would retain our full deposit, and would charge us extra for the materials he had already purchased. The contract contains no language to support his position.On August 25th, we presented ********************** with 2 options to resolve the dispute. Either he could complete the contract under the original terms or refund our deposit minus $500 for building permits and work completed to date. After issuing these terms, ********************** broke all contact with us and did not respond. As of writing this letter, he still retains our deposit, and refuses to engage with us to find a resolution. On September 4th, we attempted to send a certified letter to the business address listed on his contract license explaining our position, but it was returned as undeliverable.After the letter was returned to sender, we discovered a separate problem concerning his contract license, which appears to have been suspended on August 15th, 2023. This was 8 days before he started work on our project, meaning that he was not licensed to begin it in the first place. He never communicated this to us in any way - we only discovered it after searching for his business with the *************************** of ****************** to ensure we had the correct address.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/01/2022

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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.

  Paid a deposit of $10000 on June 22nd 2022. Was promised to have this project by done end august at the latest. We keep getting excuse after excuse as to why they cant complete the project. On top of this they have caused about 8k in damages at least (per another contractor) to our yard, curbing, and sprinklers that should not have happened. We have been trying to get a proper contract stating they will be liable for this and for them to make sure everything needed is in it other but we keep getting the runaround from them. And now they just are ignoring us. They all ways just ignore us for days or weeks when they dont want to deal with us. At this point we dont want them on our property and we want our full 10k deposit plus the 8k in damages they owe us now for destroying our yard and it now be 10 times worse than what it was. None of the damage done should have been and speaking with other contractors they have no idea why they did what they did.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/30/2022

  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.

  Work commenced on a concrete slab, under my deck, 5/16/22 and was completed within a couple of weeks. I have a signed contract, stating that the work was guaranteed for one year. I paid $5400.00, then a surprise extra fee of $700 extra. 4 months later I found fine cracks on each side of the concrete slab, one approximately 4 feet long and one on the other side, approximately 5 feet long. Both cracks seem to be right through to the bottom of the slab. I called and emailed the owner/contractor numerous times to fix this problem. He finally called back, and said concrete could not be guaranteed!!! I invited him to come on the property and look for himself. He has not shown up or shown any interest in repairing these cracks to date, October 30th. Winter now approaches and freezing may make these cracks worse! I want these cracks taken care of. I have the contract, saying his workmanship is guaranteed for one year. In addition to this problem, the crew left my red brick patio, a large chunk of the garden bed nearby, the front sidewalk and driveway, plus the sidewalk on either side of my property with a concrete wash all over these areas. The crew left large oil stains in front of the house near the curb from leaky rented cementing equipment. The crew left long, unwieldly pieces of scrap wood on my property and completely ignored my requests that he pick these pieces of wood up. Thankfully, kind neighbors helped break up the wood and power washed the back patio area. I mention what slobs they were, but all I need now is those cracks to be repaired in some way!

  Business Response

  Date: 10/31/2022

  We at S&B do Guarantee our work. we also just like anyone else in the concrete business, Guarantee concrete to crack! there is no way around it. unfortunately we can not stop concrete from cracking. we as a company appreciate our customers and ask that if you hire us, then you let us do the job we were contracted to do. it is extremely hard when we are trying to perform the work hired to do when our customers are onsite trying to manage the work. we are the professionals and this is why you hired us. 

  There is nothing we can do about concrete cracking after we lay it and finish it. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 10/31/2022

   
  Complaint: 18335012
  
  I am rejecting this response because:  If S&B guarantees their work, which has to do with concrete, and concrete is guaranteed to crack, what are they actually guaranteeing in their contract?  Perhaps all concrete will eventually crack, but should it crack 4 months after being laid?

  Regarding S&B's ****** about us onsite, trying to manage their work, when we watch destruction of our property, plants trampled and sprayed with liquid concrete, same with the red brick patio, large oil stains in the street, of course we will speak up.  Being told by S&B that "that's the way things are" is not acceptable.  I see that I will most probably get no resolution to these crack problems, but know that this company misrepresents itself and one should think twice about hiring them.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************