10/11/00

 

 

Lets see, where should I even begin. I guess the beginning is easiest so put your boots on because the s@#t gets deep. It all started last winter when the codes inspector of Camp Hill Boro had several items that were to be repaired to bring the house up to code. We had to get a contractor to do the repairs. Northeastern Home Improvements was contacted for the sole reason being that my niece was doing telemarketing for them and the fact that she would get a small commission for referring the work.

 

            Enter B.J. from Northeastern. Yes he did a wonderful presentation and at that point I probably would of believed him had he said he could make doves fly out of his ass. Aside from the usual sales routine, (which I shall not bore you with). We were told the Northeastern had the exclusive contract for Alcoa Products. Windows, Soffit Material, Vinyl covered aluminum sheeting. OK that’s all ok and good but he also promised that:

 

1. Northeastern had their own installation crews. (They subcontract other people; they do not even have an in house installation crew).
2. That they would clean up after their selves, and that tarps would be used inside while replacing the windows. (We never saw one tarp inside and had to clean up paint chips and broken wood pieces under EVERY window inside).
3. All material used outside would be cleaned up and kept in an orderly fashion. And any damage to the yard would be taken care of; i.e. reseeding, backfilling, damaged plants and/or bushes replaced.
4. If there were ever any problems that they had their “guys” on call and somebody would be here to correct the problem within 24hrs.
5. That the new patio deck would be treated with a sealant for the first five years by Northeastern at no cost to us.
6. If there was ever any damage to the windows or screens caused by material failure or accidental breakage they would be repaired or replaced for free, Lifetime Warranty.

 

What was received (and when I say received I mean I had to fight to get) was an entirely different story. So here I am six months later,

 

1.      With an unfinished job.

2.      A ruined backyard.

3.      A bedroom ceiling that is ready to fall down from a leaking “new” roof.

4.      A rubber roof over my master bedroom, front porch, and back porch when the contract clearly states that it is to be a shingle roof matching in color to the existing slate roof.

5.      No concrete pad for the grill (approved by B.J.).

6.      A severely water damaged basement with crumbling walls due to water being dumped around the perimeter of the house instead of being channeled away by gutters and down spouting. The house had NO gutters or spouting for six months. Completely Unacceptable. Gutters could have been installed after one month at the most. There were delays due to Incompetent workers, and a general lack of concern on Northeastern’s part. MANY phone calls were made about the damage that was occurring. I was told everything from “we can not get a hold of Tom” (B.J.), to “we are interviewing sub-contractors as we speak”  (also B.J.).

7.      The whole point is that if they could not “find” Tom, they should have got somebody else to finish the job. We contracted Northeastern, Not Tom Shrive. They sub-contracted him. He is their responsibility.

8.      Northeastern paid Tom for the job WITHOUT coming out to check the job. That is their fault not ours. We shouldn’t have been put in this position in the first place.

 

 

Will things ever be straightened out, who knows? I’ll keep you updated.

 

Sincerely

 

Samuel M. Maurer, Jr