RIPPED OFF & ROTTING AS I WAIT

Hellish humidity, rain and rotting wood surround me. I was preparing myself to file in Small Claims Court. But first, I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, also one with Florida Senior Abuse on the advice of others. (Remember that under all this smoking hotness is a senior citizen!) I was hesitant about the latter for two reasons. No one was beating me with a stick. (Although I'm sure there are people who would like to!) Also the man who ripped me off is the same age. -- I learned neither matters, it still qualifies as abuse!

However I ran into problems because I had no address; only his name, business, & phone number. Senior Abuse could find neither a trace of him nor his business anywhere. I went online myself with the same issue. He claims to be licensed & insured, but I'm having doubts about that.

Enter my friend Rose who is super smart. She traced his address thru his phone within 10 minutes. Also she called to find out if he was still in business. He's not working now because his equipment is broken. Rose advised me not to waste my time & money going to small claims court because I probably won't get anything. I'm inclined to agree. I may as well try to prick blood from a brick.

However, my complaints may spare others similar grief! I was ripped off for $5,500! The job was performed spring 2017 and now must be done over completely. I am a single woman on a fixed income. I haven't had good night's sleep over this and I'm tired and stressed every day.

This guy became my regular handyman after the previous and best one ever retired to another state. I'd hired this new one for several jobs and was pleased with his work. I'd even recommended him to others. -- I sure regret that now!

The outside of my home must be maintained! I don't want neighbors complaining that I'm lowering their property values. This is a pretty neighborhood that looks straight out of a 1950's movie set. The maintenance along with taxes & insurance keeps me poor. But I love this house! It still takes my breath away every time I walk thru the door.

Late February 2017 my house needed painting and rotting wood replaced. I asked my handyman to advise me and recommend someone. Apparently he saw dollar signs and volunteered to do the job, one which he turned out to be clearly unqualified. A carpenter friend was going to help, he assured.

The carpenter came and asked me if I was a church-goer. (As if this was any of his business!) I told him, no. He gave me a look of disdain."I don't know if I want this job," he replied. "I haven't decided."

My jaw dropped. Inside I was screaming, "I'm the decider here buster, not you!" The following day I told my handyman I wanted a different carpenter! I thought I'd disqualified myself anyway plus I didn't like his pious and condescending attitude. -- Anytime someone wears God or the flag like a cheap accessory it's usually a cloak of deceit.

"He's already agreed to take the job!" I was told. "This man is so skilled he's able to cherry-pick his jobs. You'll never find anyone better!"

So I relented. That carpenter was here only ONE half day with his sons and I can't see that any work was done! Rotting wood is still plentiful all over my house, rotting wood that was painted over!!!

I wish I could sue his sanctimonious ass! But I can't, because I wrote the checks to my handyman, not him! I'm going to be paying twice! I am pissed as hell! Now I must find someone who will not rip me off!

I've been reading a post that's making the rounds across the pages of Facebook that states strong women are never victims. Oh geez, really? Am I supposed to apologize now for being victimized! If the person who came up with this ignorant post were to stand before me and say that, this victim would punch them in the face!!!

RIPPED OFF, NOT ONCE BUT TWICE

This summer felt as if I was stuck in the middle of the Sargasso Sea inside a leaky row boat. And the previous 2 summers were absolutely miserable with 2 species of flying ants invading my living room every night just after dark!

Summer 2016 I knew why! I had rotting wood that needed replacing and I was saving up money for the job.

Summer 2017 these bugs should have been gone! I paid to have the job completed the spring before! I called a pest control company. The man said it was no mystery I had bugs because the wood on my chimney was all rotted.

I told him that could not be! I'd just paid a large sum to have the wood replaced and my house painted. He declared my chimney was rotting and in dreadful shape.

At the time I was having vision problems and difficulty reading traffic signs unless I was right under them. I soon learned that I needed cataract surgery in both eyes. I don't have health insurance and despite my age am neither eligible for Social Security or Medicare.  

Then came the hurricane hysteria as another Cat 4 was headed straight for here and no one wanted the job of boarding up my house. I was in a dire panic! Fortunately as with the previous summer this one also swerved at the last moment.

Finally, I found a man to come and board me, but he showed up after the storm threat had passed. (This should have been a clue!) A neighbor reminded me that at least he did show when no one else wanted the job. I paid him to nail back a loose board that was hanging from my chimney which he agreed was in terrible shape.

He walked around my house and pointed out other places where rotting wood had been painted over. The wood was spongy. I only caught the parts that buckled! The previous repairman was incompetent or he just got lazy. This was a person I'd hired several times before, had been pleased with his work and trusted!

The new guy agreed I'd been ripped off and wanted the job of fixing it. He was a young man in his 30's and looked up to the labor.

I couldn't delay my cataract surgery any longer. This was a huge out-of-pocket expense! I had to put off my house repairs until I rebounded financially. I continued cutting back on everything.

Thankfully, the spray from the previous summer spared me bugs during this one, but the woodpeckers were now driving me straight up the walls! The constant hammering noise was maddening and in some spots it sounded like an electric drill! I'd run outside shrieking like a maniac while banging pots together. The birds would flee, but just as soon as I got comfortable inside they'd be at it again. This would go on all day long.

Also there is a major trouble spot under the high arch where I previously had bat and bee infestations. Nothing was done there to prevent future problems.

April 2, 2018 I gave the new repairman a $400 deposit to reserve April 16 to start. Also I instructed him to take photos because I was taking the previous guy to court. I was pissed as hell about paying TWICE!!!

In the meantime, my financial advisor Bob was contacting the prior one trying to get him to do the right thing. Bob was sworn at, hung up on, and told to go ahead and call a lawyer!

The new guy failed to show up on April 16 or even call to explain why. Later he told me his house flooded and that set him back, but he'd notify me before coming. Week after week passed, but he seemed allergic to returning my calls. 

However he returned Bob's messages and then phoned to tell me he'd been in the hospital. -- Hospitals have telephones!!!  I asked why he didn't call me. He said he couldn't. Afterward I found out he had a wife, so why didn't SHE call me?

In the meantime, the previous repairman showed up at my house to complain and also had a few choice words to say about Bob. But this guy didn't have a leg to stand on and if he does, it's made of rotting wood and termite ridden.

The new repairman was dropping the ball so many times you'd think it was made of lead! He was a consistent NO SHOW!!! This guy didn't move like a ninja, he moved like a glacier. I demanded my $400 deposit back! He claimed he'd already spent more on paint, sidings, & materials for my house.

I was assured he would be here July 2 to begin work. NO SHOW!!! He claimed it was because his son was injured in a fireworks accident. --This was 2 days before the 4th!

That was his latest excuse; first, his house flooded, then he was hospitalized, and now this! Geez, the guy sure had an inordinate amount of catastrophes.

The next scheduled date was July 9. I gave him a choice, either show up and start the work or deliver the materials totaling $400 with receipts. He could keep anything in excess of $400. -- Can you guess what happened? I'll give you a hint:  O!

However I received an email saying his wife was having contractions, but he promised to be here the following day. He was NOT!

My financial advisor sent him a not-so-nice message. The afternoon of the next day he was here taking photos. (This should have been done months ago!) I blinked and almost missed him. Obviously he can move like a missile when he wants to!

I emailed him to forward the photos to both me & Bob. Also I inquired when I might actually be seeing work performed.  No photos, no reply!

Suddenly it was July 17! For crying out loud, I'd been waiting THREE MONTHS!!!

I phoned the Sheriff's Dept! An officer contacted the man and warned him that if my deposit wasn't refunded by 4:00 PM the following day a warrant would be issued for his arrest. He was going to be charged with FRAUD.

My money was returned fast!

The Sheriff's office wouldn't look into the previous workman because he completed the work despite doing a lousy, rip-off of a job! Everything must be redone!

I am now busy filing complaints!!!