Belfor Restoration Services

Four months ago our pipes broke and flooded our basement with almost 4'' of water. Belfor was the company that was working for our insurance company, and they came right away to come remove the damaged items from the basement. Straight off the bat, we should have been notified of all the items that were removed from the site and double checked with us as they left so we knew what items to claim and report to our insurance company. They did no such thing. They removed everything right away with no updates and packed everything in their truck and left. E

verything ensued for the next 2 weeks, they came to tear down the damaged walls and replaced and painted new ones. Throughout this time, we consistently asked for the list of removed items but they either ignored our calls, never got back to us or said yes but never sent them.

When the project manager came to check on the progress of the basement, we once again asked him for the list of removed and damaged items- in which he so intently made notes on in his notebook. In addition to that, we also gave him a deadline as we were leaving for vacation for 2 weeks and would prefer the basement to be finished by then. Please note that the deadline we gave him allowed for a months time, which i think is more than fair. After the discussion, the project manager agreed and noted our deadline and reassured us that he would get his receptionist to send us the list.

A couple weeks went by, no list, no updates and no news. Except for the guys who came to replace our kitchen cabinets. Not only were we never asked to pick a color for it, the replaced counters were damaged and chipped. They didn't even bother letting us know until we took pictures and asked them to look at it...in which they just said "Oh, yeah...we'll let our boss know". Ok, whatever. A chip in the corner, it's not a huge deal. The nightmare ensues.

We meet with the flooring company to choose the colors we want for each room. Their objective was just to replace what was removed and restore everything to the way it was, no matter how we installed it initially, their goal was just to put in the flooring as it was...but a month goes by and there is no one is working in the basement, we call the project manager and no one picks up, we leave a message on his voice mail and with his receptionist, and still no response. However, a man from the flooring company finally comes to work, but the work and the materials were cheap and terribly done...we called the flooring company and they said they would take a look, and if it was their fault, they would replace and order a new shipment.

When we finally get a call back from the project manager, it's already a couple days before we leave for our vacation, the project manager then informs us that they flooring company will not and is not "comfortable" with putting the flooring down without leveling first...this "leveling" by the way, is not coming out of their pocket, it's ours. Who knew we'd still need to pay extra after paying so much for insurance? Anyway, we then had to put the project on hold as we couldn't deal with it considering we were leaving the country.

When we return, this drama continues. A back and fourth battle as to who, what and how to finish the flooring. All we ask is that the floor be put in the way it was before- no leveling, just flooring. It's now been 4 months and our basement is still in shambles, they wont do anything unless we pay for the leveling which we shouldn't have to. So far, we've had beg and plead for them to do the flooring in the bedrooms without leveling, which they agreed to, but will not give us a warranty. However they still wont do the dining and living room and has now suggested us to A. pay for the leveling or B. Have them leave the materials and have us find another flooring company to finish it. This is absolutely laughable. We didn't pay for insurance to have ourselves fix our own basement in the end.

This project is still unresolved, and the last thing the project manager said to me was "our hands are tied" and left the conversation at that. We will be contacting our insurance company directly and continue from there.