We are seniors embroiled in a dispute with Matthew the owner. He has taken a $3800.00 deposit from us and then unilaterally changed the scope of work after agreeing to it in conversation and by e-mail. The quote form is vague and very confusing. He told us verbally that the meaning is exactly what we asked him to do. He told us not to worry about the confusing 'measurement numbers'. He said he is the owner and we can trust him. He promised to send us by e-mail a better written quote. That quote never came.
A week later I sent him an e-mail detailing the work he had promised he would do and he responded 'that sounds about right'. I suspect he agreed so I would continue to trust him because in a few more days our deposit cheque would clear and he would have the money in his hands. Now that he has our deposit, he wants us to pay thousands more to do as he promised.
Metro Pavers uses the addresses of malls as their business address. Once Matthew cashes your deposit cheque he can disappear into thin air if he chooses. If you refuse to give him a few thousand dollars more, he stops returning phone calls and e-mails and poof like smoke he's gone. He has no store presence in these malls.
Matthew is shrewd and well practiced in this type of behaviour. His customers, like us, do not expect to be ambushed so we gave him a deposit cheque. BIG MISTAKE. I may have to take him to court to get my deposit back. I suspect Matthew counts on us being unable to locate him in order to sue him.
We have fallen into this trap. I don't want other trusting people, especially seniors like us, getting snared. Once Matthew has your money, I suspect he will squeeze you for more money and if you say 'enough' and take a stand, he will just disappear into thin air with the $3800 he took from you as a deposit. Don't let that happen to you.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $15,000.00
- What could this company do to improve their services?
- Any advice to offer fellow homeowners facing a similar project?
- Company Response
It is unfortunate this deceptive note was written. According to the (type written) facts, Mr. P’s version of events are false and misleading. The writer says we made comments and/or promises our company never made.
Approximately one week after both Mr. and Mrs. P closely scrutinized and signing both sides of our clearly typed, one page agreement, much work had already begun to organize all the work they requested and agreed to, after which we received a barrage of long emails with changes to the scope of work. The agreement shows we agreed to provide 120Sq.Ft. of sod free but now they are demanding we replace the entire lawn and soil in his (approx. 1400s.f.) back yard... for FREE. Mr. P conveniently omitted that we offered to do the extra work he is now demanding - at our cost to appease him. He also omits that he subsequently accepted our generous offer and that he then placed a condition that we don’t get paid another penny until the entire project is complete after which he will decide to pay (or not). Mr. and Mrs. P are very shrewd people. If they are seniors, they don’t look or come across as they wish to be portrayed here. They are both young, vibrant, healthy and very astute.
As a goodwill gesture, we offered to do the extra work at our cost. The only thing we are asking for is a payment schedule so nobody feels or gets cheated in the end. I think that’s fair. We await their reply.Subsequent to this review, we received a call advising this is not the first time they have tried to take someone in this manner.
Everyone deserves to be treated fairly, customers and company's alike.