July 2008
Albert Hooper was referred to us by our local hardware store for some small jobs around our home (caulking, painting/hanging a bifold door, replacing window glass, changing a light fixture and repairing a downspout). I gave him a $100 deposit when he came to see the work. He said the job would take 2 days. He wrote quotes for the different tasks beside my to-do list and wrote "Paid deposit-cash cheque $100.00" at the bottom of the list.
Bookings were cancelled a couple of times by Hooper. Finally he came on August 27th, unprepared and seemingly confused about the work and in general. We were expecting him to bring, for example, the bifold door painted and ready to hang. Now he said the work would take 3-4 days (instead of 2) and asked for more money and the key to our home so he could "come and go". All of this and he had not done any work. We were not willing to give him more money or the key.
After a lot of confusion, he went upstairs to measure the window glass. He took out the window frame and then was unable to put in back in again. He said that he would have to leave to get his son at "Spadina and [?]". We made him promise to return within an hour.
Hooper and son returned and put the window back into place in 15 minutes.
In the meantime, we had come to the conclusion that we did not feel confident that Hooper would do the job as required; moreover,the timing for the job and the pricing seemed to be moving targets.
We informed Hooper that we would not be needing his services and asked for the $100 deposit back. When we asked him to leave the house he became agitated and threatening. He said that we owed him money for "the extra man..."[his son who came because Hooper couldn't get the window back in place]. He said that we should have given him a 50% deposit. He also threatened to put a lien on our house. Hooper and son drove off.
We contacted our local hardware store to report this incident and requested that they not recommend Hooper. We are also thankful that we can place this complaint here. Thank you, MQ
- Approximate cost of services:
- $500.00
- Any advice to offer fellow homeowners facing a similar project?
- Caveat emptor. Knowing this, why were we so gullible?