This was a joint project on a shared driveway with our neighbours who found this company through one of those envelopes stuffed with flyers that get delivered via mail. They also negotiated the original deal, that was then tailored for each partner. The salesman who showed up to draw up our individual contract (which was then not followed) turned out to be the lowliest shovel guy at the site. When the crew showed up the first day - weeks after the contract date - they woke up the neighbourhood with their noise, swearing, equipment clatter and yelling. If the screw was scary, the boss was much scarier: right off the bat, he was verbally abusive and hostile - and got worse as the days passed. Contract details were not respected, so we had to renegotiate, which made the boss lose his temper and immediately threaten us with a law suit. Our neighbours were agitated the crew's lack of respect for property lines and common courtesy; passing women were treated with cat calls and lewd gestures. Payment dispute as well as dissatisfaction over the quality of work eventually resulted in a confrontation between the boss and the neighbour, who was 8 months pregnant at the time. As the boss starting waving about a shovel and threatening to demolish part of the work done on their house, she felt so threatened she called the police. The neighbours and we also called the City for licensing details, the Better Business Bureau and the Ministry of Customer Relations to file a complain and found out they were powerless to do anything for us or on behalf of us. The City does not regulate the paving industry so businesses such as this horrid one have no license requirements. The Ministry allowed you to file a complaint that other consumers could access at cost online... Some consolation! We had the right to withhold 10% of the total cost, which we did - and sent the boss into a huge rage. We also refused to pay cash, as requested. We were so afraid of this company we sought legal advice and were afraid to go home at night, fearing they would come and collect.
The only plus? The poured concrete has held now for over six years.
P.S. All other paving needs have been contracted to tradespeople found through personal recommendations!
- Approximate cost of services:
- $1,700.00
