The Observation Deck

I hired an electrical contractor to upgrade my electric service at my Lakewood porperty. Permits were issued, some materials were bought, the work began, sparingly and slowly. After 6 months of fustration and extra payments, he left the job, without completeing the work. I'm left high and dry. Any contractors who preform unsatisfactory work and issues arise, should be prohibited from obtaining permits for any future work in the city untill all issues have been resolved.

jackie f taylor wrote:I hired an electrical contractor to upgrade my electric service at my Lakewood porperty. Permits were issued, some materials were bought, the work began, sparingly and slowly. After 6 months of fustration and extra payments, he left the job, without completeing the work. I'm left high and dry. Any contractors who preform unsatisfactory work and issues arise, should be prohibited from obtaining permits for any future work in the city untill all issues have been resolved.

Might be useful to say who, so someone else does not make the same mistake?

At the very least I would report them to the City so they are aware of the issue and the BBB.

I’d even pay the contractor a visit to give them a piece of my mind.

Hopefully, you are in possession of the materials. The price of copper wire has really gone up.

I wonder if the city tracks those things. If they do it would be great to know those things.

The city does keep track of them presuming people report it. The Housing Department might be ableto do something if they are contacted, especially if permits were issued.

I would be very hesitant to give the building department the authority to ban a contractor without conducting an extensive review of the situation. I don't know the OP from Adam, but I know there are plenty of people who are never satisfied, even if the work meets local standards. I've had good and bad experiences with the building department; often they seem very arbitrary and make questionable decisions, then get their dander up when you question them.

Why add more work and expense for the building department when an adequate remedy, the courts, already exists?

We recently had problems with a roofing contractor. First, I was advised by the Building Department that they do not inspect or permit roofing jobs. In this time of heavy storm damages and fly-by-night storm chasing roofers, there surely is a need for such permits and inspections. Second, I found the Better Business Bureau to be little more than window dressing.

Ed, if you still have problems with your roof, please let me know.

We have also hired roofers in the past who were less than wonderful.

We have an opportunity to have our own "Lakewood List" and without defaming anyone, we could probably share information.

I would also recommend that we take advantage of our Division of Community Development.

Or list them here under Less than honest contractors.

http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=10469


.

Thealexa Becker wrote:The city does keep track of them presuming people report it. The Housing Department might be ableto do something if they are contacted, especially if permits were issued.

What is your expectation of "keeping track"? What exactly does that mean? Is it like Santa's Naughty & Nice list?

And what permit? A permit to be recognized as a contractor in Lakewood? Contractors, both good and bad, do work in this city every day of the year without any sort of blessing from the city.

Permits for the work? If the city says the work isn't being done properly and it has to be torn out, guess who usually pays for that? If you think you're going to hammer out a contract making a contractor responsible for cost overruns, you'd better have Glenn Palmer on speed dial.

Why would you imagine the Housing Department would say something that might defame a business?

If a homeowner fails to do due diligence, it's not the city's problem.

And sadly for homeowners, one the best ways to do due diligence is to call a number of local lawyers to find out which contractors they have sued on behalf of their neighbors.

The City is aware of the complaints I made about the initial roofer. Since then, I've had occassion to have the complete roof redone, including the defective work. This work is now being done by Brad Smith Roofing. They have been responsive anytime I questioned or raised concerns.

After that big storm in the Spring of 2010, there were many questionalbe contractors in town. Some evern used illegal aliens brought in from out of state. My suggestion is to stay with a local company who you know and who has been around for a while.