All Forum Posts by: Billu Lal

@Billu Lal

Your story just keeps changing.

First, it was that they didn't do enough.

Next, it was that they damaged your drywall.

Then, it was because they didn't have a license and Better Business Bureau accreditation.

Now, it's that you're sure there's going to be mold, and they haven't even started "the rebuilding process."

And the hits just keep comin'! They should leave you a text message detailing their plans for the future, even though you're not, as you put it in the original post, "...receiving their calls or replying to their texts." They should lay out their grand plan to complete mitigation (and now rebuilding). The check is in your name, your wife's name, AND the mortgage company's name.

Instead of having a straightforward conversation with anyone in this FUBAR situation, here you are on BP. The first and only thing you want to know is how to get out of your contract with the restoration company, you know, the one where you signed on the line which is dotted.

🙏 BiggerPockets take the wheel!

Get on the phone and straighten this out like an adult. This isn't the first time the insurance company has dealt with a leaking kitchen sink. This isn't the first time the restoration company has dealt with someone hiding behind their finger. And this isn't the first time we forum contributors have been asked to help a newbie pull a shady one. BTW, this is a Google searchable open forum. Go to Google and type in ' "billu lal" sink.' See what happens.

I am willing to bet it's more annoyance Jim is conveying. Because you posted this thread with the headline: "Scammed by restoration company".     And in your post detail that you: 

1. had a water damage situation

2. entered contract with vendor

3. vendor started work

4. you got a check from insurance company

5. You intently "ghosted" contractor. Won't take there calls, won't communicate with them, and as stated here have broken your contract. 

6. Are seeking ways on an online forum on how to completely sever that contract after the fact. 

What changed? You got $ from insurance company. That's it, it's not that you threw them off jobsite for incompetence, didn't cite any way they broke contract, no just that you got the $. Your intentions are obvious. 

It doesn't matter how much they smell, if they wear white after labor day, what so-and-so posted, all these things you detail have been excuses, and any court will probably give you a smack-down saying the exact same, there excuses and not pertinent to your contract and breach of contract. 

You may notice there probably isn't a "backsies" term in your contract or law in your local. People are legally allowed to make dumb purchases. And yes, it sounds like you made a dumb purchase, without doubt, but that doesn't give a legal right to deny payment and breach contract. 

And this whole post, it could be considered slander, because you have not given a single detail of there "scamming" you. Thankfully for yourself you didn't call them out by name so one smart move there, but regardless, where is the scam? 

Only scam I see is yours. Grow a pair and talk to them, it's a cowardly act to hide from a phone conversation of all things, and shows your own judgement of your own actions, to hide from communications as you are.     Your scamming them at this point. 

@Billu Lal

YOU called them. YOU approved them to work on your house. You had every opportunity to research their licensure and BBB accreditation before you did these things. You call the fact that you didn't do any of that "a brain fade moment." You're in the adult world now, Billu. You don't get takebacks and lifelines and mulligans when you screw the pooch.

You have no idea what their idea of full mitigation is, as you are not taking phone calls from them. You therefore have no idea how they're going to finish the job, if they plan on repairing your drywall, or pretty much anything regarding their work. You're obviously far more focused on the $10K in your pocket and not paying them anything for their expertise and knowledge.

It does seem you feel that the job was easier than you anticipated. Perhaps you now feel you could have done it with confidence that it would work? Well, why didn't you?

I am not in the least offended by symbols of faith or prayer. Cheap childish grifters looking for cheap little childish schemes to get out of paying contractors what they owe, well, that's another story.

@Billu Lal

You're not being scammed. On the contrary, it sounds like you're trying to screw the restoration company.

I'm especially puzzled by the 🙏. Who are you praying to? The god of con artists?

As crazy as this sounds , " Why did you sign the contract ?"  

And what reason do you have to get out of the agreement ?   You are not responding to their texts or calls , so it seems they are trying to make arrangements to complete the work . 

AFTER thsi is over, switch insurance companies. This would have been disastrous in the case of a serious claim like fire/tornado/hurricane. 

That’s a huge deductible, do the math to make sure it’s worth it. Above $1,000 it will often take 5-10 years just to break even. That doesn’t mean I’d make a claim for less than $5-10k anyway. 

Ps. You can reply to everyone by just typing separate sentences in one reply. 

thank you @user1

Good idea @user2

I’ll do that @user3

I wish I had known that earlier @user4

Good luck with this one and let us know how it turns out. 

Next time ask the insurer for a recommendation before you hire. 

You obviously wouldn’t make an insurance claim unless you expect it to be AT LEAST $6k. But it was a pretty serious leak if you’re at $10-$14k already. Were you given a list of insurance company preferred vendors? If so I would ALWAYS choose one of them. These are vendors that the insurance company will pay regardless of charges and guarantee their work. Once you’ve made a claim it doesn’t matter, and you shouldn’t care if the bill comes to $5k or $50k, the more they fix the better. 

Here’s how it SHOULD go…

Twice, in two different homes I’ve had a toilet supply line going out and flood a home. Both time I made a call to my Allstate agent. They immediately sent out Servpro (expensive in my mind restoration company.). They dried it for 24 hours after removing bottom 4 feet of drywall, carpet and carpet pad. Stored everything they need to make space in a driveway pod. 4 days later I got a call saying it was done. One was around $32,000 and I was billed $1,000 for my deductible. The other was around $38,000 and they waived my deductible because they had received $7,500 from the supply line manufacturer because it failed. (They still paid out the balance but returned my deductible first, that was incredible to me.)

So both times I made one call and received one call and it was all done. I think it was insane expensive but I wasn’t paying. It was also done fast and done perfectly. Your agent or worst case your adjuster should be handling everything for you. But be careful if you didn’t go with a preferred vendor. 

Ask for a itemized estimate/bill showing line by line charges. They bill based on daily rate of equipment setup, as well as service call charges, monitoring hours, any containment setup etc.

Is that all they intend to do? Are they going to remove flooring? Drywall? Cabinets? We need more information. Im very familiar with the Restoration industry so give me more information and I could possibly help.

Bottom line is you need to retain an attorney.