Loading...
8 BECKET STREET - BUILDING JACKET 11 UPC 10333 a No. 153L-3 4WIM HASTINGS. M; To Whom it may concern: July 25, 2001 I am having problems with the contractor that replaced the roof on my home. After numerous attempts to handle the problems myself, I am now turning to numerous agencies for assistance. A.C. Castle Roofing is the contractor that was hired to perform the work, located in Danvers Ma. (978) 740-5140. The workers broke a neighbors window during the construction, the neighbor was assured that the window would be replaced. To date the neighbor has made numerous phone calls to address the issue and has had no response from the company. When I was apprised of the lack of response and resolution, my fiancee placed a phone call to the contractor. We always receive an answering machine and have left messages. To date I have received no response regarding the replacement of my neighbors window. I encountered one of the workers and mentioned the lack of response. This person placed a phone call to the owner, Brian, and explained the problem. I was instructed to have my neighbor measure the window and order it from a local store. I find this highly unprofessional, and I advised my neighbor of the owner's request. My neighbor does not feel that it is his responsibility to measure, order and install a window that had been broken by the contractor's employees. I agree with my neighbor and am thankful this has not caused problems with our relations at this point. The new gutter that was placed on the house was the incorrect size, so there is a gap. This is also suppose to be corrected, which I was told would be replaced with a new gutter that runs the entire length of my house in the Spring. I do not understand the delay, although I am aware that the person in charge of my roofing project was injured on another job. That still does not explain why another worker could not handle this problem. To date I have not been contacted to rectify this problem. I have encountered another problem when we had heavy rain. My roof is now leaking, where it had not been leaking prior to the roof being replaced. My fiancee called and left another message on the contractor's answering machine. I did receive a message on my answering machine from the owner, Brian, stating that I needed to call the foreman, Gino. My fiancee placed a phone call to Gino and explained the situation. This conversation took place on Friday, March 23rd. Gino stated that he would come over on Saturday, March 24 at 1 p.m. to look at the damage. Saturday morning Gino called my house and spoke with my fiancee stating that he would be unable to make the appointment. Gino stated that he lost the keys to his truck. My fiancee asked when he planned on dealing with the problem. Gino stated he would call back later in the day to let her know if he found his keys or to make arrangements for Sunday, March 25th. To date we have not heard back from Gino, and another message was left on the businesses answering machine (March 26th). Details as to why the appointment was cancelled had been included on the message. Again I have received no response. Please note that Brian has been given my home and work number repeatedly on all messages (as well as on the paperwork when hired). My fiancee has left another message today. To date, numerous hours have been spent arranging and waiting for responses and being available for appointments. Gino finally showed up to address the leak. Gino spread a large amount of tarmac over the area where the leak occurred. Gino stated that "the fucking moron did this entirely backwards, no wonder it leaks like a sieve". My fiancee was up on the roof with Gino and she stated that she did not want tarmac used. It is unsightly and in clear view from what will be our master bedroom. Gino stated that would be the best solution to the problem, that tearing up the area would only cause further problems. My fiancee asked if that would cause water to run and pool in a different area. She was assured it would not cause any problems. Gino stated if it does he will be over immediately. Leaking occurred when it rained again. My wife called Gino immediately, and Gino scheduled an appointment for the following day (Saturday) at 12pm. I was working, my wife was ill and had to be seen in urgent care on Saturday morning. She made sure she was home well before 12pm. Gino never called or showed up. Again appointments were broken, calls not returned. She placed one more phone call to Brian LeBlanc stating the actions we were going to take to protect our interests. Mr. LeBlanc finally responded to that call on Sunday morning. Mr. LeBlanc said he and Gino would come out that day to check on the roof. My wife was in no shape to deal with these people at this time, her uncle had passed away two days prior to this and we needed to attend the wake that evening. She explained that this was a bad time and stated the above reason, that she would contact them after the funeral was completed. Mr LeBlanc told her that the leaks were due to a chimney that needed repointing, not due to the work done on the roof(We brought in a mason to address Brian's allegations, although his foreman had already stated it was A.C. Castle's error-Brian's allegations were unfounded). In the brief conversation my wife explained what Gino stated, as well as Gino pointing out the problem to her. Mr. LeBlanc become verbally abusive screaming and using profanity when my fiancee stated that the shingles should have been pulled and the work corrected not covered with tarmac. Brian was told that we wanted the shingles removed and the work redone properly, which initiated the beginning of his verbal onslaught - screaming, profane language and attempts to verbally intimidate. Brian hung up on my fiancee when she told him she would not listen to him screaming and swearing at her, and that water damage has occurred due to the leaks. An hour later Gino showed up on our doorstep per Mr. LeBlanc's orders. My wife told him to leave immediately, that this was an inappropriate course of action directed by Mr. LeBlanc. My wife is unwilling to allow A.C. Castle near her or our property, she feels Mr. LeBlanc is unbalanced and she feels he may become physically aggressive based upon his irrational behavior and ranting and ravings. Her feelings were validated by Gino being ;ent to our home when Brian was specifically informed there was a death in the family and we would contact him later in the week. When appointments are made and we arrange to be available neither Mr. LeBlanc nor his employees are able to show up, yet when Mr. LeBlanc does not like what he is hearing and becomes enraged, he sends someone over immediately regardless it was made clear that was not an option. We have made numerous appointments with other contractors to determine what work was actually done and attempt to have them put it in writing. The various people stated that tarmac was not the best and proper measure to address the problem. Due to the nature of the business, other roofing contractors are unwilling to testify that certain work was not performed as stated and paid for per the contract. The facia board was not replaced, although we were charged for replacement, which has been stated that this is the cause of water leakage and damage not only to the surface of the wood, but it has caused permanent damage to the wood. It is now rotting and needs to be replaced. Facia board was removed and never replaced on one side of the house, which was a recent discovery made by a painting contractor. This explains why interior walls have been saturated when rain occurs. Phone calls were made to the Salem Building Inspector, and to our surprise we became aware that a permit was never pulled to work on the roof. Brian was confronted with this fact, and we have finally received a permit. The Salem Building Inspector, Mr. St. Pierre, strongly suggested that we not allow them to access our roof until the permit situation was resolved. The Building Inspector stated he would handle the permit issue with Brian, and stated that we contact HIC after the permit was pulled to request a hearing and to hopefully obtain funds from the slush fund to pay for the roof to be replaced properly. Brian told me that any damage that occurred is a home owners insurance issue, he did the work and got paid. Brian stated he does not carry insurance to handle shoddy work and problems resulting from it. Brian also stated that Gino should not make early morning appointments when he knows he will be having a rough night drinking, and will not be able to get out of bed in time. I do not want A.C. Castle on my property or touching the roof again. Enough damage has been done and the lack of response and his words and actions are far from professional. He evoked fear in my wife (we are now married) with his aggressive behaviors, and I do not want to subject her to deal with these people any longer. Brian attempted to intimidate with his verbal abuse and my wife questions how far his tactics will go. Between these comments, comments to my wife, contractors opinions and the lack of a permit we no longer want A.C. Castle to touch our house or step foot on our property. Brian has a temper and has shown it verbally on several occasions.We do not trust his work ethics or his employees ability to be in this field, and we do not want to deal with any more surprises in the future. Ample opportunity had been given to address the issues, Mr. LeBlanc chose to ignore the messages until he realized we would take action to protect our rights. We have contacted a contractor that will make the repairs, but he cannot state what other work or material may not have been used that was in the contract and paid for until they tear the roof up. Also in violation of the contract, our property was left with cigarette butts, nails, scraps of wood, etc. The ground did freeze, but we were told yet again, that they would come back and clear the debris. Once again an empty promise. The permit was received in late May, due to attempting to obtain factual information that we can submit to substantiate all of the above and some serious health issues that have arisen, this has been delayed in requesting a hearing. The architect will write an evaluation, but the $5000.00 fee for the written report, potential time for hearings, etc. Is beyond our financial means. Other roofing contractors refuse to become involved for various reasons. So our only course of actions remaining are to turn to various regulatory agencies., media exposure, and legal actions. Again, some of the alternatives require money that is not available,just as the money is not available to pay another contractor to fix the shoddy work of the original contractor that was hired for the work. We are asking for help to resolve this situation, and we seek a refund of the money that has been paid, money to cover the ensuing damages and additional costs to correct the work that has been done. There has been noncompliance of terms of the contract, permits, and billing of said work. We have made every effort to handle the situation with the original contractor, and until courses of alternative actions were left on the answering machine the attempts were ignored. We understand that a contractor is entitled to address and correct problems within 30 days. A.C. Castle was contacted and provided that opportunity and chose to ignore the calls. I do not believe that A.C. Castle is now entitled to an opportunity to address the issues, especially where Brian uses intimidation tactics as a way of forcing people to accept the shoddy work and shoddy attempts of fixing the problem. Please be aware that Brian never felt the need to actually look at the roof that his employees replaced as well. Thank you for your time and consideration, Bill and Lynn Lazdowski 8 Becket Street Salem, Ma. 01970 Home (978) 740-4475 CC: Ma. Attorney Generals Office CC: Salem Building Inspector September 12, 2001 Here is a copy of the proposed work being done by A.C. Castle on 8 Becket st. /per your request. I am not sure if you wanted the work on the chimney performed today or if you wanted them to wait until your inspection of the chimney/roof area after rains. We have spoken with the owner of the property located at #6 Becket st concerning his broken window. He told Lynn that the windowpane cannot be removed and replaced. He stated that the entire window needs to be removed. At the time the window was originally damaged the owner occupied the apartment, the owner now lives out of state and is here on and off. There is no specific time or schedule. So this makes it difficult to access to the apartment. He has stated that he assumed it was not going to be fixed by AC Castle, so he planned on having someone else deal with the issue. He is amenable to Mr. Brian LeBlanc writing him a check to cover the damages and time ($50.00). We have not seen Mr. LeBlanc to forward this solution. Thank you for your help with these matters, Lynn & Bill Lazdowski Please advise us at the following number 978-697-7965 f A7720 , ��- f i