Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/13/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnresolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  ********** *********** ********** ** ********
  ********
  *****
  
  ******* ******* ********************
  **** *** *** **** ** *** ***** ****
  ** **
  
  **** ******
  
  In my online submission I had to shorten the text. Please find additional comments regarding my correspondence with the contractor as follows below:
  
  We hired J**** & Son Contracting (JSC) on 02/18/2024 to repair weather-exposed logs at our 40-year-old home in ***** ****** **. Having been satisfied with similar repairs by JSC in 2020, we verbally agreed to a new contract (Exhibit 1) over the phone on 02/18/2024 and made a $3,500 down payment via PayPal on 02/19/2024 (Exhibits 2 and 3).
  Event Timeline:
  
  04/06/2024, 8:00 AM: Michael J**** and an associate began repair work. This was day one of the estimated four days per the contract. They used a chainsaw and electric jackhammer to remove the outer layer of logs (Exhibit 4). The logs are held together with large metal spikes. JSC used standard materials, including raw logs, log siding, and epoxy glue.
  04/06/2024, 3:00 PM: Our fire alarms went off. I found the room where JSC was working filled with smoke and saw fire where they were cutting into the logs. Despite using two fire extinguishers, I could not put out the fire and called 911. JSC stopped working only after I alerted them to the fire.
  04/06/2024, 3:15 PM: Fire trucks arrived, but the house was engulfed in flames. The fire spread from where JSC was working to the entire house. Photos from ********* Fire and Rescue (Exhibits 5-7) and a ********* News Post article (Exhibit 8) document the incident.
  04/06/2024, 5:00 PM: The fire was under control, but our house was completely gutted, resulting in a total loss. Fire inspectors later confirmed the repair work caused the fire, likely from the chainsaw or jackhammer hitting a spike or overheating the wood (Exhibits 9-10).
  Due to JSC’s actions, we requested a refund of our deposit. We did not benefit from the work, which led to the destruction of our home. Despite multiple attempts to resolve this, JSC has been unresponsive.
  
  Communication Timeline:
  
  Exhibit 11: Text from Michael J**** on 04/09/2024 at 8:00 PM.
  Exhibit 12: Email from us to Mr. J**** on 04/19/2024.
  Exhibit 13: Email from us to Mr. J**** on 05/01/2024 and his response on 05/06/2024.
  Exhibit 14: Our reply to Mr. J**** on 05/06/2024.
  Exhibit 15: Email to Mr. J****’s insurance on 05/30/2024 with no response.
  Exhibit 16: Certified letter to Mr. J**** on 06/16/2024 requesting repayment.
  Exhibit 17: Text messages with Mr. J**** on 06/24/2024 where he acknowledged receipt but requested delays.
  Exhibit 18: Email exchange on 07/02/2024.
  Exhibit 19: Follow-up text on 07/12/2024 at 8:50 AM after a phone call on 07/11/2024, where Mr. J**** did not agree to repayment. I offered to reduce the amount by $500 to $3,000 if he agreed to repay at once, but he did not.
  Exhibit 20: Email from Mrs. J**** on 07/13/2024 proposing a repayment schedule from August to October, which contradicted my discussion with Mr. J****. JSC has stalled and delayed communication and has not repaid our deposit.
  We are the victims of this incident, having lost irreplaceable mementos and heirlooms. Living in a trailer and garage for over a year is a hardship, especially at our age (70s and 80s). I, ******* *******, had to retire early to handle insurance and contractor issues, resulting in substantial uninsured expenses.
  
  Despite three months to resolve this matter amicably, JSC has provided excuses and delays. We are not seeking compensation for pain and suffering, only the return of our deposit per the Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, 73 P.S. § 517.9. We request immediate repayment as stipulated by the Act.
  
  Thank you for taking up our case.
  
  Best regards,
  ******* *******cle (Exhibit 8) document the incident.
  04/06/2024, 5:00 PM: The fire was under control, but the house was completely gutted. Fire inspectors confirmed the repair work caused the fire, likely from the chainsaw or jackhammer hitting a spike or overheating the wood (Exhibits 9-10).
  
  Communication Timeline: see Exhibits 11 - 20
  
  We are the victims of this incident, having lost irreplaceable mementos and heirlooms. Living in a trailer and garage for over a year is a hardship, especially at our age (70s and 80s). I had to retire early to handle insurance and contractor issues, resulting in substantial uninsured expenses.
  
  We did not benefit from JSC's work, which led to the destruction of our home. Despite three months to resolve this matter amicably, JSC has provided excuses and delays. We are seeking only the return of our deposit per the Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, 73 P.S. § 517.9. We request immediate repayment as stipulated by the Act.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/24/2024

  Contrary to what ** ******* has stated a jackhammer was not, nor would ever be, used to remove the rotted logs from his home. When the work was done in 2020 ** ******* was informed that the logs were in dire need of being replaced as they were severely rotted at that time. The deposit ** ******* is requesting repayment for is a deposit for supplies and materials to complete the job. The logs and materials were already purchased and work had already been started on the home when the fire started. We had reached out to ** ******* via email and text message multiple times in regards to making a payment arrangement with him. He demanded that we repay him by 4:00 pm or he would file a complaint with the AG and BBB (which he did). I feel that was the tactics of a person who wants to see someone lose something simply because they did. If it is simply a matter of he wanted repayment of materials and supplies that were already purchased why not agree to a payment plan. We worked with him on a deposit (as you can see in his email) and kept in communication with him. Unfortunately I am not able to respond to emails the day they come during our busy season. I am urging you to see things from both sides and understand, we could have easily disputed the claim on our insurance as he was informed 4 years ago of the dangers of not repairing the logs.  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/25/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  
  
  The reply from JSC
  lacks a factual basis and misrepresents our motivation in seeking repayment of
  our deposit. Here are the key points:

  1. Throughout three months of communication, JSC never agreed to or offered any repayment (see Exhibits 11-20 of our complaint). We received numerous excuses, including consultations with lawyers and insurance, or claims of other important expenses. The only offer from JSC was to start repayment sometimes in August over a three-month period, five months after the fire that Mr. J**** started.
  2. As said in my initial complaint, the materials supplied by JSC for the repairs were standard and used in many similar projects. There were no special purchases for our home. We did not benefit from the labor or materials provided by JSC but sustained catastrophic damages instead..
  3. The conversation about completely rotted logs and the dangers of not repairing them never took place. Mr. J**** found the logs that needed resurfacing or log ends replaced and agreed to do the work without voicing any concerns. Repairs four years ago were done under a contract with a different company for which Mr. J**** worked.
  4. Mr. J**** used a chainsaw and an electric steel chisel for the repairs. The chisel works like a small jackhammer.

  Given JSC’s
  non-responsiveness in the past, we have no assurance that any repayment will
  occur in the future. The Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act,
  73 P.S. § 517.9, requires the contractor to repay within 10 days of being
  notified by certified mail, which we did. If JSC is serious about repayment, it
  should begin at once, either in a single transaction of $3,500 or in three
  monthly installments starting immediately.

  We would appreciate
  the BBB’s mediation to settle this matter.
  
  
  Best Regards,
  
  
  
  ******* *******