Am I being scammed or is this behavior normal in the granite/fabrication industry?

Question

I am working with this independent fabricator. I already gave him a check for countertop deposit. I never sign anything but he gave me a receipt for material and work. I have been to his shop. He has made too many excuses and no shows. He has only came to measure after the third no show. He texts says he's working on it and texts a picture of someone in a mask fabricating a piece of granite but not his face. He has also trying to selling me plumbing, cabinet installation. I never asked and said I am on tight budget. I found his company on google. It took me awhile to find his previous company but the 4 reviews are all bad. They say he delays things, he's a fraud, bad work, etc. he hasn't provided me with any receipts for granite that says he bought nor offered to see the work at his shop. I called the granite warehouse, and they say they deliver the granite to him. I asked him hows the countertop is coming, but he replies with I stopped working on it because you haven't made up your mind on cabinets. I am concerned. He seemed legitimate when I met him at slab warehouse and the people seemed like they knew him.

Am I being scammed or am I worrying for no reason?

Answer 1

As suspicious as all of this sounds, if you are getting new cabinetry, I certainly can understand why he is waiting for you to do so in order for this final granite cuts to be correctly fitted to the cabinetry.



Howsoever, if you are not getting new cabinets at this time, then tell him so. If you are getting new cabinets, get them elsewhere and right away. Begin communicating through e-mail or text so you have records of your correspondence. Buying granite countertops is expensive and I am shocked beyond belief that you have no contract or receipt of any proof of what color you chose or the context of the job/work order. So, try to get that defined via electronic communication for record keeping purposes.



You can write, I am looking forward to seeing the (name granite color or call the warehouse and get the item number) installed on my existing cabinetry. My budget of (name price you paid him) is what we agreed the price for a new counter top would cost for labor and installation. I am unable to do any further renovations at this time and anticipate the new counter tops would be installed within a couple of weeks. You know, lay down some facts because that is all you can go on right now as you have nothing in writing.



PLEASE do not hire this guy or allow him to manipulate you into doing more work for you. Get this one job done and be done with him.

Answer 2

Most of the time yes....a scammer..........I do believe most of us experience this in our lives.........

Just make more calls, check those reviews, and know there are many dishonest people out there..........hard to wrap around sometimes but we have to face this...I pray you get this corrected without too much delay...........

Report to your Attorney General scams..............good luck.

Answer 3

It's normal. For a scammer. In every industry you get good guys and waste of time guys. This guy is one of the time wasters. Who has YOUR money.

Answer 4

Yes, you are being scammed and that is common in the industry.

Answer 5

It's unbusinesslike.



You didn't sign a contract specifically stating what he will do or the price.



You paid money, and have a receipt that says what?



How much money did you give him? Consider it gone.



Let me tell you something about a middleman, like a roofer, for example. You pay a down payment for "supplies" before the roofer will start. The roofer takes your money, even finishes the job, but doesn't pay the warehouse where the shingles came from. Guess who owns the shingles on your roof? The warehouse! And they can sue you for payment!



I never, ever give any money to any contractor for supplies. I buy them myself. And I never give money ahead for labor. They get labor in full at the end of the finished and approved job.



Anything big gets a descriptive contract. Anything small gets a writeup. Both parties sign. A finish date is listed.



You need to learn about business.



If you continue with him, everything from now forward is done in writing. No more word of mouth.

Answer 6

Sounds like you already know the answer.



If his business was closed and he re-opened a new business under a different name, odds are he is not reputable, and any more money you provide will just be a waste. You MIGHT get the stone counters you asked for, you might not. And probably they won't be installed properly even if he does finally complete the job.



When I had my home built in 2015, I chose not to get counter tops from the builder because they wanted to charge me way too much. So I shopped around and found a local company in my area who does them. They were nearly $3,000 less expensive. I agreed and paid them a minimal deposit to get started (10% of the total quoted cost). Their guys came out, measured everything with laser precision, and brought the measurements back to their shop and my counters were installed perfectly in the kitchen within a month.



Now that same company also sold me a granite countertop for my basement bathroom, and that we had an issue with. The salesman I dealt with kept delaying me and finally told me that they "lost" the piece of stone that was set aside for my bathroom. When I came out to the company and discussed the issue with the owner, he immediately arranged to cut a new piece for me, no extra charges, despite the fact that the one I originally bought was on sale because it had been precut the wrong size for another house.



Good companies will address problems and delays by making things right for you. They don't give excuses for delays.



I know it's upsetting, but you may do well to cancel your deal with this person (considering you never signed a contract anyway) and give up on trying to get your deposit back. Then go to a place that does have a better reputation. I personally would not want someone I can't trust doing work in my house.

Answer 7

sounds like you might have reason for concern. At best he's a loser. Tell him you made up your mind on the cabinets - the answer is no.

Answer 8

depends

Answer 9

Don't pay until completion . . .