Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post

xomycatsxo · 09-26-2005, 10:49 PM

Shania,

I am really sorry to hear about your troubles, every time I hear of this type of thing happening to someone, it makes me sick.

Doug is GREAT- you definitely made the right choice w/ him. I thought Peter bought the company and Doug was retiring- but they're both great guys and very respectable. When we first moved to Gilford, we found out we needed a new leachfield when we had the inspection done on the house we were buying. The real estate agent, Judy McShane, recommended Doug to us (we were new to the area). He was very good about getting here and getting the job done. He also trusted us to pay him the $4200 (I believe is what he charged) when we received it at closing (the sellers were paying it).

My husband is a contractor in Gilford and it is sickening the stories he comes home with. One customer he's about to do a fairly large garage for in Gilford told him a contractor out of Durham collected 50% upfront and never came back. His garage is a 30k+ garage- so that was a huge loss. He is going forward with my husband (and yes, my husband does collect some up front, to cover materials)- so I don't know if he ever got his money back. Just a note to others that mentioned it... My husband has PERFECT credit, that has nothing to do with why he collects up front. He would rather not have a line of credit w/ most things- he pays for everything up front, just as he has to pay up front for certain things (foundations, etc). Some people don't want to have a line of credit with every vendor out there, that brings their credit down. He also has great references, which I think anyone hiring a contractor should ask for.

Another quick story...

When we met w/ Verizon to go over our Yellow Pages Advertising - our rep was telling us that there was/is a guy in the roofing business (big time advertiser in the roofing/contractor sections) that was being prosecuted for doing this exact thing. Stealing deposits and never coming back - he told us he personally had a conversation with the guy (he knew him fairly well because he did so much advertising)- supposedly he had a drug problem and used the money to support his habit. So, whether this is true or not, it is an unfortunate reality and is all the more reason to get references before you decide to go w/ any contractor.

Take care and good luck!

09-26-2005, 10:49 PM	#20
xomycatsxo Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Contractor Problem Shania, I am really sorry to hear about your troubles, every time I hear of this type of thing happening to someone, it makes me sick. Doug is GREAT- you definitely made the right choice w/ him. I thought Peter bought the company and Doug was retiring- but they're both great guys and very respectable. When we first moved to Gilford, we found out we needed a new leachfield when we had the inspection done on the house we were buying. The real estate agent, Judy McShane, recommended Doug to us (we were new to the area). He was very good about getting here and getting the job done. He also trusted us to pay him the $4200 (I believe is what he charged) when we received it at closing (the sellers were paying it). My husband is a contractor in Gilford and it is sickening the stories he comes home with. One customer he's about to do a fairly large garage for in Gilford told him a contractor out of Durham collected 50% upfront and never came back. His garage is a 30k+ garage- so that was a huge loss. He is going forward with my husband (and yes, my husband does collect some up front, to cover materials)- so I don't know if he ever got his money back. Just a note to others that mentioned it... My husband has PERFECT credit, that has nothing to do with why he collects up front. He would rather not have a line of credit w/ most things- he pays for everything up front, just as he has to pay up front for certain things (foundations, etc). Some people don't want to have a line of credit with every vendor out there, that brings their credit down. He also has great references, which I think anyone hiring a contractor should ask for. Another quick story... When we met w/ Verizon to go over our Yellow Pages Advertising - our rep was telling us that there was/is a guy in the roofing business (big time advertiser in the roofing/contractor sections) that was being prosecuted for doing this exact thing. Stealing deposits and never coming back - he told us he personally had a conversation with the guy (he knew him fairly well because he did so much advertising)- supposedly he had a drug problem and used the money to support his habit. So, whether this is true or not, it is an unfortunate reality and is all the more reason to get references before you decide to go w/ any contractor. Take care and good luck!