Down and out

COMPLAINT: Carol Mayer, Evans City, Pa.

"Frank Spinelli Improvements gave me an estimate on remodeling my bathroom. I paid 50 percent of it and to this day haven't received anything in return."

DESIRED RESOLUTION: "I'd like $2,820 refunded as it has been more than four and a half months since I paid him."

STATUS: Penalty Box

Coming unglued

COMPLAINT: Mary McCloskey, Pittsburgh

"My wooden drawer came apart and Matthew McNash said he could fix this. All he did was take this drawer and glue it. He didn't put any tacks or reinforcements in it. He was getting paid good money - $36 an hour. When he said he had to take my drawer home, I figured he would really fix it using proper carpentry tools. When it came apart, I realized he'd only used glue."

DESIRED RESOLUTION: "I want Matthew McNash to either fix the drawer properly (not with glue) or refund me a minimum of $36 to $72."

RESPONSE: Matthew McNash, owner

"I repaired the drawer properly. After the repair, she filled it with items weighing five times the capacity the drawer could handle. I told Mary the drawer was in very bad shape, and she didn't wish for me to make her a new one but repair the existing one. Also, the labor was grouped with other repairs. The cost for the drawer repair was about $18. I would be glad to make a new drawer for Mary."

STATUS: Stalemate