Cincinnati Asphalt Driveway Contractors Cincinnati, OH

Pooling water leads to drain dispute in Cincinnati

COMPLAINT: Peggy Morenz, Cincinnati

"Julius C. Howe Asphalt & Concrete Sealing of Cleves [Ohio] removed my asphalt driveway, laid gravel and a new driveway. Since my basement gets wet during heavy rains, Howe suggested installing a French drain. My husband and I decided not to have the drain installed and set up the date for the driveway work.

"After they removed the driveway and laid the gravel, huge pools of water began to form on the right side of the driveway. I called Howe, but he never returned my call. When his employees came to lay the new driveway, they assured me that once the asphalt was put down, the pooling wouldn't occur.

"As soon as it rained, there was a large pool of water. Howe insisted I told him water was coming into our garage and since I didn't want a drain installed, that's why we had problems. I never told him that, nor did he tell me water would pool on the driveway unless we had the drain installed.

"For more than a year, we had a pond in our driveway and ice in the winter. I recently paid another company $500 to install a drain in the side yard."

DESIRED RESOLUTION: "I want to be refunded $500."

RESPONSE: Sherry Howe, treasurer and secretary, Julius C. Howe Asphalt & Concrete Sealing

"It's our policy that the customer is always right. In order to stand by our policy, we will pay the member the $500 they request. However, they had water problems before we did the job and they continued to have problems. Now, they're going to get the drain we suggested they needed for free."

STATUS: Resolved