Boulder Heating & Cooling Contractors Boulder, CO

COMPLAINT: R. Roberts, Arvada, Colo.
"I hired Doc's Handyman Service to wire two light boxes, reframe around an air duct, drywall one wall and ceiling with tape and joint compound and sponge it off. The first day, Lynn [Schwankl, the owner] left after 15 minutes for another job. I reminded him of the deadline.

He worked six six-hour days during the next two weeks and didn't finish before the deadline, which created more work and delays. He told me the project was on budget, but a few hours later, he presented me with a bill that was $600 more than the estimate."

DESIRED RESOLUTION: "I think I should get a refund of at least $200, since that's how much more he charged than the highest estimate I got from other companies."

RESPONSE: Lynn R. Schwankl, owner, Doc's Handyman Service
"Initially I turned down this project because it was a ceiling project, which normally isn't a one-person job, and I typically work alone. [The member] offered her father's help with the work. Both he and I noticed the wall and ceiling weren't square.

This was a pre-existing condition, and correcting it wasn't part of the job she hired me to do. The project came in over budget because she later added a wall to be drywalled and some electrical work. She gave me a key and was present only part of the time I worked; therefore, she didn't know when I came and went on several occasions.

Her representation of the duration of the job, days worked and hours is incorrect. Forty-five minutes into the first day, another client called me on a time-sensitive issue. Although I don't like leaving one job for another, this was an emergency, so I made an exception.

If the client had voiced her dissatisfaction to me regarding any aspect of my work, I would've been more than happy to work with her to complete the job to both of our standards. She didn't communicate with me, but filed this report instead."

STATUS: Stalemate