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My husband and I hired Collegeworks Painting to paint our Bethlehem, PA home in the summer of 2007. They did a good job and we were happy with the team of painters. The manager, Mike Rosales, was excellent with his workers and with his customers. The only complaint we had was that they started the job much later in the summer than they had told us they would, and then took much longer than they had anticipated, so by the end of the summer, the students were visibly "checked out" mentally. They were heading back to college and wanted to be done. The carport area was done in a "mad rush" and it subsequently began to peel almost immediately. But they wouldn't come back to rectify this, stating that their season was finished and they'd return in the Spring and re-do the carport under the warranty.
We had purchased an extended (five year) warranty. I contacted Collegeworks over the winter of 2007 due to peeling we detected on various areas of the house, in addition to the carport problem. They took their time in getting us set up with painters to come out and take care of this. They finally sent painters very late summer, and it was taken care of, but, again, it was late in the season and they clearly didn't want to be here.
Once again over the winter of 2008, we noticed peeling. I contacted Collegworks and requested a manager be sent out early Spring. I explained to the Customer Service Representative, Steven Antonio, that we really would like to have someone come out early in the season and take care of this, as we wanted them to be "fresh" and ready to roll (pun intended). He promised me that he would see to it this happened. He did explain that the warranty work estimates get done late June, early July and that he would put a request in for ours to be one of the first. After several phone calls and emails, finally, one day in July, (the 15th to be exact) a manager (Ryan) called and said that a painter (Darren) would be coming out to price out the job in the next couple of hours. Nothing like planning ahead. Pretty unprofessional. Luckily my husband was working from home that day and was available to meet with Darren. They walked around the house together, and when them came to the chimney (which by the way hadn't originally been painted at all unbeknownst to us at the time - a roofer subsequently spotted it and then told us about it), Darren said, "Hmmm...I don't know how to get up on that roof." Hmmmm...we are hiring you to get up on that roof, and if you don't know about chicken ladders and such, should you be doing this job? I spoke with Ryan about this and he said not to worry, he would definitely have someone out within the next few days to do the job - someone with experience - and that the job would be completed by the following Monday, 7/20.
When Monday came and went and no Ryan and no painters, I contacted Steven Antonio again, who told me this job is going to take much longer than they had anticipated; that it will take more than ten hours, therefore it needs approval, and that will happen by early the following week, 7/27..
I also had requested back in March a copy of the original contract and warranty. Steven had told me he'd get that to me. Since I hadn't received it, I asked Steven about it again, who said he would be in touch with Mike Rosario (who had left the company) to inquire about the contract (which was apparently missing in action) and about any notes he may have written about our house (since Mike had told me he'd do that before he left the company).
On 7/21, I spoke with Ryan, who stated that this would actually be a two-day job and the local college crew would be working late into the summer and even into early fall, so not to worry, it would get done and he promised everyone would be "on board" to do a good job. We agreed on the week of 8/10. I mentioned the contract. He said he'd look into it.
8/3 I left a message for Ryan to confirm the job. No return call and no Ryan on 8/10.
I called Ryan and left a message on 8/12. I then called Steven Antonio and asked to speak with the top manager for this area. He put me through to Joe Young, who they tell me supervises the warranty work. Joe told me that the warranty work does get done July - September (in other words, they weren't technically late in getting to us). But, as I explained to numerous people, I also explained to Joe that it was promised to me that we would be one of the first houses to get done and that the lack of communication and follow-through is unacceptable. Joe stated that Ryan is "swamped" but would get back to me that evening. I also discussed the contract and warranty and Joe said he'd look into it and get it emailed to me.
No Ryan, once again.
On 8/24, I called Steven and asked to speak with the "big boss" of this area. He told me her name is "Lulu" and that she is the "owner" of the PA division and that she would get back to me.
No call from Lulu, but Ryan called on 8/25, very apologetic, and set up the job for 9/3 (remember - we were supposed to be first on the list way back in July!)
9/3 came and went. No Ryan. No painters. No job getting done.
Messages, etc.
On 9/9 I called Joe and told him that at this point Collegworks was in breach of contract and that my next step would be to contact my lawyer (oh, and by the way, where is the copy of the contract you promised?! Hmmmm...they cannot locate the contract! Or the warranty! Also - why haven't I heard back from Lulu and could I have her direct number? No I could not have her direct number and she will not be calling me.)Joe stated he wasn't aware that the job wasn't getting done and that he was not happy with that and that he'd see to it that it got done and he'd be emailing me with a copy of the contract, any notes he can find that Mike may have put in the file, and he'd also explain the warranty policy (he thinks the first two years are free of charge to us, and then years three through five there is an hourly rate for labor, but it's free of charge if it's a re-do from previous warranty work.)
Ryan called a few minutes after Joe and I hung up. Apologetic. Will definitely be here 9/18 to look at the job and then will complete the job on 9/19 and 9/20. He will also return the following weekend if need be.
Finally follow-through. Ryan did work on the days he promised. He did not have a helper as he said he would, so could not get up on the ladder to do the 40-feet areas but promised it would get done the following weekend. He did show up the following weekend, 9/26, but once again the helper wasn't with him and we had to go out. He stated he promised he would not get up on the high ladder without his helper, that his helper was on his way, and that the job would be done upon our return. When we returned, he had left several ladders, paint, sprayer, other tools and equipment in the yard and in the carport. It looked as though the job was complete, but we still to this day do not know if his helper showed up; if he got up on the high ladder and painted all the high spots and the area on the chimney that hadn't gotten done.
Today, five weeks since we last saw Ryan, ladders, sprayer and other equipment is still laying about our property. We have not done the "walk-around" with Ryan or signed off on the job. We do not have a copy of the contract. Ryan nor Joe are returning phone calls.
Very unprofessional indeed.
Unfortunately, we would probably have to deal with this company three more years if there is more peeling (and what about that?! Why so much peeling?!) But at this point I do believe our best bet is to seek a refund on that warranty and be done with Collegworks.
I will see what our lawyer thinks about the whole mess.
In the meantime, I am telling friends and neighbors NOT to use Collegeworks, which is unfortunate, being I had actually recommended them after the original job was done. I have since gone back and rescinded that recommendation. It's also too bad because we were actually considering having them do the whole job all over again in a few years, as I was told they would honor the same amount we paid originally (which was at that time a couple thousand less than other estimates).
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
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What happens if you do not complete all the houses that are committed for the rest of the season ?
I just finished this internship myself, and I must say that I'm disappointed that managers entrusted with this kind of responsibility would abuse it like I've read here. Then again, anyone only ever goes online to complain, so it's hard to say what the actual representation is just my looking at a website specifically design for complaints. Yes, this internship is the hardest thing I've ever done, and no, not everyone makes it. Not everyone makes it through Harvard either. Some people don't realize that they don't have what it takes, and unfortunately sometimes it takes disappointing a client to get an accurate gauge of where their abilities are.
Ultimately, because of this, and the nature of the goal being to provide professional experience to inexperienced students, you have to judge College Works not by the company itself but by each individual manager. The company is set up with a basic model that has the potential to create a lot of success. I had a lot of success. I had a lot of friends who had a lot of success. We learned a lot of great, marketable skills that will do us good in the job market. Most of our clients had good experiences. I had only one complaint, and I personally worked several extra days to satisfy that complaint. If a manager gets to the summertime and has a faulty set of values, they may not have the same results.
Pointers... interns: say what you will about the company, it doesn't matter. There's a lot of skills to learn from a program like this, one way or the other, but in the end, YOUR decisions will measure your success. If all you care about is money, you'll create a lot of negative experiences here. If you focus on the client and their satisfaction, and you train your employees well and give them lots of extra resources, you can make something that you can be proud of. I know I did.
Clients: some managers aren't mentally or emotionally ready to manage your house this year, but don't discount the eager, motivated, hard working students who are ready. Our intern team did a lot of great work this year. Make sure that your manager has integrity, compassion, and drive, and that will determine how your experience will go with them this summer.
Painters: yes, many managers don't have much painting experience, but with most homes there isn't a whole lot to learn. I will admit, there were plenty of time I was very lost on how to handle a particular paint situation. When I found myself there, I used my resources and fixed it in an hour or less. Every intern gets a sales rep at their local paint store, specifically for helping them with the technical stuff. If they aren't using their knowledge, they probably won't use the best methods, but it's not like it's difficult to get a hold of a professional and just ask. It's problem solving that goes beyond being spoon-fed the answers.
In conclusion. College Works has a good set-up. It's a wonderful program that can do great things. At the end of the day though, it all comes down to the interns. They are given enough resources to be successful, but they will only succeed if they get motivated and stay organized. I got motivated, I stayed organized, I committed to finish, and at the end, I finished with a great toolbox of skills, some extra money, and a few lifelong friends.
The reason people come here to post complaints, is because if you try and post a negative review on their website, it never gets posted. I am sick about the paint job that was done on my home, it is horrific, I stopped them from continuing on July 10th, 2018 and there still is no resolution. They continue to lie about the surfaces being power washed and prepped prior to painting, they were not, I hired a professional painter to review the job, and he was shocked, he said that the surfaces were definitely not power washed or prepped and he just kept saying this is a joke, unfortunately, I guess the joke is on me. I also had the Sherwin Williams paint rep review the job, he said the same thing and took samples and said that they did not power wash or prep the surfaces to be painted. I received no satisfaction from the branch manager or the district manager, they just continue to lie. I was put in touch with the district manger's boss, Taylor Duncan and the first thing he said to me was I understand the house was powerwashed and prepped and you are not happy ! I was disgusted, especially since he knew that it was not, because he had talked to the paint rep that came and reviewed the job site. He also knew that they did not even have a tall enough ladder to prep or paint the second story. My neighbor said they used a short ladder with a roller attached to a 10' pole, so they clearly did not have the equipment to do the prep or the paint job, they actually rolled over my overhang vents and most ofthem are now painted closed orpartially closed. Taylor was supposed to call me back in a couple days, I never heard back from him until three weeks later, and that was only because I contacted the corporate office and told them I wanted to go to arbitration, he finally called me back that afternoon, I didn't take his call, I will not deal with liars or someone who is unresponsive! I contacted the corporate office again and told them I will not deal with liars and I want to go to arbitration...no reply back yet. What a joke, I think they think if they continue to not return your phone calls that you will just get tired of It and go away. I have also reported them to the Better Business Bureau and their response to the BBB was that we were working out a resolution! If any of you college students who have worked for them have any suggestions or know how I go about the arbitration process please advise. Worst organization I've ever dealt with, no one is accountable
I can attest to this story, I am this person's neighbor, who had an almost analogous experience. Unfortunately, I am out A LOT of money. I should've stopped the job and not paid in full... Shame on me for being trusting.
I recently quit this company as a painter/ crew chief. What ive seen and learned from this company is really pitiful. They should not exist, and I hope awareness can be spread so thT there are less home-owner victims as well as employees. They are a complete joke as a business and nearly everything they say is a lie. Ive witnessed my branch manager intern tell the home owner that their house was powerwashed when asked (which they paid specifically for before painting) and it was not done. Ive been on a job with 2 new painters, first day, where they did not fill out payroll, not even applied for the job, one was under age for the company (17), and literally had NO training whatsoever on painting of safety. And the manager expected them to go around handling and climbing to the peak of a 40 foot extension ladder on uneven garden ground. They didnt even know if they were gettinf paid. I still havnt been paid. I quit last week, and this would have been my fourth week and im still waiting on my first paycheck. I couldnt take the place anymore. On that same job with the young rookies i mentioned, the manager was asked if we were well trained and experienced and she promised her we were. I was the only one with ANY experience (3 weeks, no training at all) and then manager told us that if she asks tell them we are VERY trained and experienced. They support horrible working conditions on employees and just as bad quality of service for the home owners. Anyone looking to get their home painted, keep in mind when you hire college works, youre hiring a couple kids who have not learned virtually anything about real professional painting, or anything involving safety, and you will be paying the same that you can go out and hire quality, experienced, REAL painters. And whenever management/ sales representatives assure you something, i PROMISE you it can be a lie. Ive seen so many lies in just 3 weeks that it disgusts me they exist. This is a warning.
Hi, I actually got wrangled in to working for this company. Not in PA, but in another state. Each 'division' is run mostly independently with the main office being located in California. But from what I experienced from the other 'managers' in my state, and the multiple contacts I have made with people from other states, it is obviously run with similar disregard to the customers. I originally thought that this might be a tremendous opportunity.Though I took all the information I received from the Higher Ups in the company with a grain of salt, I still trusted that it was mostly truth with the general positive 'spin'. That is not the case with this company, lies and mis-information is rampant throughout. Not only are many of the clients being victimized, but the college students themselves are being preyed upon. Throughout my time with the company I kept a foolishly (in hindsight) optimistic outlook. I kept believing that by the end, I would receive a revelation that would make everything make sense. I was led to believe that the difficulties I faced were due to my own faults, so I tried even harder. What I eventually came to realize...The simple fact is that most of the people who make it in this company have no regard for other people. Anyone who does is at a severe disadvantage, and will eventually either lose themselves, or lose their position with the company. I personally tried to give my clients the best that I could, even though there are no bonuses for customer service, and spent a lot more money than budgeted because what I was allowed to spend would not cover what I had led the client to believe they were receiving.
I know it doesn't count for much if you have already been conned by this company, but I truly am sorry for you. If you find this before you join/sign a contract, I hope that you will take this message to heart and not work with them.
VERY IMPORTANT: The reason the prices for college works are so high are not because they have excellent service. Because if you look them up, they obviously don't. It is because they don't pass on the discounts they get from the paint store.They charge as much or more than if you supplied the paint yourself. But most of the Overhead comes from something entirely unrelated to how your house is painted. It comes in the form of VACATIONS. A yearly trip to Las Vegas, all expense paid, with free drinks and VIP service to every VP, DM and high selling interns in the country takes place in the late spring. In the fall the destination is much more exotic...CANCUN. Again ALL the DM's, VP's, and highest selling/producing interns are treated to a complimentary trip. Not only that, but also all the employees from California who work in the background of the company. These events are national, add on to this the events that happen within each state and VOILA why you are being charged so much for so very little.
For potential clients here is a list of a few things you should know about the timeline they work on:
1) Fall/Spring Recruit the Branch Manager- They were recruited from the Universities even though this company has no affiliation with any of them, also many of their recruiting tactics are prohibited. Then they attend an orientation, and one Sales conference which is generally a week or two before Super Bowl Sunday.
They do sales until May, when they attend their Paint conference.
2) Paint Training- This is their first introduction into what it really takes to 'manage' their summer. NO ACTUAL PAINTING TAKES PLACE in the conference room. Instead they are treated to 8 hours of how to do Payroll, and how to 'adjust' hours so that their painters only make the bare minimum.
3) Training house- One of the clients who is easy going and wanted to go early is set up to have their house painted by the interns. Takes a few days, with all interns working a few shifts. (this is the first time 90% of them have encountered any of the equipment or tools used to paint your house. by the end, NOT all of them have even used a sprayer.
4) Mid-MAY- They begin to interview their painters, usually in a coffee place or other such area. Despite any promises made to any clients about experienced painters, and the common sales technique "all of our painter's are re-trained by the company", neither of these things is a necessity, and the latter is usually a lie. (the training they speak of is actually nothing more than being shown how to use a ladder properly, showing them the safety on the handle of the sprayer, and showing them how to strap into a safety harness. No hands on training is given to ensure they know how and where to anchor the harness, or the best ways to handle the sprayer). Remember at this time many of them are on a deadline, they NEED a painter to paint your house, so whoever shows up and isn't old, fat, or a convicted murderer is who they hire, unless they hire their college buddies instead.
They also begin looking at which clients are the easiest houses with the easiest home owners, because this is their first house ever painted. That means even if you were promised May, if you have a large house, or if you seem somewhat impatient then this is not going to be you, they want the people who won't complain when they mess up, which will happen.
5) Last week of May/Second week of June- The district Manager spends ONE DAY with each branch manager as they individually begin production. This means that after ONE DAY the managers and their brand new painters are on their own painting your home. (Also, despite all promises made about time-lines, NO BRANCH MANAGERS PAINT BEFORE THE END OF MAY. Their are a few "Executive Managers" (1+ yrs. exp.) who paint at this time, by a few I mean usually 1-2 PER STATE.
6) June/July- Every other Friday is a mandatory meeting where the managers turn in paperwork (excluding any unfavorable reviews they may have received), often listen to a guest speaker talk about starting their own company, and have some sort of event.
7) August- they are encouraged to be wrapping their clients up by September. At this point you should know that very few of the managers hired make it this far, many of them are used just for sales, and once they squeeze out as many clients as possible, they are let go, and those clients, who believed they would be working with Manager A, are now working with Manager B. Many managers leave throughout the summer as well, which means some clients work with more than 5 different people before they actually work with the one who ends up painting their house. If you get transferred between managers you will often end up here. At the end of the line of whoever is left.
sorry that this ended up being rather longer than expected, but there was so much that could be said, and it took an amazingly short amount of time in order to say it. Because the problems were so pervasive throughout the entirety of CWP.