Deck Builder review: Takes money and leaves project unfished 5

Deck Builder (Home Specialist - Denis Richardson) was paid 3 of the 4 installment payments and then he abandoned the project. I have not seen nor heard from him in 3 weeks since this posting on Nov 2, 2009.

CITIZENS OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA & WASHINGTON, DC METRO AREA - - - BEWARE

NOTE: Mr. Richardson may have moved to the Herndon, VA area.

Signed contract on April 8, 2009. Mr. Richardson stated he only worked on two projects at a time. He signed a contract that stated our deck would begin on or close to June 1st and finish on or around June 30th.

Paid $8, 100.00 on April 8th.

Original price on April 8th was $24, 300.00.

Project did not start until July 15th. 45 days after original start date.

During first day it was determined the deck needed to be larger and was increased by 100 sq ft. This was mutually agreed to PRIOR to the actual start of construction of the project.

The revised size increased the price to $29, 458.00. Addendum signed on July 15th.

Paid Mr. Richardson $10, 000.00 on July 15th.

Decking surface installed and cement poured in footer holes for the first deck.

Paid Mr. Richardson $6, 447.00 on July 25th.

As of October 24th we have paid Mr. Richardson $24, 547.00 towards a total price of $29, 458.00 which is 83% of the project price. Our deck is not complete and is 4 months overdue with approx 30% of the work still to be completed.

Mr. Richardson has routinely worked less than 4 hours a day on the project, that is when he decides to show up to work. We've gone weeks without him working on our project or returning calls or emails. Mr. Richardson disappears for days/weeks and doesn't think this should be a concern to us. His patent comment is, "this is a construction project and they regularly run over time.

Mr. Richardson informed us that he took on too many jobs this summer (despite informing us at time of contract signing that he only took on two projects at a time so he could complete in 30 days.).

Now Mr. Richardson is telling us a different story. He now tells us he doesn't have the money to finish our deck. Despite being given $16, 000.00 in the course of 10days.

It is apparent Mr. Richardson did not use the installment payments provided to purchase and deliver the needed building materials to construct our deck.

Another issue: We received a formal letter in September from our HOA informing us we were in volition of our HOA rules. Mr. Richardson did not file the appropriate paperwork with our HOA which was his obligation per our contract with him. We provided all of the paperwork to Mr. Richardson a 2nd time and were able to convince him to drive to the HOA office and file the paperwork.

To date we have an unfinished deck/porch which has no stairs, rails, lattice, screens, ceiling fan or electricity. Our small deck has never had cement added to the post holes and is missing rails and lattice. Unsafe to step on.

Mr. Richardson has repeatedly asked us to pay him the last installment and if we did, he would work 10 hours a day t finish the deck. He is a liar and now has informed us that he will file bankruptcy and move on down the road. He said we can try and find him. His Virginia License number is [protected]. BEWARE of this contractor and do not let him do what he did to us to you.