From Angela C.
Christian Restorations
Unbelievable & Disturbing Update: Mike is now resorting to blackmail and extortion in an attempt to force me to remove the negative review below. When you add his actions here and his responses on my original post, he has made it very clear his customer service attitude towards a dissatisfied customer. He called me a “Karen” and in this instance I will hold that title with my head held high and the utmost honor. I am normally a very smart, considerate, and empathetic person but there is always a time and a place to be a “Karen” when you need stand up for your rights. Since the original review, I felt I needed to fill out a petition to take him to small claims court for two things felt I was ENTITLED: a refund and a receipt. Then I sent it to him so he wasn’t surprised when he was served. He indicated his account would win because I was lying and told me to take a video of my bathroom for him for his own evidence. I told him that wasn’t how it worked and while all “opinions” on the matter could be interpreted in either direction, besides the fact I have photographs for evidence, there is no way to deny he breached our contract when he took my money and did not finish the items agreed upon in our written and verbal contract. BOOM. He instantly loses, it’s point blank in the US law you cannot breach a verbal or written contract between two parties. I told him again, all I asked for was the refund of a simple amount of $125 plus an official receipt instead of a piece of handwritten notebook paper. If he would agree, I would withdrawal the petition (which would have made him liable for the $125 repair charge + $200 for the receipt (it’s value if I physically had to submit to the city for an environmental rebate), + $100 to cover partial damages to my floor and new toilet, and all filing fees and court costs). He once again AGREED to the terms with the condition that a release of liability was issued by me. Great. I filled one out and was conscious enough to cover him AND his company (which he never thought of) so I could not underhand him by releasing him, and then turn around to sue his company separately. I released him from the liability of the breach of contract, the current incurred damages as well as any and all future damages that result from the unprofessional and incomplete install. I covered everything, everything he wanted and more, with the condition, get this, he ONLY gives me the $125 and a stupid receipt when we met at a notary. I sent the legal document to him and WOW, here comes the kicker, he ACTUALLY wrote back to me in an attempt to blackmail and extort me by saying he would only sign the release if I removed my original negative review! Wait… we have a written agreement again. He said draw a release and he would give… I did, he refused. Is that a second breach? He’s in for a rude surprise, if he would have read the fine print of Thumbtack’s policy, they will not remove any review for any reason and he also doesn’t know me either because I’m more than happy to eat the minimal amount of money and the receipt just to keep that original review and add this update instead! Even better, I might still file suit to get what I deserve and now he’s stuck with TWO negative reviews, plus a minimal $500 legal judgement to me. I’m not a just a “KAREN” as he put it, but I will not let anyone think they can take advantage of anyone, especially me. Too many people do that in the world today and it has made society overwhelming angry and depressing. I would have loved an honest review prior to thinking he was a good choice and hiring him. Big bonus, I love the fact he has unwillingly shown how he treats people once he has taken their cash and made off! BEWARE, BEWARE, BEWARE! Here is his very last message sent to me… “When you are at the place of what you ask to be done ..where u get the money and the receipt you are at the place where all points are complete for you ..then I should get that review removed from my acct with thumbtack ..you have the power to do that ....and that's only right to remove ...most of its not even true anyway ..gross wrongful post ...get rid of that ..too and we can meet” - see additional photos I've added
Mike, with Christian Restorations, in no way is a PRO.
Needed… low flow toilet installation with new supply line and water shut off valve
Got...
#1 - hands down Mike was the cheapest of all the pros... but you will get what you pay for;
#2 - he arrived very unprofessional - even for a handy man; he had sole worn shoes with multiple rips and holes on top, one hole was large enough to push out his big toe (with no sock);
#3 - he installed the toilet (so I thought);
#4 - I tested both flushes but I failed to check further with him standing there;
#5 - after he left, I thought to check it again;
#6 - I wiggled the base and the left side moved;
#7 - called him back because he had only caulked the right side… ONLY 1 SIDE
#8 - I figured he would come in with his chalk gun and spend 5 silent minutes.... but he brought his big bucket of tools & banged around for at least 10 - 15 minutes (that was a little concerning he had left said he was done and now found that much more work was needed);
#9 - after about 20 minutes realized I hadn’t heard anything the last few minutes, (I work at home and was in a workbook with a co-worker);
#10 - he disappeared; son said he wasn't in the bathroom and his truck was gone;
#11 - looked at toilet again... he had left caulk on my floor in several places, brown grease on the edge of the bathtub (I hope that was grease), some kind of blue arc smear (?) on our brand new, out of the box toilet, around the flush buttons (that doesn’t come off) AND the front and back of the toile base still did not have any caulk;
#12 – a more professional contractor would have shown me the base of the new toilet was slightly smaller than where the old one had sat and ask if I wanted to look for another one with the same base size; however, Mike never mentioned anything about it and now my new toilet is sitting inside the permanent impression of the old one, surrounded by stained and morphed tile left from the old one with years of weight, wear and tear on the bathroom floor.
#13 – the toilet was to be installed on a second level, we had the new one upstairs and unboxed for him; asked he put the old one in the new box and WE WOULD TAKE IT DOWN AND TRASH IT; he completely ignored my request and carried it down the stairs by himself; if he had slipped on those stairs, especially carrying that much weight, and already has troubles climbing them is a SERIOUS risk of having to report and file an accident claim on our homeowner’s policy; to eliminate that, we do those things for ourselves.
#13 – IMPORTANT: the city gives a $100 cash rebate if you replace your old toilet with a new low flow one and present the receipt of both the purchase and the installation; we have asked Mike for one repeatedly, calling multiple times but he will not give us one… period;
#14 – I didn’t know I could pay him through Thumbtack securely (new to the site) and use a CC, thus automatically giving us documentation; when I asked Mike if he took cards, he never offered that option saying cash-only or Zelle; to which a) I know now wasn’t true and b) now leaves me with no evidence I ever had the installation done;
Stay away, he isn’t a PRO at anything and now I wonder what part of the toilet, floor, anything will break in a couple of weeks and cause real serious damage to our home.
