topic Re: Warning for Angie's List users in Home

Warning for Angie's List users

Abrowneyegirl — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 17:21:27 GMT

Warning for Angie's list users.

Everyone loves the idea that the contractors have to be insured, licensed and bonded to be on Angie's List, BUT

The loophole:

Example my mother spoke to a painter from Angie's List got a contract for the work with a price- great.

The painter sent sub-contractors out to do the work. They were not employees and were not covered under the Painter's insurance.

When I asked for their proof of insurance (after I saw these crack pots in action) they laughed at me. They admitted they are basically day workers paid by companies who list on Angies list and send them out to do the work.

The one worker admitted that the day before he was laying tile for another guy. The worker was an out of work writer with no training or experience.

Be SURE that anyone sent to your house is an employee of the 'company' or the actual people/person you met with. Day workers are not covered.

It is a new version on bait and switch!!

Re: Warning for Angie's List users

faeriemoon — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 17:32:35 GMT

Good advice @Abrowneyegirl.

Re: Warning for Angie's List users

Nightowlz — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 17:33:33 GMT

Kind of like the stories I have heard about Lowe's. People buy windows, carpets etc & pay to have them installed. Lowe's sends someone out to do the work but they don't work for Lowe's. I have heard the horror stories of disaster.

We always do any work around here if we can do it.

If we pay someone to do the work we have gone by word of mouth from people we know with references plus seeing the work the person has done before we hire them.

Re: Warning for Angie's List users

Luvitorleaveit1 — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 17:35:16 GMT

Wow thanks for the information. I joined Angie's list last year I think but have not done business with any of the contractors.

Re: Warning for Angie's List users

StylishLady — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 17:35:58 GMT

I'm guessing a lot of that is happening down here in Florida after the hurricane in September.

Re: Warning for Angie's List users

meallen616 — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 17:42:09 GMT

Very good read, info much appreciated,

Re: Warning for Angie's List users

ChrissyKR — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 17:47:04 GMT

Thanks for the info, always good to know.

On another note, I have used recommendations from Next Door Neighbor and been very pleased. I like this because your neighbors have experience with a variety of contractors and you get honest feedback.

Re: Warning for Angie's List users

NickNack — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 18:44:56 GMT

I don't trust Angie's List either. I used them when I had new siding put on my house this summer. The company actually did a great job, but the owner did something that really upset me. I gave them a 3 star rating because of how unprofessional he was. I did say that the workers did a great job. I just recently checked Angie's List for that contractor to see what their new reviews had been and couldn't find mine. They seemed to be in order by date, but I went back quite a bit farther and couldn't find mine. I e-mailed Angie's List to ask where my review was, and they checked and said it was there. I believe since it wasn't a 5 star review it had gotten pushed way back. I like to read good and bad reiews before I decide on a company. I will never use Angie's List to make a decision like that again.

Re: Warning for Angie's List users

wvumountiefan — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 19:06:33 GMT

My S.O. has his own contractor license and is such a handyman. He is also very particular about his work he does at our house and anyone who hires him. He does this type of work in the summer and on his days offfrom his regular job.

He says to me all the time, “I don’t know how some people sleep at night knowing they didn’t do something right by someone who has hired them and paid them to do something.” He drives school bus as his regular job and he will retire from that in 2 years. He is a lot older than me, but that doesn’t matter. He will say sometimes that he is worried about not getting any extra work with his carpentry and such. I tell him that word of mouth in our rural area is still the best advertising. He is constantly being ask to do jobs for people. He doesn’t charge an arm and a leg and is very meticulous with his work. It’s getting harder to find honest people and it’s sad.

One example and then I’ll stop- A few years ago he decided to redo the rock and mantle around our fireplace. He laid the stone down on the living room floor in the design and pattern that he wanted it. It laid like that for 3 days as he made little changes moving rocks around. He said he could not just grow it on the wall any old way. Sometimes it gets to him though and he will say, “ I wish I wasn’t so picky.” I’m glad he is though. His siblings- not so much. Night and day!!

Re: Warning for Angie's List users

Abrowneyegirl — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 19:10:05 GMT

@NickNack

Thank you for mentioning this! Very interesting.

I also like to read both positive and negetive feedback.

Anymore if someone or something only as positive feedback I start to doubt if it is really true, honest comments. Now I check the dates of the comments and how many other reviews posters have made. I hate to be that way but.....

Re: Warning for Angie's List users

Abrowneyegirl — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 19:11:23 GMT

@ChrissyKR

We now use NextDoor Neighbors

Re: Warning for Angie's List users

Kachina624 — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 23:25:01 GMT

I've belonged to Angies List for almost 10 years and have used them to select everything from auto mechanics to home repairers. I've never had a bad experience. I hired a roofing company from the list for a $12,000 new roof in June. Everything was perfect and I'm well-pleased with the job.

The worst experience I had was with a contractor from Lowe's hired to install some new interior doors. They weren't installed correctly; the contractor made 2 trips to fix them and the manager of Lowe's door department made one trip all to no avail. I finally got on my hands and knees and quickly discovered that a bracket on the floor was not properly installed; it was missing a screw causing it to swivel and fall. It was then fixed.

Re: Warning for Angie's List users

jlkz — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 01:35:01 GMT

We redid our old shore house last winter while we were in FL: our property manager / realtor headed the project. It went very well.

The most frustrating parts involved contractors to Home Depot who applied crazy- making and cost-escalating methods to calculating carpeting needed. FInally, DH showed them exactly how to carpet the third floor configuration with minimal excess.

The second most frustrating and time consuming effort at Home Depot involved designing the complex, space-headache kitchen cabinet layout. The first person we worked with was a part-timer who couldn't be reached easily; designs and redesigns weren't communicated well or when needed; and, lastly messages to her weren't conveyed by the regular staff.

Once we switched to a regular staff person who was experienced and really listened to our needs, the project took off beautifully.

Installations were handled well: Home Depot did the carpeting for their incredible winter price program and our own project manager did the flooring and cabinets.

When end we came back home, we did a thorough top to bottom cleaning and redo of linens, mattresses and furniture.

While the place had been rented during the several years on the sale market, there was one offer ( extremely bad timing with the mortgage crises, etc. ). Now that we love the place again and it's off both the rental and sale markets, we were approached by 2 different folks who asked if we were interested in selling it.

Really.......!!!!!!!!!

Re: Warning for Angie's List users

KailaS — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 04:21:52 GMT

About two years ago, I was looking for a handyman to help repair some items in an apartment which I was vacating. On Angie's List, I found my guy. Nice on the phone, nice when he visited my apartment to actually see what I wanted him to do, and all five star ratings. I also hired a painter. The first man--the handyman--never showed up to do the job. When I called him, he answered that "the job was not worth it to him." Hmm--then why accept it in the first place? Anyway, I left a 2 star rating. That man bombarded me with phone calls daily to raise that rating. It never appeared on Angie's List. I never changed it.

The painter I hired was better, but not as dependable as I would have liked. I had to have the apartment vacated on a Saturday. I was moved out a week early. All I needed to do was put the apartment back to the condition it was when I moved in. I was there for twelve years. The painter only showed up the day before I had to turn in the key. He was not finished with the job when I had to turn in the key, so I grabbed a paint brush and finished the job myself. This man, as the previous one, had all five-star ratings. I do not trust Angie's List at all. Maybe I just had some bad luck, but I never would use again.

Re: Warning for Angie's List users

Nataliesgramma — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 11:41:49 GMT

I found it best to go with Contractors that others have used.

The 5 star Electrition that I hired...never showed up....

Re: Warning for Angie's List users

flickerbulb — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 19:04:19 GMT

I got several estimates for painters. The highest (by over $1000) was from someone on Angie's List.

Someone else highly rated on AL did another job for me and I would not recommend him for any job!

Re: Warning for Angie's List users

Snoopp — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 20:25:57 GMT

I don't belong to AL currently. Do they reinstate you automatically if you choose the free program? I never found many contractors were in my immediate area when I last used it. The last several months of my membership were worthless cause I couldn't search properly on their website and they never fixed it.

Re: Warning for Angie's List users

emersonbig — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 05:32:53 GMT

Hi, thanks for sharing.

Re: Warning for Angie's List users

blackhole99 — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 00:28:34 GMT

Nightowlz wrote:

We always do any work around here if we can do it.

If we pay someone to do the work we have gone by word of mouth from people we know with references plus seeing the work the person has done before we hire them.

The guys who Lowe's send out to do the installing actually are skilled and work under Lowe's insurance and license. They also, send a lead person with the installers who is an expert and trouble shooter. I have had a few jobs done from Lowe's and was pleased with the work. Lowe's is responsible for having the job done to your satisfaction and on time and it is all in the contract. Also their work is warranted.