ComplaintsforUEC Fence & Decks

• Initial Complaint

  09/28/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  On June 11 ,2022 I signed a contract with UEC Fence and Deck Co., owned by , *** ******** ********* **. Dover De 19904, to install a fence around my patio. At the time I sent a check in the amount of $1320 which was a 50% deposit for said job. This check was cashed on June 13, 2022. I was told at the time there was a 12 week backlog which I agreed to. On August 20, 2022 when the 12 weeks was almost up I texted Mr. ***** regarding an update on when I would be scheduled. He responded asking my name on the contract so he could look it up. I replied...and heard nothing. Texted him again on Sept. 2 with a copy of my contract and a copy of my canceled check. Heard nothing. On Sept. 9 I noticed on this BBB page that there were several complaints against this company. I texted him again with no reply. I also used the “Contact us” feature on his web page to no avail. On September 19 I contacted Mr. ***** via email He did in fact reply and said he was behind, etc. and that he would prefer to do the job but would also offer me a full refund. Since he gave no indication of a timeline I sent him a reply that I preferred a full refund. No reply to this email so on the 21 st I emailed again with still no reply. I might add that I am 67 years of age and according to Delaware law fraud against a person 65+ is considered a felony.

• Initial Complaint

  09/25/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  title of complaint - UEC collected advance for installing a fence at our property and neither started the work nor returning the advance paid - $ 3272.00 Date of advance paid - 21 Jan 2022 Promised date to start work - initially April 2022 then Aug 2022 My neighbor and I entered into contract for a fence in our adjoining backyards on 01/21/22 with Universal Exterior Contractors and we issued a down payment of $3272.00 each. At the time we were told that the construction would likely begin in late- March- early- April 2022. Once late- March arrived, my neighbor and I called, texted, and emailed the contractor numerous times with little or no response. Every so often we would get a response with an excuse to why he was not here, but no ETA on commencement of construction. Finally, we received a "booking confirmation" email on 07/01/2022 saying they would be here to begin construction on our fences from 07/11/2022-07/13/2022. The dates came and went with no one showing up and no communication as to why. On 07/13/2022, Luis Lopez, owner of UEC gave us multiple reasons as to why he is behind schedule and in a text message promised he would return our deposit if ground wasn't broken "within 30 days." It is now 08/25/2022 and ground has not been broken and we have not received our money back. Since this email was sent my neighbor and we have sent several text messages and emails requesting our refund with no response. On 08/24/2022 we texted the owner Luis Lopez and told him if we did not have a response by EOB we would be taking legal action. we would like to report this business for their lack of communication and breach of contract and essentially stealing our money. We would no longer like to use this company but cannot get them to return our deposit despite several in- writing promises that they would do so. We have exhausted all options of communication and our patience is at its end.

• Initial Complaint

  09/14/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I’ve never complained about a business on here, but I’ve also never had such a bad experience before, so here we are. I hired UEC on 10 April 2022. I needed my old deck that is falling apart to be torn down and a smaller deck to be built in its place. At first, everything was fine. **** was very nice. He came out, did his survey, we talked about materials, and he said he’d have the estimate to me later that day. That’s when I first noticed some issues. I had to follow up with him for a week just to have the estimate in hand. He finally got me the estimate, so giving the benefit of the doubt, I figured he was just a little busy. I signed a contract with them and paid a deposit of $2205.75. The contract said installation could take up to twelve weeks. Fair enough. But when I’d gone a month without hearing from him, I was wondering when someone was going to reach out to me about doing the work on my deck. No one ever did. I had to keep reaching out and asking when the work would be done. They don’t answer the phone. At first I was told the first week of July. The first week of July came and went and when I finally got a hold of him, he said he was short staffed and had been away for a weekend for some karate tournament for his kid. Okay I get it. But this continued and is still going on. Now we’re in September — more than 6 MONTHS from the date of signing my contract, and no one has been out, no work has been done. I’m really disappointed. I’m a single mom with health issues and can’t do the job myself, and now my deck is rotting and coming apart, so I need someone else out here soonest. I’ve sent an email requesting my money back and have yet to hear anything back. I’m thoroughly upset. All I’ve gotten is excuses and strung along. If you’re understaffed, you need to communicate that to your clients sooner than six months out. I hate my time being wasted like this and now I have to start over with a new contractor pray they don’t do the same thing to me. Maddening.

• Initial Complaint

  09/13/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  On 5/1/22, my husband, ****** and I signed a contract with Mr. Luis *****, with Universal Exteriors, LLC, and gave him a deposit of $4,875.75, half the money required to replace a wooden deck and replace our wood fence in our back yard. The contract says it could take three months before starting. In August I sent several messages, by phone, text and email asking for a schedule date. After no response for three weeks Mr ***** sent a mass email out explaining how he was backed up on a big project, but if we want a refund he'll send it out immediately. I requested a refund and have not heard a word from him. He ignores my phone calls, texts and emails. I have lost all faith and trust in this business and would like a refund.

• Initial Complaint

  09/02/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  My name is ******* ***** and on 9/9 2021 I signed a contract for $13,013.95 with **** Lopez of UEC Fence and Decking to install a vinyl fence. 9/9/21 a $6500.00 deposit paid to begin installation. The install date 11/30/21, came and went with no communication from ****. We reached out twice in 12/2021and twice in 1/2022 before receiving a response. Install rescheduled 2/2022. Materials were delivered to our home and upon inspection the wrong panels were ordered (white instead of gray). Post install began 3/6/22 but not completed. 3/18/22 I text **** on status of fence install he replied, “Sorry about this mistake, suppliers won’t let me trade in white fence panels. I need to come up with $7K to get gray fencing, so I took the white fencing and installed another fence to get the funds and after checks clear my account driver will pick up materials and I will have you installed by next week.” 3/25/22 - 3/29/22 promised material delivery and install, but did not show up until 4/5/22. The remaining balance paid on 4/8/22 with an inspection to follow within 30 days of installation. 4/30/22, **** agreed to remove fence panels for shed and pool install but **** never came back to re-install panels. We needed panels replaced for the required pool safety regulations and this was communicated to ****. He text me 8/10/22 and promised to come on 8/17/22 but he failed to show. We contacted a fence repair company to get an estimate for repairs needed (fallen panels, uneven panel cuts, post are not secure, fence is not leveled, gate/s set too far apart, gaps, improper opening/closing, fence connectors are too short and do not provide privacy. ****’ employees ruined our black top driveway with cement which he promised to repair. **** does not have integrity and is a poor example of a business owner. We want our money returned or at the very least UEC to pay for all fence repairs and damage to our driveway. **** and his company has caused us emotional and financial stress.

• Initial Complaint

  09/02/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  March 3, 2022 We paid this company half of the total cost of installing a fence. We were told he was 12 weeks out which would have been the middle of June. We waited about 2 weeks after the 12 weeks and contacted him, he said there were multiple delays. He said we were next in line, and would start on July 11. We didn't hear from him until we called him on the 25th to view the utility markings in our yard He came out and said we would be next on July 26th. We called multiple times after the 26th and his phone mailbox was always full of messages. August 16th he sent a long email to a few people apologizing for not answering his phone. Weather, staff issues and a hospital stay delayed him and he promised to answer his phone, emails and texts, and said he would really like to do the job as he has the materials. But he would understand if we wanted to move on and receive a refund. He said he has 7 to 9 full working days left on the current large job he was doing. We sent an email back, the next day saying yes, we still want the fence, we figured 9 more days before he starts would be ok. He did not answer that email. We sent another email and tried calling, asking if he was doing the fence or if he would just refund us. He did not answer that email, and his messages have been full. We then, on 8/30 sent another email asking to refund our money. His phone was actually not in service. Since then we have texted and emailed asking for acknowledgement of our request. A permit was issued on 8/2, so we believe he had intended to do the job.

• Initial Complaint

  09/01/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  My name is ***** ****. I contacted the owner, **** ***** about building a deck for me in Bowers Beach. He said that he could do the job, sent over some drawing and a contract. He got pretty good reviews and I liked the images of the decks that he said he had built. I sent over 1/2 of the money as was required. We made another change to the deck and that required an additional $2500 dep towards the deck. As the date approached for the build, it became impossible to reach him by phone. No one answered and the vm was always full so you couldn’t leave a message. I called and texted daily for about a week and still no response. I just want my money back so that I can just get a new contractor to do the job that he hasn’t been able to get me on the books for.

• Initial Complaint

  08/26/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Long story short, once you pay your deposit, they ghost you. Your calls are no longer answered, voicemail box usually full. Once in awhile you may get a reply by text after sending several messages. On May 18,2022 I paid this company a deposit in the amount of $3,430 for a deck build and was advised this would be handled in 8-12 weeks. I heard nothing from them at this point, made various attempts to contact them and finally received a text saying give them 2 more weeks. It’s been 2 more weeks and I still don’t have a deck. Kent County confirmed no permit had been applied for either. I sent an email and text requesting a refund, still yet to get a reply. Still not answering calls either. At this point, I just want my $3,430 deposit refunded.

• Initial Complaint

  08/26/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  My neighbor (********* ***) and I entered into contract for a fence in our adjoining backyards on 01/22/22 with Universal Exterior Contractors and we issued a 50% down payment (one at $3,410.47 and another at $3272.00). At the time we were told of supply chain issues with materials and the contractor had some jobs in front of us and that construction would begin in late- March 2022. Once late- March arrived, my neighbor and I called, texted, and emailed the contractor numerous times with little or no response. Every so often we would get a response with an excuse to why the work hadn’t started yet, but with no ETA on commencement of construction. Finally, we received a "booking confirmation" email on 07/01/2022 saying they would be here to begin construction on our fences from 07/11/2022-07/13/2022. The dates came and went with no one showing up and no communication as to why. On 07/13/2022, Luis Lopez, owner of Universal Exterior Contractors finally responded and gave us multiple reasons as to why he is behind schedule and in text message and promised he would return our deposit if the work wasn't started "within 30 days." It is now 08/25/2022 and ground has not been broken. The company sent a blanket email on 08/16/2022 to its customers explaining the delays in construction again and promising better communication moving forward, but not relaying any ETA's for completed construction. The email, in writing, agrees to refund any customer who would like to "move on" or not wait any longer for project construction. Since this email was sent, again my neighbor and I have sent several text messages and emails requesting our refund with no response. On 08/24/2022 I texted the owner Luis Lopez and told him if we did not have a response by EOB we would be taking legal action. At this point, we would like to report this business for their lack of communication and breach of contract and essentially stealing our money.

• Initial Complaint

  08/23/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Around April first of 2022 I contacted **** Lopez of UEC Fence and Deck for a 6 ft vinyl fence to include obtaining the required permit, materials and installation. I paid the 50% deposit of $2710.50 on 4/9/2022. I was promised my project to begin in 8-10 weeks. I did not hear from **** Lopez so I started following up in June and was given many reasons why my project could not start including him unable to get the permit because I did not have a survey (even though I told **** in 2 separate conversations I did not have a survey performed on my property). And was reassured by him that he could get the permit without the survey. After weeks of being strung along and very poor communication on UEC's end (countless number of unanswered phone calls and text messages. I requested my $2710.50 deposit be refunded. I was told I needed to sign a cancellation form (that he never emailed) and all of my money would be refunded. And here I am over a week later without my refund or any real indication that it's coming. I tried to work with this company however this is very poor business practice and very unacceptable. PLEASE HELP ME GET MY HARD EARNED MONEY REFUNDED. THANKS...

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩