ComplaintsforAlbury & Son Underwater Service LLC

• Initial Complaint

  07/29/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This company after delaying the work for over a week causing me to incur additional expenses, did not complete the work, even though they got paid. In addition, they left the work space in an absolute disaster (see pics). They are unprofessional and unethical. I had to contract another reputable company who charged me double to complete the work expeditiously. I would like my money back for the work they did not perform.

  Business response

  08/25/2024

  Albury & Son Underwater Service
  PO Box 1865
  ***************-1865
  ************************************

  
  August 25, 2024

  
  Customer called me on May 21, 2024 stating that he was driving the boat to the boat yard and that he was 20 minutes from being hauled out and if I could meet him there. So I met with him on May 21, 2024 from 9:20 AM to 10:30 AM. I informed him that I was going on vacation as a May 23 and I wouldnt be returning until the evening of May 28. He hauled out without me knowing ahead of time, therefore that delay is on him. I discussed doing this job for him several months ago and that him contacting me the morning he is hauling his boat out was not sufficient amount of notice since my monthly customers come first upon cleaning their boats.
  I tried to start this job on May 22 but because of a previous prop job for another customer that day, that job took up most of the day. I also had a few boat bottom cleanings to do as some were heading to the islands. So on May 23 at 8:14am I texted him to let him know that with the short notice and bad timing on his part that he should have the boatyard do the work for him instead of me.  He texted back to me Oh no, I would rather wait honestly, dont trust them can we just wait until you return.  So I put him down for starting the job on May 30 or May 31. 
  Once I started the job, I had pulled the propellers and set them on the ground. I had to run to the store to get a tool.  My helper called me to let me know that someone was there to pick up the propellers and take them to the prop shop.  I was like who, I know nothing about that. Im supposed to take them to the prop shop. Upon getting in touch with the customer to ask, who was taking the propellers, he said he didnt know and that he didnt know of any Broker.  Well come to find out he was lying to me and he knew exactly who was taking the propellers to the prop shop and that he does have a broker on the boat because hes selling it. 
  I informed the customer that the main & intermediate struts on both starboard and port side have electrolysis. Therefore, I would have to drill new holes and tap new threads for the cutlass bearing screws.  
  At some point, the boat yard themselves had moved the vessel from the west side of the yard to the east side. They also moved the propellers that were on a pallet. I was not present when this was done. 
  I never put any primer on the propellers, this had to have been done after I dismissed myself from this job. 
  About halfway through this job the customer started cutting corners.  He had me put the bent shaft back in on the starboard side, instead of having it fixed properly with the shop. (He had the port side shaft fixed because the bend was worse on that side) (he couldnt afford to  have both fixed) (hes trying to get away with as little as possible money-wise since he has it for sale)
  He knew that the propeller shop needed to be paid before 4pm on Friday 6/14/2024 in order for me to pick the shaft up.  He failed to do so. So again another delay on him. 
  Upon reading the report from the other mechanic, it seems the customer didnt let him know that the shaft was bent.  If you read my letter of dismissal, I let the customer know what needed to be completed and apparently he didnt let the new mechanic know what I had said. So what is in the new mechanics report,  is what I had already let the customer know what needed to be done. So new mechanic didnt find out anything out of the ordinary, that we had already told the customer.
  75% of this job was completed. I have before & after pictures. I have text messages from the customer saying how great it is to see me working on his vessel, commending me on how much he appreciated the work that I was doing and how much he thinks of me as family. 
  He would not sign a waiver for me since I could no longer warranty the work on the starboard side because of reinstalling a bent shaft. (that was tested on the computer at the prop shop, which he received a computerized printout of). 
  I also could not warranty the cutlass bearing on the port side since he kept running the vessel and has now wallowed out the strut. 
  I wouldve completed this job, 1- if he wouldnt have cut corners &  2- if he wouldve signed the waivers to release me from guaranteeing the warranty work because he had me put the bent shaft back in and also has a walled out strut. (He had agreed to sign the waiver, and as we got closer to ending the job he kept blowing me off on the waivers).  I had no choice, but to use my judgment, make that judgment call to walk away from completing this job. I did not want to be held liable if the shaft had broke and sunk the boat or perhaps injure anybody.  Customer had 2 professionals telling him not to put a bent shaft back in the vessel and he chose not to listen to the professionals.
  ********, just for reference I also did the same exact job for this customer back in March of 2021 without any issues and Ive been cleaning his boat for Id say, roughly about 2 to 3 years along with also pulling his props off and reinstalling several times.
  

  
  

  Customer response

  08/27/2024

   
  Complaint: 22053046
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Once the babble and gibberish is set aside, the facts are very clear:

  1. The vessel is not for sale. 

  2. I paid over $8,000, double what this merchant charged, for a professional outfit to finish the job (invoice attached). Money was not and is not an issue.

  3. All vendors, i.e. ******* prop shop were paid.

  4. This merchant did not disclose he is receving kickbacks from every third party he railroads his customers to. 

  5. ********, knowing the vessel was incurring daily charges, blackmailed us to receive an additional $1500, for "disturbing him" during his Memorial day vacation, when he had committed to commencing work.

  6. ******** walked off the job, leaving the work area in a disastrous, dirty and unfinished condition.

  7. ******** did not complete even 50% of the job, the technicians hired subsequently were required to readjust and repair shoddy work and poor workmanship.

  8. There are witness statements and photos available, as well as, a professional survey of the work done, for the record.  

  9. We are presently pursuing legal action against this merchant, to ensure no other potential customer is subjected to similar behavior.

   

   

  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

  Business response

  08/28/2024

  1. Why is vessel listed for sale? See photos. That is being dishonest. 
  2. Then why did you tell us you had to pay some in cash that a friend was gonna lend you (but you never did give us cash) and used 4 credit cards that are maxed out.  They charge what the charge & I charge what I charge. (I have over 25 images to attach but it wont allow me to attach that many)
  3. I never said vendors, ******* etc werent paid. I said FJ was not paid for by 4pm on a Friday in order to be able to splash the boat on Saturday. 
  4. Dont you think captains, yacht management, etc gets a kick back also. They do.  
  5. You had at one point texted me that you were willing to pay us more. 
  6. We were working on the vessel of course there would be some finger print marks in a white engine room. We always clean up the day were completing the job. 
  7. Shady work I highly doubt that. You know I pride myself on the work I do. If I did such shady work, then why have you been using me for the last 2 to 3 years?  That job was 75% done. I didnt want to take a chance of being responsible for a shaft breaking causing damage or harm to the boat or persons. 
  8. I also have photos and documentation. 
  9-We do have an attorney also. Because if you recall. You had the 4 of us sit down and you had asked what do you think I can get this boatyard to lower their prices on because you thought their bill was too high. 
  
  In regards to #2:  I have many pictures of the text messages back and forth of him trying to use 4 different credit cards in order to pay us. At times only putting $400 on one card $600 on another card $1,000 on another card and so and so on. During our text conversation one card he had even given me was declined.  I feel I cant adequately defend myself with these questions when I can only attach five images when I actually have anywhere from 20 to 40 images to attach. 

  Customer response

  08/29/2024

   
  Complaint: 22053046
  
  I am rejecting this response because, I will not engage in a tug of war with this merchant.  We have instructed our lawyers to proceed.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

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