ComplaintsforOne Time Construction, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  07/19/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I hired One Time Construction January 30, 2024 to design and build an in-law suite. I made it clear the space needed to be completed by July 31, 2024. The contractor and sales persons, **** ******** and **** ****, agreed this was feasible. I paid a down payment of $2,500 for “Design Fees for Addition” that I was told would include 3-D renderings and blueprints, which I would own once created. I made office calls and visits to inquire about the timeline only to be assured the project would still finish on time. I was told to pay the remaining $2,500 design fees, final engineering cost $1,200 and $2,500 permit costs May 9, 2024 to continue with the project. I requested digital and paper copies of the plans that would be submitted with the city now paid for. I was told they would “get them to me soon”, but I never received. **** said the plans had been submitted for approval the Tuesday after Memorial Day, however I was told by the building department for the city of Brunswick that no plans had been submitted. I again requested the prints I paid for (previously requested also so could submit ADA features to Veterans Affairs for review) and was given more excuses. I fired One Time Construction and requested my money be returned as they did not provide and design plans or blueprints as promised. I was refunded $2,500 on July 10, 2024 in the form of a check for the permit fees. I was handed several sheets of paper that I was told would “get another builder started” and I was told the digital files were coming by the weekend. Today is July 19, 2024 and I have not received any digital files or physical blueprints. Various other companies I have now consulted with also say what I am in possession of does not constitute “design” or blueprints and I should pursue the $5,000.00 be refunded as the service promised was not delivered. I am asking that One Time Construction refund money for product not provided in the amount of $5,000 for “Design Fees for Addition”.

  

  Business response

  08/05/2024

  We have a contract signed by ******** ****** on January 30, 2024 for design fees for a 2 story home addition to include a new kitchen, laundry room, bedroom, bathroom, living area, separate outdoor entrance and new upstairs master bedroom and bath.  Amount of the contract is $5,000.  The contract did not include building the addition or blueprints.  She paid a credit card deposit of $2,500 on 1/30/2024.   When the final design was completed and received on May 9, 2024, she paid the balance due of $2,500 with check #*** Huntington bank.  Included on that check was $1,200 for final engineering and $2,500 for estimated permit fees. No portion of the service is remaining outstanding.  She received her design after many weeks of meetings and site visits.   She did receive what she contracted for. 
  After the design was finally approved and paid for, the next step was to agree on a contract for the construction of the home addition and secure building permits.  We submitted plans to the Brunswick Building Department Zoning Inspector to determine if a variance would be required.  Permit fees are based on the cost of  construction.  The customer has declined to move forward with contracting for the construction of the addition.  We have no contract with her for completion of the project, and the permit process was unable to be completed.  We have refunded her the $2,500 for the estimated permit cost on 7/10/24 Check ****.  No other refunds apply.  On July 15th she disputed the credit card deposit charge from 1/30/2024 and that $2,500 has been deducted from our checking account. 
  Anticipating starting the foundation work and acting in good faith we contracted with a local tree service to remove 2 large maple trees from her backyard.  Removal took 2 days, July 1st and 2nd.  She was home at the time of the tree removal.  We paid Conroy Tree Service $1,921.50 and have requested reimbursement.  She owes us $4,421.50 for the tree removal and credit card chargeback of $2,500.00. 
  Attachments:
  ****** check #*** for $6,200 dated 5/9/2024
  Chargeback letter from Square dated 7/15/2024
  Paid Invoice for tree removal from Conroy Tree Service $1,921.50

  Customer response

  08/09/2024

   I am rejecting this response because:
  I never received “the final design” as is stated multiple times in their response. This is why I filed a complaint. One Time Construction said I needed to pay the balance of the “design fees” in order to receive the digital AND paper files for the final design, which was to include blueprints that would be submitted to the city to gain permits for construction. As of July 19, no prints were ever submitted to the city (although I was told the plans were submitted May 28, 2024) and  as of August 8, 2024, I have not received any “final design” plans as was promised  May 9 after my check cleared. Upon repeated pleas for what I had paid for, in June and again in July, I was told I would have the “digital files and blueprints by the weekend” (July 13) as **** just needed "time to get them together", and when I did not have any plans as of July 19, I filed a complaint with the BBB. I did not sign a contract for tree removal and I was also never reimbursed for the $1,200 for “final engineering” which I was told was for the prints to go to the city. The credit on my Discover card is still pending as the dispute has not been closed. I paid One Time Construction  $8,700 total, of which $2,500 for permit fees was reimbursed after a month of being told the city was reviewing the plans (I confirmed with the city in July that the plans were never submitted), leaving $6,700. Again, I did not sign a contract with the tree removal company and was not given a price up front, nor did I agree to one. I did not receive any “final design” and I was never reimbursed for the $1,200 final engineering that also never occurred. IF the credit card dispute is closed, and I am awarded the $2,500.00 Discover credit, One Time Construction still owes me $2,500 for “final design” I never received upon my May 9 payment as promised and $1,200 for  final engineering which never occurred, totaling $3,700.00. If the Discover credit does not stand, I am seeking the full $5,000, which still unfortunately leaves me out $700.00 as I did not know at the time of this filing that Discover card could also help me with this dispute against this dishonest company.
  
  
  
  

  Customer response

  08/15/2024

  The attached are text messages with **** from One Time Construction showing that I did not in fact receive what I paid in May as they claim. Well into July, **** was still claiming he needed "time" to get me the digital files and he admits in these messages that the few printed pictures he handed me are not  useful or what I paid for. **** claimed injury and martial issues as reasons for the delay in addition to a host of other excuses. Tired of the excuses, and still in July without the files I paid for in May, I requested my money back. The texts also clearly show the lies regarding having filed for permits (which clearly disputes the claim that they had finished conducting business with me). The city of Brunswick can confirm no permits were ever filed for. The variance request was also never filed with the city zoning committee. One Time claimed they were going to start construction the end of July, after having promised in January that the job would be completed in July. However, with no permits filed with the city or the zoning department, this was yet another lie and also another reason I asked for my money back. I never signed a contract for the construction or the tree removal as I was never provided with either and I would not have as  I had already given the company money for permits, design plans and final construction fees that were not fulfilled.

  

  Business response

  08/20/2024

  We were ready to start the addition pending finalization of the construction contract and receipt of a material deposit. Plans were submitted to Zoning and did not proceed to the Permit Department as we did not have a contract in place for the construction, as explained previously.   Unfortunately we do not offer financing and were unable to assist her in obtaining funding to pay for the project.  We have invested significant time in designing, engineering and planning the addition.  Clearly she approved the final design and the tree removal.   To complain it should all be free and she shouldn't have to pay for any of it is disingenuous and unreasonable. She states "I did not know at the time of this filing that Discover card could also help me with this dispute." We received the credit card chargeback letter on 7/15/2024 and the filing date on this complaint is 7/19/2024.  We await the final determination of the credit card chargeback which is initially in her favor. 

  Customer response

  08/21/2024

   I am rejecting this response because: the city can confirm that no plans were submitted to the building or the zoning department. In order to begin construction, a variance approval needed to be requested. The Zoning department July agenda confirms that no such agenda item was requested.  I also know this because I have now attended the August meeting, properly applied for a variance and spoken with the department. 
  I never asked One Time for any type of financing. I secured financing with my bank. I was ready to move forward with the project in May,  however One Time refused to produce plans as evidenced by the July text messages in which I was still asking and still being told they “needed more time”. Without plans, permits on file (which One Time also lied about have filed for) and no zoning approval, the job could not legally proceed and therefore their response is a lie.
  As I made it abundantly clear I needed the addition to be completed in July, and One Time had not even drawn up a contract or been honest about the completion of steps that needed to be taken in order to start, I requested the plans, or my money back as each month of delay costs me $8,000 in assisted living costs for my elderly mother’s care.

  As stated, I  never was quoted a price or signed a contract for the tree removal. I never saw the contract (not signed or approved by me) until it was supplied to the BBB. The company could have made up any price.  Also, my fence was damaged in the process  and I was told by the removal company that the responsibility for fixing the damage should fall on One Time as they contracted the tree removal. 
  

  I pursued assistance through Discover card and I am grateful for their consumer support.  I did not know the out come of their decision at the time of this filing and again, the decision has not yet been made permanent.

  The bottom line is simply that I paid $5,000 for design plans which were to (again as evidenced  in  text correspondence) include useable digital files  for constructing the addition and as again, evidenced in the correspondence, I to date have not received what I paid for, but instead only  a few 3- D generic room renderings that are 1. Not useable, 2. Not what was promised  3. Not digital and certainly 4. Not worth $5000. 

  The company claims to have time invested and yet, still refuses to produce and provide usable files. 
  As I did not receive what I paid for and now have had to hire another builder, other contractors have confirmed that I am just in asking for my money back as I did not receive what I paid. Independently of one another, each has encouraged me to get my money back as each as affirmed One Time Construction did not act professionally or provide any useable plans. 
  My next steps **** include litigation if necessary if only to spare the next consumer the fraud committed by this company and the aggravation and financial  hardship this has caused. 
  

  
  

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