Tarvers Michael
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09/28/2017
I moved into a new home where the sole heat source is a wood stove. I contacted Highland Chimney Sweep in May to sweep the chimney. Courtney, they owner, showed up (without an appointment) in June and I agreed to let him sweep the chimney. The price was $100 higher than he quoted on the phone due to the condition of the chimney, which I was ok with. However, he did not alert me to this fact until after he was in the middle of the job.
He advised that I get a chimney liner installed and I agreed. He gave me an estimate of $1600, which I agreed to and told me he would be back in July to complete the work. He showed up in early September (again unannounced) to commence the work. I reluctantly agreed even though I had already begun contacting other companies due to his unresponsiveness to messages left during the month of August. He then told me it would be $2600 due to the condition of the chimney and would take 2 days. I agreed for him to proceed (at least this time he told me before starting the job). He began working on September 14. Then my nightmare started.
What was supposed to be 2 days stretched into 2 weeks. He would say he was coming first thing in the morning to start working, then show up somewhere between 11 and 3, set up for an hour, work for an hour, take a 1-2 hour break, work for an hour then cleanup for an hour. He would promise to come back the next day to finish 'first thing' then arrive in the middle of the day (or not show up at all). There was never a call or text indicating he would be late and/or not coming. If he answered calls or texts from me (which was rare) he would never, not one time, follow through on what he said he was going to do. When my husband and I explained to him that we were dissatisfied with the way the project was going, he became rude and even less responsive. He raised his voice and complained that we would not be paying him for the 'extra time' he was putting in (which if one added up the actual time spent working, it was within the area of 16 or so hours; his late arrival/early departure/setting up and breaking down over multiple days was due to his own inefficiency).
At the two-week mark, Courtney damaged an antique chair while working. When I asked him for his insurance information, he began shouting loudly and threw a large metal tool. He continued yelling and stormed out. I locked the door and called the police, who issued a no trespass order to him. I am now left with damaged property, a wood stove in the middle of my living room and half a chimney liner hanging out of my roof.
I do not write this review lightly. However, after my experience, I felt compelled to warn others about my interactions with this individual/company so that potential customers can make an informed decision prior to allowing him to work in their homes.