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On 5/8/07, APS Insulation Services came to my home to price a job for insulation work to be completed under, in the exterior walls, and the attic of my home. Michael Eubanks, owner, was present to inspect the job in question. I received an estimate from him detailing the entire job; total - $9,000.00. It was broken down into 3 phases with corresponding amounts and a grand total: ground, walls, and attic for $4000, $2500, and $2500 respectively. Full payment was due upon completion. According to him, all phases would be started and completed within a reasonable amount of time.
After receiving numerous estimates from other insulators, I agreed to Mr. Eubanks estimate by signing the document and informing him over the phone of my acceptance of his offer. He agreed to commit to the insulation job on my house starting the same week; which he did.
A month later, on June 4th, he finally completed 1 of 3 phases listed in the agreement. He immediately asked for payment of that particular phase which was $3800.00. I paid his son-in-law, Tim Phillips, $3800 by check on June 4th. He and Michael Eubanks confirmed that APS Insulation Services would be back on the 6th to complete the job. The next three days elapsed; APS Insulation was a “no-show.” I called Saturday June 9th, to inquire about his absence. He stated that he no longer had “any interests” in completing the work. He stated that he had made serious miscalculations in his agreement to me and didn’t wish to finish. He also admitted of having no intentions of ever returning to satisfy his commitment especially since he had already gotten $3800 “out of me”. He has since abandoned the job altogether.
I’ve asked that APS either finish the work themselves or hire a subcontractor to complete the exact same work at Mr. Eubanks’ expense less the $5000 to be paid by me once the remaining phases are complete. His answer: a $30 letter from a local no-name lawyer stating APS had done nothing wrong. See Better Business Bureau complaint for more information. AL attorney General Troy King’s office has been notified as well.
Interesting synopsis. Let me clarify the issue some more. As it was in my case, as long as you are willing to follow up, spot check, and keep APS (Michael Eubanks) at his verbal & written word on the job to be performed, and willing to let weeks/months elapse before completion, then by all means hire them. The phase he completed under my home was of excellent quality; altogether great work. Things went south when I held him to his word though. Shoddy questionable materials were first used instead of what he specified in his contract. I had to hold him to what he promised and he didn't like that in the least. That's why follow up is so important with this insulation group. As far as he was concerned, this transaction was laden with miscommunication on what was to be done; a convenient rationalization for his capricious behavior; whatever. As he stated to me several times, he made a huge mistake with his estimate and was in a position to loose money. Instead of biting the bullet and fulfilling his commitment, he fled with the hopes I’d look away. And that has not been the case!
Sounds like he low-balled an estimate, for whatever reason (inexperience probably), started working the easiest and most expensive phase of the total job, suckered you into paying for the first phase by telling you he'd come back later to finish the other two phases, and then "cut-and-run" once you gave him some money. It appears you got taken my friend. Hope it doesn't happen to the next guy. Thanks for the info. This certainly helped me with my decision!