This is my FIGHT song...

...about unscrupulous contractors who low ball their estimates to get contracts, then pick and choose the more lucrative, letting the little jobs fall by the wayside.  However, not before leading you along for two months.

That is what happened to me, and I want to share, if only to help prevent this from happening to someone else.  I try to be upbeat and positive, in my posts, but sometimes you just have to VENT!
Furthermore, I hasten to add that not all contractors are unscrupulous. There are good people out there.

This summer, I needed my roof re-shingled, no and, ifs nor BUTS.  The first contractor's quote was high, I thought, but the second was 25% less. However, I was told the ventilation would have to be checked.  I thought, "Fine, let's get that done, and you can amend your quote."  That contractor cancelled two meetings, telling me he was extremely busy, so I said I could wait until September, if he could do my roof then.  I said to never mind about the ventilation. My handy Bro had checked, and he thought it was fine.  THAT was good enough for me. The contractor replied that he WOULD do my roof then, if I could wait.  I called him back in September.  He assured I was on the list and he'd be coming the next day to see me.  He called the next day, dropping the following bomb, just like this. "I am TOO busy to do your roof after all."

I was upset, but I kept my cool. I got two other quotes, both of which were in line with the first, so now I knew he had low balled his.  I was left scrambling, because I was leaving for Edmonton, and the number of warm enough days to re-shingle a roof, were getting limited.  As it was, my roof was done while I was away, but my Handy Bro and another friend kept an eye on things for me. That contractor did a wonderful job... as far as I am concerned. Plus he stands by this work, having done the roofs of several of my neighbours.

All the while, I was developing a s-l-o-w burn about all this.  I took a day to collect my thoughts. You know the  pen is MIGHTIER than the sword, right?   I didn't complain to the BBB. There is no point in my small town.  I couldn't post anything on their FB page. However, I could and did go on their Yellow Pages page.   I stated the facts, and NOTHING but the facts, ending with the line "BAD BUSINESS PRACTICES!"

MONSIEUR LE CONTRACTEUR Number 2 did NOT like that. He called me while I was in Alberta.  I refused his call. He then sent me a text asking me to take down my posting, all the while presenting ALTERNATIVE FACTS, à la Donald Trump!  What HOGWASH!!!

However, what infuriates me the MOST in this misadventure, is that IF I had had a MALE partner, I would NOT have been treated so shabbily.  That is a given!!  I am a single woman and easier to be given less consideration?

SO, I tell everyone who talks about roofs and new shingles, exactly how I was treated AND I give them the name of the decent contractor (Couture's Renovations by the way, if you live in the Chaleur area!) who, for a few dollars more, knows how to give good service, do good work and keep their word.

I might only have one match... but I can make an explosion!!!!!