BSC Painting Company A small problem turned in to a huge problem because of Office Manager Synthia Norco California

My wife and I found BSC Painting back in 2012 on a Craigslist Ad posting. They were advertising $800 for a "whole house painting." We quickly found out that the actual bid to paint our 1,600 sq ft house was about $2,500. Still a fair price, so we hired BSC for the job. 

Bob Crane is the man who does the painting. He is a very nice guy and did a good job on our house. 

Fast forward to 2013, and we called BSC to paint our shed in the back yard. A much smaller job. I verbally agreed on the phone with the "office manager" Synthia to pay $500 for the job and $100 for 5 gallons of paint. She followed that up with a one page work order reflecting the same, which I signed.

When Bob arrived on a Friday morning, he realized that I had used a silicone caulk that was not paintable. He was nice and gracious about my mistake. He said, "it's not your fault - it could happen to anyone." I told him that he could go ahead and paint it all and I'd fix the problem spots later, but he said it would be better for him to just come back another day once all the caulk was fixed. I paid Bob $100 for the paint and he left about an hour after he had originally arrived.

About two hours after he left, I received a very irate and angry call from a Synthia, the office manager. She demanded that I compensate them for Bob's wasted time. In an angry, raspy voice she hissed, "Bob wasted a whole day because of YOUR LOUSY WORK!" I told her that Bob told me he should come back another day - it was his decision to leave and cancel for the day - but that I felt it was fair to at least pay him for the drive out to our place. She was belligerent on the phone, demeaning, and the most hostile person I've dealt with in years. And I'm a lawyer. I deal with hostile people all day, every day. She rose above the hostile competition.

I was very upset and bewildered by the end of that phone call. I decided that Synthia was so hostile, aggressive, threatening, rude, and plain nasty that I didn't want to give BSC my business anymore. I texted her that I was canceling the paint job and that I would send Bob $100 as a courtesy for his visit out here.

Things got busy that weekend and I didn't get a check mailed out. Early Tuesday morning Synthia texted me and said they did not get the check yet and that Bob was coming to pick it up the next day.

The next day (Wednesday) Synthia texted me and asked if I was home. I told her my wife was home with the baby. She texed, "R u mailing check? U cancelled so payment is due."

I replied, "Actually, Bob cancelled and I'm sending him money as a courtesy and not out of a legal obligation."

Synthia then writes, "You cancelled because u screwed up. If we don't get they [sic] check by fri I'm putting a lien. U lawyer line doesn't me. I've been in business 15 years goodbye"

She then texted again, "I'll also report u 4 fraud if u try lie. You cancelled edb [sic] of story. You have until Friday."

She followed these texts up with a voicemail at 11:25 am that said that she was going to "report me to the California bar," "call my employer", "file a lien on my property," and the icing on the cake, "call the police."

I was not threatened by any of these attempts at extortion, because I know none of the claims would go anywhere or be reduced to a judgment. In fact, I knew that if BSC attempted to file a lien on the property that I could sue them to remove an illegal lien. The California bar and the police have nothing to do with this kind of situation.

However, there is one lesson I have learned in life.  People who have a complete personality disorder can make your life hell because they are so miserable themselves.  I decided it was best to pay off the psycho extortioner and be done with her for good.  

Unfortunately, for hard-working and respectful Bob, his office manager (and possibly wife or girlfriend) is destroying his business and reputation. I would never do business with them again unless Synthia is completely out of the picture.

Good luck Bob.  I hope you get a new office manager soon, for your career's sake.