Elevator Technology aka Cal-West Elevator of Sacramento, Owners Leonard & Peggy Bates Family run Bait & Switch team. El Dorado Hills California

We have better things to do than to create a story. There are no false statements from us, the clients. We havent even started our remodel so I have no idea what they are speaking of about contractor costs. Elevator Technology gave us NO bid on work performed and the are blaming us for lack of communication when our phone calls to their "answering service" were not returned while they were on a "family vacation" in Mexico. They simply need to supply an honest estimate and follow up with that estimate instead of charging two parties, ourselves and our realtor. Again, Elevator Technology is a bait and switch operation that is dangerously shameless in their tactics. 

Our realtor are alerting their clients to never use Elevator Technology along with contacting their attorney as to how to protect us from illegietimate contractors such as them. Thank you to Rip Off Report and BBB for bringing the voice of the consumer to bad business such as Elevator Technology.

We were contacted late last year by Coldwell Banker to look at a residential elevator located at 7882 Lakeshore Drive, Granite Bay for a potential buyer. The potential buyer Joyce Gildea was concerned with the elevator re-leveling every few minutes and being too noisy. This was the only concern she expressed for the elevator. ET determined that the home elevator needed a new hydraulic control valve to correct the constant re-leveling issue being reported. Elevator Technology provided a very specific quote to provide and install a new hydraulic control valve only inclusive of installation, sales tax and freight. We received a signed work order on Dec 15, 2014 to complete the work. The valve had to be special ordered. Upon receipt of the parts, I contacted Mrs. Gildea to coordinate a time that would work for the installation. The valve replacement was completed on February 20, 2015 and the contracted amount of $1,281.00 was billed and paid by the title company. Mrs. Gildea states that she waited 3 months for the parts, this is a false claim. The work that Elevator Technology agreed to was completed in full at this time.

A month later on March 17, 2015 Mrs. Gildea contacted our office to complain the elevator was doing some “strange things”. This message was left with our answering service as our office was closed that particular week. Our answering service emails all general office calls to be handled upon the office re-opening. Mrs. Gildea called back on Friday March 20, 2015 complaining that the elevator is still not working and needs immediate service. My on-call service technician promptly returned Mrs. Gildea’s phone call to let her know the office would call her Monday morning to set up a service call. An appointment was set up for Tuesday March 24th at 10:00 AM. My service technician arrived at 10:00 AM sharp where he proceeded to wait 20 minutes for the Gildea’s to arrive for their 10:00 AM appointment, they were not charged for the time he waited for their arrival however my service technician was paid for the time that he spent waiting.

The Glidea’s expressed their concern for the slight elevator rocking when they stepped inside the car with two people, they also were not satisfied with the acceleration speed of the elevator upon starting up. Upon our arrival the elevator was in fact running, contrary to Mrs. Gildea’s message she left with my answering service. My service technician proceeded to shim the guide shoes in the elevator hoist way as there was a slight horizontal rocking. The car rocking that was found to be un-satisfactory to the Gildea’s was an existing condition from the time of installation by another Elevator Contractor 20+ years ago. Additionally the acceleration speed is not a deficiency with the elevator as it is a personal preference on the up start. This additional work was in no way related to the new hydraulic control valve that was installed underneath the elevator. This was explained in full to Mrs. Gildea, however she refuses to acknowledge the provable facts. It is unfortunate that Mrs. Gildea lacks mechanical knowledge. Mrs. Gildea has demanded that this unrelated additional work be covered under the valve replacement work order. Mrs. Gildea continues to falsify facts about Elevator Technology stating that we are "threatening her and other clients with liens on their homes.” I’m not sure which other clients Mrs. Gildea is referring to, ETI has been in business for 24 years and has never had to lien or pre lien a home to be paid for work completed. Although it is Elevator Technology’s right to file a mechanic’s lien for work that was approved we prefer not to go that route.

Mrs. Gildea also has blatantly lied about making several calls that went un-answered. Due to the nature of the elevator industry and emergency calls, ET's phone lines never go “un-answered” Our phones are monitored 24 hours a day 7 days a week whether the office is open or closed.

Elevator Technology has been a local family owned business for 24 years and it seems Mrs. Gildea is bothered by this. ET proceeded to file a Preliminary 20-day notice on the home so we did not lose the right to file a mechanics lien if needed. Upon receipt of the Preliminary Notice, Mrs. Gildea mailed a check to ET the same day. Mrs. Gildea has made it obvious that she expects ET to be responsible for any and all issues that arise with all components of her 20 year old elevator because we replaced the control valve.  

It has become evident that Mrs. Gildea is in over her head with the full remodel of the 1970’s home she purchased and is unable to afford as she had mentioned many times that the house was a complete tear down. Mrs. Gildea is a consumer trying to scam small local business's into completing work for her with the intent of trying to get out of paying the bill. Mrs. Gildea then sends a threatening letter along with her payment that if we cash her check that she will file complaints with the BBB and ripoffreport.com telling us that its, “Your choice, is it worth $700 to you?”

If you are a subcontractor BEWARE of working for Joyce or David Gildea, we would not want you to have to go through the headache that we went through to collect on a legitimate $700.00 invoice. It is our hope that in the future the Gildea’s will treat any contractor who chooses to work for them in a professional and ethical manner. Mrs. Gildea has made several false statements about ETI which is prohibited by ripoffreport.com