THE HOME DEPOT Home Depot kitchens and installations Dont trust home depot , they will take your money and run. Shady tactics to cover there mistakes rosedale, Maryland

If the company subcontracts, which I know HD does since I had a successful installation of a granite kitchen counter, then it is a real problem to determine who is responsible. I am fortunate that everything worked out as planned (given your experience). If you notice in this site there is a HUGE problem that is systemic in America concerning customer service and their rights under the law. Attorneys are making a fortune on our (consumer) bad treatment by big business. I sense that this very big company will drain more money from you given your lawyer fees since they have deep pockets. Home Depot starts the decline of the community using a now traditional guerrilla marketing technique where they position the store near Mom and Pop stores. Then they charge a lower price due to product volume. In this instance they probably used a contractor that was once flourishing in the community to service your needs. They then (when they take over the market) raise the price and are as expensive or more expensive than the Mom and Pop stores they forced to close. There are other issues, like quality of the products and not using American companies, and causing job loss in any community they infest. This is true of many Mall type operations and one needs to think is a cheap price worth destroying our social fabric - especially when communities need to remain connected against big business renters. There are no ghettos when the fabric of business and properties remaining in the community and are not rented out to business that have no real stake in the community. Close your account after this settles and begin to pay a little more to support local businesses that may charge a bit more where you will not need to hire an expensive attorney to fight a legal war. I also suggest filing a report with this government entity, since if we complain without follow through, nothing really gets accomplished:

http://www.ftc.gov/reports/index.htm

No formal law training?  I don't think I would like that, it doesen't sound very objective. 

I suggest you file a claim in small claims court (Magistrates Court).  From experience, I know that companies generally take these very seriously and usually work out something before the court date.  It will probably cost you between $50 and $75 to file the claim but that is recoverable if you win your case.

You don't need a lawyer to go to small claims court and very few who do go there are represented by a lawyer.  If you remember the TV show with Judge Wapner, that will give you an idea of how it is conducted.  It is very informal and the judge may not even be a lawyer.  One of the magistrate judges in my area is a former prize fighter and has no legal education or training at all!  They are one of us!  He went through a short introductory seminar provided by the state to familiarize him of how to conduct his court room and that's the extent of his training.

Magistrate's courts have limitations on how large their awards can be but generally, it is not large amounts.  Several years ago, my state increased the limit from $5,000.00 to $15,000.00.  I suspect that could cover your damages.

One thing to remember is that the Statute of Limitations applies.  You have a limited length of time from the problem to file in court.  This is generally 1 to 3 years.  If you miss the dead line, you will not be able to get your case in court.