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Report: #386118

Complaint Review: Watkinson Custom Builders; Kevin Watkinson - Flemington New Jersey

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  • Reported By: Pittstown New Jersey
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  • Watkinson Custom Builders; Kevin Watkinson 54 Coppermine Village Flemington, New Jersey U.S.A.

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Kevin Watkinson contracted to renovate bathroom in April, promised completion by end of May. He showed us pictures of lovely work done on a home, and said he'd worked for a custom builder and was starting out on his own... turned out it was his dad he worked for and the work, on his mother's home, was with Dad's help too.

He began work without permits, said he was "in process of getting license" and wouldn't apply for permits, and that we didn't need permits. We insisted and applied ourselves. He came sporadically over the next months, a few hours here and there, and it stretched into 5 months!

He installed the medicine cabinet so high we could barely see in the mirror, moved it so low it barely clears the faucet, and it's off center, the wainscoting and molding are badly damaged, AND he cut thru into the kitchen wall 4 times, what a mess. He damaged toilet seat and shelf on vanity by putting tools or feet on them w/o dropcloth. He didn't complete the walls, or put a door on the linen closet. Month after month we thought he'd make it better... lots of excuses, little talent.

He didn't pay the plumber who would not return w/o payment so we paid plumber directly which was the balance we owed Kevin... so now he's paid in full and HE DISAPPEARED with our money and a bathroom damaged, not finished, A MESS. He is being sought by supply vendors, other customers.

Watch out for Kevin Watkinson and Watkinson Custom Builders anywhere around Flemington NJ.

Carmela
Pittstown, New Jersey
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 10/29/2008 04:06 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/watkinson-custom-builders-kevin-watkinson/flemington-new-jersey-08822/watkinson-custom-builders-kevin-watkinson-contractor-damages-bathroom-doesnt-finish-ta-386118. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
0Author
3Consumer
2Employee/Owner

#5 REBUTTAL Owner of company

A Dark Hour

AUTHOR: Kevin - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Friday, June 12, 2009

I would like to first address a few items from the initial report I feel are not entirely true. First I never advised them to not get a permit just that I couldn't help them get one because I did not currently have a license, however, I did have the proper insurance. I do now have a license and still have proper insurance. They then decided to get a permit because there was other work going on in the main part of the house that permits had been taken out for so there would be inspectors around so they thought it best to get permits. I agreed and am currently a huge advocate of getting permits. I did several job prior to this one where i built substantial decks and all had permits pulled and passed as the inspectors came through. As the permits were being pulled there was a delay in the work and I needed to keep working so i started another job. This turned out to be a mistake of necessity as i couldn't afford to wait until the permits were in but wished I had so that momentum on that job was not lost.

The second item that in not true is the statement of who i have worked for. My father who has been a custom carpenter for over 25 years is not the only person I have worked for. I have worked for a top custom home builder in NJ and also a smaller contractor in NJ. It was during my time with the smaller contractor that i went out on my own.

Now the issue at the heart of this terribly situation. I admit that it appeared that I took their money and left the job unfinished. However, that was never the intention. I found myself in a terrible place and didn't know how to turn it around. I had just lost my grandfather...and was struggling with serious financial issues. I had never been there before and fully admit that at that time i did not handle the situation well or properly. Carmela, with every right to protect herself, filed this report as leverage so i would pay her money back so that another contractor could finish the job i started then remove this report. I paid her back the agreed upon amount and we learned that these reports cannot be removed. All I can do is continue to do honorable work without ever forgetting what i have learned from this experience. We all have shameful moments in our lives and i have tried to do all i can to right this wrong and move forward.

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#4 REBUTTAL Owner of company

A Dark Hour

AUTHOR: Kevin - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Friday, June 12, 2009

I would like to first address a few items from the initial report I feel are not entirely true. First I never advised them to not get a permit just that I couldn't help them get one because I did not currently have a license, however, I did have the proper insurance. I do now have a license and still have proper insurance. They then decided to get a permit because there was other work going on in the main part of the house that permits had been taken out for so there would be inspectors around so they thought it best to get permits. I agreed and am currently a huge advocate of getting permits. I did several job prior to this one where i built substantial decks and all had permits pulled and passed as the inspectors came through. As the permits were being pulled there was a delay in the work and I needed to keep working so i started another job. This turned out to be a mistake of necessity as i couldn't afford to wait until the permits were in but wished I had so that momentum on that job was not lost.

The second item that in not true is the statement of who i have worked for. My father who has been a custom carpenter for over 25 years is not the only person I have worked for. I have worked for a top custom home builder in NJ and also a smaller contractor in NJ. It was during my time with the smaller contractor that i went out on my own.

Now the issue at the heart of this terribly situation. I admit that it appeared that I took their money and left the job unfinished. However, that was never the intention. I found myself in a terrible place and didn't know how to turn it around. I had just lost my grandfather...and was struggling with serious financial issues. I had never been there before and fully admit that at that time i did not handle the situation well or properly. Carmela, with every right to protect herself, filed this report as leverage so i would pay her money back so that another contractor could finish the job i started then remove this report. I paid her back the agreed upon amount and we learned that these reports cannot be removed. All I can do is continue to do honorable work without ever forgetting what i have learned from this experience. We all have shameful moments in our lives and i have tried to do all i can to right this wrong and move forward.

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#3 Author of original report

KEVIN WATKINSON Jr. MAKES AMENDS - consumer satisfied, Kevin forgiven.

AUTHOR: Carmela - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Wednesday, June 10, 2009

NOTE... this complaint was about Kevin Watkinson Jr., NOT HIS FATHER who is also a contractor, has a good reputation, and whom we have never met.

Kevin Jr. has repaid all monies due us and is making amends to everyone. I cannot remove this report due to RipoffReport's policy never to remove any report so I am updating to make it clear that Kevin Jr. had a bad time starting out and is making amends and working with his Dad who is a seasoned contractor with a good reputation.

Kevin has also made the following statement via email which I wish to share....

I can never begin to tell how terribly I feel about how the whole job, situation, relationship worked out. It will forever be the darkest hour of my life. I have done nice work before and since. I am now working with my father who really is a seasoned craftsman. I am in a much better place in my life and I looking to the future with a promise to never repeat what I very unintentionally did to you and your family. I have been working with [others] and have been paying them back.

I am doing everything I can to repay all my debts and try to start with a clean slate. I am hoping that my one terrible misguided time in my life will not continue to haunt me and now unfortunately my father as we try and move forward.

I really do want to make things as right as I can with you whether you can forgive me or not.

Sincerely, Kevin Watkinson
Watkinson Custom Builders

WE ARE SATISFIED THAT THIS WAS A DIFFICULT PERSONAL TIME in Kevin's life and that he is now working hard to correct the things that went wrong, repay monies owed, and continue to learn quality craftsmanship with his father.

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#2 Author of original report

Watkinson Custom Builders repays some $$$

AUTHOR: Carmela - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Kevin Watkinson of Watkinson Custom Builders in Flemington NJ has returned $1000 to us. Another builder is finishing the bathroom ONE YEAR after Watkinson began. This does not cover the cost of the bathroom being finished but it's better than nothing. Much of the beadboard wainscotting had to be removed and replaced - Watkinson's work was shoddy and the boards separated in places, other places they were actually damaged in installation - so it's not just doing what kevin didn't finish, it's re-doing stuff he did. Kevin said he had bad start to his new business, money problems, personal problems... which we understand but doesn't explain poor workmanship and lack of communication for so many months.

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#1 Author of original report

Watkinson Custom Builders, Kevin Watkinson repays customer.

AUTHOR: Carmela - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, January 13, 2009

This week Kevin Watkinson finally repaid some of the money he owes us for not finishing our bathroom, and for the damage he did to it. He promises to repay the balance next week. It is 9 months since he started, our bathroom is still not finished, we can't afford to pay someone else to finish it until/unless he repays all monies. Hopefully he will do so.

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