Gutter Helmet, SEMCO, Gibraltar Industries Gutter Helmet deceived, lied and scammed us out of $1,200!!! Colorado Springs Colorado

I have received a few requests to update my Gutter Helmet review with more information and hopefully this will answer any unanswered questions.

 After posting my original grievance with the company, Gutter Helmet, we received no communication or assistance from the local owners, Kirt and Vicki Byerly. These owners were completely unsympathetic and unwilling to assist with our improper gutter installation done by Gutter Helmet. So, I tried to receive contact information on my territories regional manager, corporate office and/or a customer service department to complain where none was found or given by Gutter Helmet. This is a telling sign of their company policy; bottle-neck any legitimate complaints moving up the chain-of-command and making it so difficult to reach an authoritative individual that their dissatisfied customer base will just give up out of pure frustration.

 It was only through my own inquiries and no assistance from the company that I found Chelsea Welsh was the National Marketing Manager of Gutter Helmet/SEMCO. It turns out that Gutter Helmet is owned by SEMCO Southeastern Metals. I had to post another complaint online asking Chelsea Welsh to contact me since the only information I could find on her was personal and not business related and did not feel comfortable contacting her outside of work.  Chelsea Welsh contacted me and stated she would mediate our situation and keep an open line of communication at all times, which turned out to be false. She explained some details to us that we were never aware of and that Gutter Helmet failed to inform us upon. First, we were told by Gutter Helmet’s sales representative, Linda Radunsky, that we would have a 10 year warranty on parts and labor. That fact was even confirmed by Vicki Byerly (Gutter Helmet of the Pikes Peak Region) when she stated we were covered due to our 10 year warranty, but later refuted. After looking over our original sales receipt it states that a “written warranty’s” duration was supposed to be given at the time of job competition that we never received? However, Gutter Helmet’s documentation states they guarantee a “professional install,” which was also…never received!  Now, I am starting to see Gutter Helmet’s shady and unethical business practices at this point. Second, Gutter Helmet does not normally install gutters. I was confused when Chelsea Welsh discussed this information since Gutter Helmet sold, installed and warranted our gutters!? Well, it turns out that Gutter Helmet subcontracted out our work with another company and never informed us upon this decision. If we had known all this information up-front we would have taken our business elsewhere.  However, Gutter Helmet felt it was better to lie and deceive us out of our money instead.

After Gutter Helmet hires a subcontractor to incorrectly install our gutters, I wanted to know what Gutter Helmet/SEMCO at the corporate level was willing to do to correct this issue since the Byerly’s were reluctant to assist in correcting the issue their company created. Chelsea Welsh stated she needed all our original paperwork form Gutter Helmet before moving forward. I thought this request was a bit odd since the last time I discussed this matter with our local Gutter Helmet (in Colorado Springs, CO.) they had copies of our original paperwork…mmm…how else were they able to look up our gutter installation information?  I would have imagined Chelsea Welsh would have requested it from this particular Gutter Helmet location?  Unless, Chelsea Welsh wanted to see if we still had our original paperwork and a possible legitimate legal case against them. Again, Gutter Helmet’s crude business tactics are quite apparent and is practiced, regrettably, throughout the entire company itself.  It seemed Gutter Helmet was looking for an excuse to relinquish themselves of any liability and/or responsibility from their improper install; however I decided to accommodate her request.  I sent Chelsea Welsh a copy of our original paperwork and figured they would want to fix the problem and not prolong this matter further. Yet, I underestimated Gutter Helmet’s deceitfulness to force their will upon us.

After several weeks of tying to delegate this matter, I finally received a voicemail message from a man named Kirt representing Gutter Helmet out of Denver. He stated that, “Chelsea Welsh gave him the okay to move forward in fixing our gutters.” So, Kirt said, “He would be sending out a subcontractor to get an estimate of work needed to fix our gutters properly.” The subcontractor, Jon Quesenberry, with Rain Guard Seamless Gutters came to the house and gave an estimate of work needed.  Jon said, “He would send this information off to Gutter Helmet and would do the work as soon as Gutter Helmet approves it.” A few days passed, yet again, with no contact from either Jon Quesenberry or Gutter Helmet, I contacted Chelsea Welsh were she sends a “legal document” for us to sign at the last minute before proceeding with their promised work.  Chelsea Welsh never stated we would have to sign anything before and now Gutter Helmet/SEMCO is making it a requirement? Gutter Helmet/SEMCO’s legal document strips us of any legal action against the company, absolves them of any wrong doing and silences us from ever speaking out against the corporation  in person or in writing for the rest of our lives…no joke…it states it as a requirement. Here is an example, “It is also agreed that Betty Duran and Jason Griego will never make a complaint or say a disparaging word in public or private or in person or electronically about Gutter Helmet and any persons or business associated with Gutter Helmet from now until the end of time. Betty Duran and Jason Griego also agree to immediately take down, remove, cease and desist any active complaints, disparaging reviews anything and everything in print or electronically with any naming Gutter Helmet or its agents.” Yes, this is verbatim and just a portion of their absurd document they wanted us to sign.

Once I question this legal document’s necessity and expressed our reluctance to sign it (especially before any work was done) Chelsea Welsh became extremely agitated and cut off all contact. So, how do you mediate if the mediator themselves will not communicate with you? That’s right, you can’t! Chelsea Welsh’s mannerism was extremely childish and unprofessional on her part. She went as far as commenting on my posts afterwards, but did not have the common decency to communicate with us? And as far as her comments, I never tried to hide the fact that I was speaking on my family’s behalf upon this matter…where I told her this fact from the beginning. Also, Chelsea Welsh’s distasteful comment of accusing me of cyber-bulling her is a straight out lie and ridiculous. I was contacting Chelsea Welsh because she was our negotiator in this matter.  I cannot believe Gutter Helmet’s extreme unprofessional, combative and unethical manner has gone unchecked from its affiliate, Gibraltar Industries Company.

After Chelsea Welsh broke off all contact, I decided to contact Kirt at the Denver office to find out what the hell was going on? I was immediately contacted with another Gutter Helmet representative, Carl Shive, which had to call Chelsea Welsh personally to find out what was happening. Sad, but true, I was forced to talk through a third-party in order to communicate with our “unresponsive mediator.” Quite absurd I know, but it gets worse!  Carl Shive told me the Vice President of Gutter Helmet/SEMCO, Michael J. Scott, would be taking over this situation personally. I thought we would finally be able to move forward in a timely manner with a more experienced professional, but I was terribly mistaken.

Michael J. Scott’s first email communication was to advise us not to communicate with Chelsea Welsh, which was apparent at this point. Also, by personally replying to Chelsea Welsh’s unprofessional comment was “inflammatory and libelous and will not be tolerated!” Really? So, Gutter Helmet is finding fault in trying to clarify a situation or just exercising the First Amendment right altogether?  Yes, an awful start towards mediation if this was ever Gutter Helmet/SEMCO’s true intention.  

At this point, I spoke with the Better Business Bureau to help facilitate this situation and forwarded the needed Gutter Helmet/SEMCO’s documentation for review. The Better Business Bureau advised to receive the $800 check and pursue our own subcontractor for work needed for the signed legal document, which is stated in Gutter Helmet/SEMCO’s own document.  However, this exchange should be done in person to assure Gutter Helmet/SEMCO’s sincerity to fulfill their promise at time of signing. Here is that portion of the document verbatim, “Please understand, Gutter Helmet can’t be held responsible for gutter installations, but for this special situation we will remedy this problem by hiring Rain Guard Seamless Gutter or issuing a check for you to pick your own contractor. Gutter Helmet will pay a sum of $800 to repair your installation issues. This payment is to correct the slope of your gutters and install a new drip edge.”

And Michael J. Scott’s shocking response to this reasonable proposal was to refuse, accuse me of blackmail and stopped all communication!?  Michael J. Scott states, “What you have offered is not acceptable; we have offered a generous solution for a problem unrelated to our products but we will not issue a check.” What!? It is obvious Michael J. Scott did not even read his own legal document created by Gutter Helmet/SEMCO. This corporation cannot even communicate with each other successfully- it is no wonder why they are so counterproductive and contradicting from person-to-person. Next, Michael J. Scott says “Offering to remove your posts for payment is akin to blackmail and we will not be party to such action.” This comment is absurd and belligerent (at best) for the $800 payment is for fixing the improper gutter installation done by Gutter Helmet. And the request for updating/deleting my reviews is a request made by Gutter Helmet/SEMCO and not us; I just reaffirmed the fact that this would be done. If Gutter Helmet/SEMCO truly wanted to work with us they would have done so already and would not have been so closed to negotiations…yet…they will not even communicate to mediate. Why? Gutter Helmet/SEMCO’s business model is by far the worst display of ineffective, unethical, unprofessional and combative conduct I have ever encountered in my entire life. So, I have to stand behind my original view of Gutter Helmet and inform everyone to “STAY AWAY!”  

I have received a few requests to update my Gutter Helmet review with more information, so hopefully this will answer any unanswered questions.

 After posting my original grievance with the company, Gutter Helmet, we received no communication or assistance from the local owners (Kirt and Vicki Byerly). These owners were completely unsympathetic and unwilling to assist with our improper gutter installation done by Gutter Helmet. So, I tried to receive contact information on my territories regional manager, corporate office and/or a customer service department to complain where none was found or given by Gutter Helmet. This is a telling sign of their company policy; bottle-neck any legitimate complaints moving up the chain-of-command and making it so difficult to reach an authoritative individual of merit that their dissatisfied customer base will just give up out of pure frustration.

 It was only through my own inquiries and no assistance from the company I found that Chelsea Welsh was the National Marketing Manager of Gutter Helmet/SEMCO. It turns out that Gutter Helmet is owned by SEMCO Southeastern Metals. I had to post another complaint online asking Chelsea Welsh to contact me since the only information I could find on her was personal and not business related and did not feel comfortable contacting her outside of work.  Chelsea Welsh contacted me and stated she would mediate our situation and keep an open line of communication at all times, which turned out to be false.

She explained some details to us that we were never aware of and that Gutter Helmet failed to inform us upon. First, we were told by Gutter Helmet’s sales representative (Linda Radunsky) that we would have a 10 year warranty on parts and labor. That fact was even confirmed by Vicki Byerly when she stated we were covered due to our 10 year warranty, but later refuted. After looking over our original sales receipt it states that a “written warranty” was supposed to be given at the time of job competition that we never received?

Now, I am starting to see Gutter Helmet’s shady and unethical business practices at this point. Second, Gutter Helmet does not normally install gutters. I was confused when Chelsea Welsh told me this information since Gutter Helmet sold, installed and warranted our gutters!? Well, it turns out that Gutter Helmet subcontracted out our work with another company and never informed us upon this important information. If we had known all this information up-front we would have taken our business elsewhere.  However, Gutter Helmet felt it was better to lie and deceive us out of our money instead.

After Gutter Helmet hires an unprofessional subcontractor to incorrectly install our gutters, I wanted to know what Gutter Helmet/SEMCO (at the corporate level) was willing to do to correct this issue. Chelsea Welsh stated she needed all our original paperwork form Gutter Helmet before moving forward. I thought this request was a bit odd since the last time I discussed this matter with our local Gutter Helmet (in Colorado Springs, CO.) they had copies of our original paperwork…mmm…how else were they able to look up our gutter installation information?  I would have imagined Chelsea Welsh would have requested it from this particular Gutter Helmet location?  

Unless, Chelsea Welsh wanted to see if we still had our original paperwork and a possible legitimate legal case against them. Again, Gutter Helmet’s crude business tactics are quite apparent and is practiced, regrettably, throughout the entire company itself.  It seemed Gutter Helmet was looking for an excuse to relinquish themselves of any liability and/or responsibility from their improper install; however I decided to accommodate her request.  I sent Chelsea Welsh a copy of our original paperwork and figured they would want to fix their improper install and not prolong this matter further. Yet, I underestimated Gutter Helmet’s deceitfulness to force their will upon us.

After a considerable amount of time had passed, I finally received a voicemail message from a man named Kirt representing Gutter Helmet out of Denver. He stated that Chelsea Welsh gave him the okay to move forward in fixing our gutters. So, Kirt said he would be sending out a subcontractor to get an estimate of work needed to fix our gutters properly. The subcontractor, Jon Quesenberry, with Rain Guard Seamless Gutters came to the house and gave an estimate of work needed.  He said he would send this information off to Gutter Helmet and would do the work as soon as Gutter Helmet approves it.

A few days passed, yet again, with no contact from either Jon Quesenberry or Gutter Helmet, so I contacted Chelsea Welsh were she sends a legal document for us to sign at the last minute before proceeding with their promised work.  Chelsea Welsh never stated we would have to sign anything before and now Gutter Helmet/SEMCO is making it a requirement? Gutter Helmet/SEMCO’s legal document strips us of any legal action against the company, absolves them of any wrong doing and silences us from ever speaking out against the corporation  in person or in writing for the rest of our lives…no joke…it states it as a requirement.

Here is an example, “It is also agreed that Betty Duran and Jason Griego will never make a complaint or say a disparaging word in public or private or in person or electronically about Gutter Helmet and any persons or business associated with Gutter Helmet from now until the end of time. Betty Duran and Jason Griego also agree to immediately take down, remove, cease and desist any active complaints, disparaging reviews anything and everything in print or electronically with any naming Gutter Helmet or its agents.” Yes, this is verbatim and just a portion of their absurd document they wanted us to sign.

Once I question this legal document’s necessity and expressed our reluctance to sign it (especially before any work was done) Chelsea Welsh became agitated and cut off all contact. So, how do you mediate if the mediator themselves will not communicate with you? That’s right, you can’t! Chelsea Welsh’s mannerism was extremely childish and unprofessional on her part. She went as far as commenting on my posts afterwards, but did not have the common decency to communicate with us? And as far as her comments, I never tried to hide the fact that I was speaking on my family’s behalf upon this matter…where I told her this from the beginning. Also, Chelsea Welsh’s distasteful comment of accusing me of cyber-bulling her is a straight out lie and ridiculous. I was contacting Chelsea Welsh because she was our negotiator in this matter.  I cannot believe Gutter Helmet’s extreme unprofessional, combative and unethical manner has gone unchecked from its affiliate, Gibraltar Industries Company.

After Chelsea Welsh broke off all contact, I decided to contact Kirt at the Denver office to find out what the hell was going on? I was immediately contacted with another Gutter Helmet representative, Carl Shive that had to call Chelsea Welsh personally to find out what was happening. Sad, but true, I was forced to talk through a third-party in order to communicate with our unresponsive mediator. Quite absurd I know, but it gets worse.  Carl Shive told me the Vice President of Gutter Helmet/SEMCO, Michael J. Scott, would be taking over this situation personally. I thought, finally, we would be able to move forward in a timely manner with a more experienced professional, but I was terribly mistaken.

Michael J. Scott’s first email communication was to advise us not to communicate with Chelsea Welsh, which was apparent at this point. Also, by personally replying to Chelsea Welsh’s unprofessional comment left on my review was “inflammatory and libelous and will not be tolerated!” Really? So, Gutter Helmet is finding fault in trying to clarify a situation or just exercising our First Amendment right altogether?  Yes, an awful start towards mediation if this was ever Gutter Helmet/SEMCO’s true intention.  

At this point, I spoke with the Better Business Bureau to help facilitate this situation and forwarded Gutter Helmet/SEMCO’s documentation for review. The Better Business Bureau advised to receive the $800 check and pursue our own subcontractor for work needed for the signed legal document, which is stated in Gutter Helmet/SEMCO’s own document.  However, request this exchange to be done at a local Better Business Bureau in person to assure Gutter Helmet/SEMCO’s sincerity to fulfill their promise at time of signing. Here is that portion of the document verbatim, “Please understand, Gutter Helmet can’t be held responsible for gutter installations, but for this special situation we will remedy this problem by hiring Rain Guard Seamless Gutter or issuing a check for you to pick your own contractor. Gutter Helmet will pay a sum of $800 to repair your installation issues. This payment is to correct the slope of your gutters and install a new drip edge.”

And Michael J. Scott’s shocking response to this proposal was to refuse, accuse me of blackmail and stopped all communication!? Seriously!?  Mr. Scott states, “What you have offered is not acceptable; we have offered a generous solution for a problem unrelated to our products but we will not issue a check.” What!? It is obvious Michael J. Scott did not even read his own legal document created by, Gutter Helmet/SEMCO. This corporation cannot even communicate with each other successfully- it is no wonder why they are so contradicting and counterproductive. Next, Michael J. Scott says “Offering to remove your posts for payment is akin to blackmail and we will not be party to such action.”

This comment is absurd and belligerent for the $800 payment is for fixing the improper gutter installation done by Gutter Helmet. And the request for updating/deleting my reviews is a request made by Gutter Helmet/SEMCO and not us; I just reaffirmed the fact that this would be done. If Gutter Helmet/SEMCO truly wanted to work with us they would have done so already and would not have been so closed to negotiations…yet…they will not even communicate to mediate. Why? Gutter Helmet/SEMCO’s business model is by far the worst display of ineffective, unethical, unprofessional and combative conduct I have ever encountered in my entire life. So, I have to stand behind my original view of Gutter Helmet and inform everyone to “STAY AWAY!”  

I'm in the process of talking over this matter with Gutter Helmet and wanted to wait until I discuss this matter further with Mike Scott (VP of Semco/Gutter Helmet) before posting a detailed update to my original postings. True, I have had several conversations with Chelsea Welsh (National Mktg. Mgr. of Gutter Helmet) and have not come to a satisfactory conclusion upon this matter. Unfortunately, Chelsea Welsh will no longer discuss this matter further with me and will not even return any of my phone calls to mediate. I have only expressed my desire to find a workable solution to this matter and I have no-way cyber bullied anyone. If you truly feel that way please post my emails and let the readers be the judge. I have been as respectful and open to negation as I possibly can. When Gutter Helmet asked for our original paperwork we accommodated them with no problem. Our warranty does state that Gutter Helmet guarantees a "professional install" and after speaking to several other companies all have stated our gutters were not installed correctly. Even the local Gutter Helmet owner (Kirt Byerly) stated, "Your gutters were improperly installed." We are not asking for compensation for water damage done to our home nor a full refund. We are simply asking to receive what Gutter Helmet promised: a professionally installed gutter system that does not leak. Nothing more...this is a fair compromise. And we don’t understand why Gutter Helmet is being so difficult? True, we are not comfortable with signing Gutter Helmet's legal document in-order to move forward. Especially, signing a document before any work has been completed. For Gutter Helmet’s document absolves them of any responsibility and/or wrong doing and silences us from ever speaking out against the company if Gutter Helmet decides not to uphold their end of the agreement. The public will never know the full story!  Please try to understand our point-of-view upon this matter. And yes, I'm speaking on behalf of my family (Betty Duran) upon this matter as I have stated before.

As I have spent the last two weeks doing some internal investigation, I wanted to set the record straight about the current situation with Jason Greigo. I have had several lengthy conversations with him to review his concerns and complaints. I had him send over documents where he stated he had purchased the Gutter Helmet product. Nowhere in those documents does it state that he purchased Gutter Helmet. He is not even listed on the sales document.  He was never a purchaser of any of the products he is complaining about at all. All the records state a third party name of Betty Duran. 

The product that was purchased was gutters over 6 years ago.  Gutter Helmet does not produce gutters.  Gutter Helmet is a gutter protection system that installs over existing gutters.  Jason Greigo expressed that he was sold Gutter Helmet gutters, there is no such product nor was he the customer present during the sales process.  As I reviewed the documents that were sent over by Jason, there is no mention of a particular warranty for gutters that were installed and purchased from Gutter Helmet of Southern Colorado DBA JMP Enterprises, a company that is no longer in business in the Colorado Springs area.

Being a professional corporation, we sent out several contractors to review what the complaint was in question. Out of good will and the high level of integrity in which our dealer base operates, we offered to assist Jason Greigo, he has refused to sign the necessary documents for us to move forward to assist.  I have received several emails that were distasteful and should be deemed cyber bullying.  With that said, this is not a Gutter Helmet product and we will not allow cyber bullying. 

 Hello,

It is my understanding that you are having some concerns about a product you had installed on your home.  You had mentioned me by name however; I have not had the opportunity to speak with you.  My contact information is: My email is cwelsh@semetals.com my direct line is 719-963-9476.  I would like to opportunity to review your concerns.  We apologize your experience was less than perfect however; please feel free to contact me and we can discuss what your exact situation is.  Thank you