Kumar Construction Owner: Ram Dwarkanauth Hurricane Ike Contractor Rip-Off Stafford, Texas

A remodeling and new construction company contracted to restore my home from Hurricane Ike damage according to insurance adjuster specifications. The company's last known contact information is:

Kumar Construction

13123 Josephine St.

Stafford, TX 77477

(832)563-0090 or (409)549-9372

Owner: Ram Dwarkanauth

A contract was signed 11-16-08, and the owner stated the project would take no more than four (4) weeks to complete. That four weeks quickly came and went. The owner subsequently stated the project would be complete by Christmas, and now Christmas (and the rest of 2008) came and went.

I write this report in October 2009, almost a year later. Three problem areas remain: (1) work that was never started or done per the insurance claim, (2) work that was started, but never fully completed, and (3) completed work that now needs fixing or repair itself, i.e., warranty work.

The owner has repeatedly lied about his work schedules or time completion dates, and his interior home crew only worked a day or so, then they disappeared for 8 or 10 days or more. I have been more than patient, but I'm tired of all the lies and excuses, especially when they don't work on sunny, mild, and dry days. And the contractor has already received the majority of the initial insurance settlement money.

In addition, the contractor's crew damaged 3 storm window screens and not replaced them; damaged kitchen wallpaper when texturing new kitchen ceilings; broke one dining area light fixture; failed to install new gutters which were part of the insurance claim; left started but unfinished work, like painting; and completed other work that now needs fixing, like faulty new carpet installation, and faulty new fence installation.

The contractor has made no contact at all since March 2009. Since he's been paid about 93% of the insurance claim money, I can only assume he has intentionally abandoned the completion of my project, and disappeared. His last contact he claimed he had lost workers, and was on his own, and said to me, "Be patient."

I would not recommend this company to anyone else searching for hurricane-damage home restoration, or any type of home remodeling in the greater Houston area (or in case he reinvents himself and shows up in another city). This owner is a liar and a fraud. He has a record of several unresolved Better Business Bureau complaints. He has been referred to this state's Attorney General Consumer Protection office, and to the state agency that once regulated disputes between homeowners and contractors. (He violated State law by not registering with the state my project that had at least $10,000 of interior renovation. There is no general contractor "licensing" in Texas.) Avoid him at all costs, and save yourself a lot of grief.

In this state there is no longer any government agency intervention in disputes between homeowners, and contractors or builders. Accordingly, this may mean the only sure way of resolving these types of disputes is through expensive and time-consuming litigation.