Rickys' Pools Rick Pleau breached contract, failed to obtain permits, refused to return substantial deposit though no work was ever started. Mauldin, South Carolina

Our family had saved and planned for months to install a new inground pool. My pregnant wife and small children could not wait to enjoy it through the hot summer months. We spoke to Rick Pleau with Rickys' Pools, among many others, at the beginning of summer.

We decided to sign the contract with Rick because he promised, in writing, the work would be completed in no more than 4-6 weeks. In fact, he used this in his sales presentation to separate himself from the competition. His point was, that anyone can start the pool when they say, but so many of them let the work drag on for weeks and months, but he guaranteed it would be done before 6 weeks was up. A start date was set 4 weeks from the date we signed the contract, and Rick required a very large deposit for the job.

After the start date was pushed back several times, we found out no permit had been obtained and the utilities had not been notified in a timely manner. Rick began to lie about the permits, utilities and what was promised verbally and in the contract.

We were now well into the sixth week and Rick said it would be at least two more weeks to finish. I told Rick that we no longer wanted him to work for us since he had not started when promised several times, he had not obtained the permits, and he admitted he would not finish anywhere close to what the contract required.

I asked him to please return our deposit since no work had begun and he had breached the contract. He refused to return our deposit and said the money was his whether he did the work or not. We have been forced to begin the process of bringing a lawsuit against Rick Pleau and Rickys' Pools.