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Sunstate Enclosures

Sheri of Jacksonville FL (6/13/03):
The initial contract to build a garage for the sum of $10,158 was signed on May 2, 2003. On May 8, 2003 Bill M. came by our home to pick up the first of three payments to begin the initial work. Bill assured us the work would be started and finished within 5 weeks. He said it would be a shorter period of time, but he was required to put 3 - 5 weeks, (actually, he left off the weeks part of the contract and wrote in "3-5". We didn't notice this until he was gone).

Around the 15th of May we called to inquire about the work permit. Bill said the permit had been pulled, when it hadn't been. The permit was not pulled until the 20th of May, 2003 (after my husband called him and told him the permit was not pulled). We heard nothing back from him after almost two weeks. My husband again called to find out when the workers would be at our home to begin working on the ground to prepare it for the concrete slab. At this point, we had received no return phone calls after leaving messages for Bill M.

I called the home office the end of May and spoke to the office manager. I told him of our concerns - mainly we didn't want our building started, then take forever to get it finished. Either that, or have it poorly constructed. The manager was not very pleasant, so I told him maybe we just needed to cancel the contract, they could refund our money and we would be out of their way. He told me there would be charges for the permit and the engineering fees. A permit is $60 and the engineering is already done on these buildings, they only have to be drawn on the survey we provided. I told him I wanted a FULL refund and he said he would have to call the owner and get back to me.

He didn't call me back. On June 5, 2003 I again called the office and left a message for Bill M. I received a call from Scott, who identified himself as the builder. I told him what had happened, and he said our job had been cancelled and we were taken off of his schedule. We still have not received a call from anyone in management at this point. Scott told me that he would have someone call us back in 20 minutes. That was 8 days ago - still no calls.

We did receive a refund check minus $483, dated the 9th of June 2003. My husband and I called the owner and he was belligerant and rude. He did not attempt to try and work out the problem. Had the initial timeframe been 2 months to get a building then that would have been fine. The problems arose when we couldn't get our calls returned. My concern is if you have substandard service then you have substandard work that follows it.

Sunstate Enclosures will take your money and then forget who you are. By the way, Mr. Bill M., the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet while he was in our living room, completely ignored my husband today when he saw him in a local restaurant, looking straight at him and then turning his head. No offers of apology or explanation. The contract we signed had no refund or cancellation policy.

Damage Resulting: We have lost $483 with nothing to show for it.

It's a mistake for homeowners to try to negotiate contract disputes if the contractor isn't responsive. Sheri and her husband should take the dispute to Small Claims Court.

Sharon of Jacksonville writes:
On Feb. 26, 2000 after seeing the Sunstate Enclosures, Inc. commerical on t.v. I called to get a free estimate on a glass enclosed sunroom. I spoke to Stan N. He came by the same day. He took measurements of the area. We discussed the construction of the sunroom (how many windows,doors,etc) the material(its durability)and the total cost.

My husband Charles and I, agreed to get financing for $8,000 and signed a contract with SUNSTATE ENCLOSURES, INC. While signing the CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION form, we were told to leave the DATE WORK COMPLETED blank, and we complied. Stan asked for copies of our 1999 tax return, property survey, and homeowner insurance to give to CONSOLIDATED CREDIT. He was to return the documents I gave him. When I asked for the homeowner insurance and property survey, he told me he lost them. He said he would give me $200.00 for the survey.

On March 19, 2000 the framework began. The insulated roof and windows were delivered April 2, 2000. More work was to be done on April 13 and/or 14th. No one came or called. Stan has not returned my repeated phone calls nor has the subcontractor, Mike. The materials are on my patio and are visible from the street, and to make matters worse this past saturday a car with two suspicious men inside was parked in front of my home.

Charles and I cannot leave the house together for fear that someone will come along and steal them! We have better things to do than babysit this material! Also, we don't want to be held responsible. All I what is the completion of my beautiful sunroom enclosure.

At this point, Sharon should be asking herself just how beautiful that enclosure will be and how much she will be paying for the loan from good old Consolidated Credit. This is not the way to do home improvements. Sharon should have shopped around, found a reputable contractor and arranged independent financing.Report Your Experience
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July 5 2008

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