[X]
Write ReviewJump to 
13
Helpful
Votes
Votes
Erie Construction Complaint - Beware of this company - Roof Installation
Roof Installation - Complaint
TOLEDO, OHIO -- My husband & I decided to check into Erie construction for a new metal roof. We called and scheduled an in-home appointment. The salesman came to our home one evening and sat down with us to go over the types of roofing materials and costs. He first went outside (in the dark) and "measured". He had a wonderful presentation and when it finally got down to price, he quoted $21,750 or $325 a month. However, we would be eligible for a "showcase discount" because there was no other roof in our neighborhood like this. That brought it down to $17,750 or $222 month. Well, we decided our budget would not allow that much. So, he offered us a different type roof for $13,985 or $174 a month. But again with the "showcase discount" if brought it down to $137. That, we felt, was more reasonable. So, we gave him a deposit of $137 and signed a contract. The subcontractors came out and installed the roof, bound and determined to get it done in a couple of days. They worked into the night on the final day and wanted us to sign off on the work. We said we would not sign off until we could look at the workmanship during daylight hours. So, the next day we signed off on it. The roof appears to be good. I would like to add here that we did not actually need a new roof, ours was structurally sound, we were just missing some shingles. Anyway, they failed to clean up. The roof was put on in December so during the spring yard cleanup we continued to find roofing nails, pieces of roofing materials, all around, even though our salesman told us they would thoroughly pick up. We didn't worry about the clean up. Roof was good, we were happy. Then we got our first billing statement. Instead of the $137 a month, it was $250!! After numerous calls, Erie personnel finally worked out a lower interest rate and got it down to $200 a month. They sent us a check to make up the difference between $137 and $200 for 12 months ($750). I was told to call back in 6 months to re-negotiate a new interest rate to try to lower the payments once again to get back to the original contract price. When I finally spoke to someone (after notifying the BBB), I was told that they could not work out a new interest rate and that the check which I cashed was a "settlement" and done in good faith and they didn't even have to do that. This company is not honest. From the initial contact with the sales person right through to the company headquarters. I would not recommend using them for any roofing jobs.
Comments:
Posted by skelly39 on 2010-06-30:
They didn't have you sign a financing contract before the work was done? I'm curious...
Posted by saj80 on 2010-06-30:
What did the contract you sign specify? It should have given a price and monthly payment amount.
Posted by Fus on 2010-08-30:
My mother won a "free estimate" at the one fair a few years ago,first off who would honestly pay for an estimate these days? The sales rep came in at an absurd price for replacing a large sliding glass door leading to our deck. It was something like 5K, however, I believe she was offered the same "showcase" status mentioned by the OP. Which lowered it considerably along with some other thing.... bringing it down to the 3K neighborhood. HOWEVER, that price is only good if you sign the contract right then and there before he leaves..... at which point my mother thanked him for his time and tossed him out, citing the fact she needed to run the purchase past my father who wouldn't be home for a few days and that if he wanted the job it was going to be 3K no matter if she signed right then or called him back in two weeks. Well he left, and contacted her later letting her know that he would be willing to let her use his "employee discount" or something of that nature to keep the price at what it was. We ended up turning to another company that didn't use such questionable tactics.
Posted by N.A.H. on 2011-12-22:
I was actually the sales rep on this job. I first want to say that this was an extremely nice and respectable customer of mine and I am dissapointed in the outcome of this situation.
I did nothing intentionally to deceive this customer. As far as the financing situation, the only finance company I had ever used with this company was with GE. The finance plan that I quoted was based on GE financing. It turned out the customer wasnt approved through GE. My company then tells me that they were approved through another lender(Wells Fargo) and for me to get new paperwork signed. I did that assuming that all the terms were the same. My company told me no different. It turns out there was a difference in the 2 plans. When I found out this info weeks later, I was upset with my company for not explaining this to me. I demanded that they make it right because I really respected this customer. I was told later by manager that he did in fact take care of the difference in financing terms but apparently that wasnt true and that is dissapointing.
I am no longer with this company due to a number of reasons. One of the biggest reasons is that alot of what I was trained to tell customers was in fact not the truth. This company is asking their sales reps to basically deceive the customers and say anything in order to get the sale. Unfortunately, I was also deceived.
I did nothing intentionally to deceive this customer. As far as the financing situation, the only finance company I had ever used with this company was with GE. The finance plan that I quoted was based on GE financing. It turned out the customer wasnt approved through GE. My company then tells me that they were approved through another lender(Wells Fargo) and for me to get new paperwork signed. I did that assuming that all the terms were the same. My company told me no different. It turns out there was a difference in the 2 plans. When I found out this info weeks later, I was upset with my company for not explaining this to me. I demanded that they make it right because I really respected this customer. I was told later by manager that he did in fact take care of the difference in financing terms but apparently that wasnt true and that is dissapointing.
I am no longer with this company due to a number of reasons. One of the biggest reasons is that alot of what I was trained to tell customers was in fact not the truth. This company is asking their sales reps to basically deceive the customers and say anything in order to get the sale. Unfortunately, I was also deceived.
Note: All comments are reviewed by a moderator before being published. Please be sure to read our guidelines before commenting.
Company Reps: Post your company response!
