|
|
You are not authorized to post a reply.
|
 Prev Next
|
| Author |
Messages |
|
pallsan
Registered Users
Posts:5
 |
| 06/28/2008 7:22 PM |
|
I am an owner builder, Recently retired from U.S. Navy. Planning to build my own home. The American Dream..? I am using ICF to build. I paid for and received my first shipment from a San Antonio ,ICF company . I was short changed a few of the forms, thinking an honest mistake. I contacted the CEO and she assured me that she would make correct her mistake. I started to build my home with the ICF that I had received, meanwhile, placing my second order which cost me $24,000 in deposits and final payment. I have yet to receive my second order. I have spoken with the CEO and she told me that her machinery had malfunctioned and they could not produce ICF at the time. We were patient and understanding. After awhile, she said that it was fixed and she would have my shipment sent out by June 20th. I did not receive my shipment on June 20th. I called several times after this and have been told the same thing, that their equipment is down and they aren't producing. This , around the same time that their business phone disconnected. I did a little research and skip tracing and discovered that this company is shutting down business. Anyone familiar with 'Amazonforms' at Amazongridwall.com" of San Antonio, Texas? Please, if you have any information different from the above, I would greatly appreciate. Could someone recommend another ICF company with similar 'Rastra' type forms?
Unsettled in Texas.. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ICF Curious
Registered Users
Posts:16
|
| 06/29/2008 3:42 AM |
|
|
I am 2 or 3 years away from building a home in the Hill Country and went to a seminar at Amazon's plant last year. I liked the product and the fact that it is made locally. Earlier this year Amazon sent me (and I assume many others) a solicitation to invest in the company (I passed) in order to expand their production capacity.
For that amount of money, I would drive over and visit them. Depending on what you find, a call to your attorney may be in order.
While I have not looked specifically, I do not know of any other products that will dimensionally intechange with Amazon Gridwall.
If it is convenient, I would appreciate updates about Amazon.
Good Luck!
ICF Curious |
|
|
|
|
pallsan
Registered Users
Posts:5
|
| 06/29/2008 8:59 AM |
|
ICF Curious, thanks for your post. Now that the dust is settling, I am tenacious and serious about getting my $$ returned. I have already sent a BBB complaint, and have contacted local 'Consumer Advocates'. I am planning to take a trip to the plant on Monday. Ready to go to the newspapers and picket their plant! I've been researching lawyers after several attempt to get free advice. They never sent me anything about investments, but that just adds to my claim. I have done business with German , Italian and French companies and have not had one glitch with products or delivery. Seems sad that someone from my own Country would 'dupe' me.
Thanks for your reply. This just made it clearer to me. I will most definitely keep you posted on any updates.
|
|
|
|
|
James Eggert
Registered Users
Posts:1001
|
| 06/29/2008 1:19 PM |
|
I've been researching lawyers after several attempt to get free advice.
Why oh why would you delay what should be an immedaite attempt to protect yourself by looking for free advice? Why not at least call your state attorney generals office and establish a complaint about fraud, this part is for your own protection. You may not need your own attorney?
As to your Monday trip to the plant, you will need to determine if they own the plant or just provide the form mold so the independent molding plant can make their finished product for them. This is very common in the ICF production, wherein a local plant may make 5-6 different brands, each of which has a certain set of specifications that the plant follows when doing a run one week for brand a and different specs for brand b the next day or week! EACH brand supplies their own mold for the plant to use, both for blowing and other parts; the process for a cementitious block may be different though; I don't know myself.
I hope you get thru this ok, and you will be able to mate up a different brand, perhaps cemetitious like rastra or an EPS style block.
Good Luck!
By the way, to me anyone verbally assuring completion of a contractural obligation especially when they have the money is fraud if they didn't deliver product before "suddenly" shutting down and disconnecting the phone! |
|
Take Care
Jim
Design/Build/Consulting
"Not So Big" Design Proponent |
|
|
pallsan
Registered Users
Posts:5
|
| 06/29/2008 2:04 PM |
|
Thanks for the feedback and info regarding blocks. It's Sunday,(hence the reason for 'free legal advice'.. but I've already filed complaints with FTC & BBB and by a.m this time tomorrow, heads will be rolling...) You're absolutely right..Fraud and very 'sudden'
|
|
|
|
|
Alton
Registered Users
Posts:314
|
| 06/29/2008 4:38 PM |
|
Pallsan,
Ideally, you should have a witness with you when you talk to anyone at the plant. Also be sure not to make any threats. I have had projects end up in court. Sometimes it is better to let an attorney handle situations like this. |
|
Alton C. Keown
Residential Designer and Construction Technology Consultant
Auburn, Alabama
334 329-0957 AT&T Cellular |
|
|
pallsan
Registered Users
Posts:5
|
| 06/29/2008 5:46 PM |
|
No..no... I'm not about to take any action without a plan. (Actually, I am the wife of the man who was 'duped'. He's much more diplomatic than I when dealing with this type of situation. I'm a (hot head), but I know my limits, otherwise I'd be sitting in a 6x6 cell by now. He's my 'reason'. (Kinda like good cop, bad cop) However, my efforts have not gone unnoticed, as I received an e-mail from the CEO stating she will go to the bank tomorrow and refund our $$. Sounds too easy, but her company has had a good reputation up until now. I have hope.
Thanks for your advice,
Bad cop.. |
|
|
|
|
ICF Curious
Registered Users
Posts:16
|
| 06/30/2008 3:32 AM |
|
Before you burn any bridges, think of how you are going to complete your home. Is there a viable way to complete it with another product?
If Amazon is going out of business, I would take the money and run. If they really are just having production problems, you might consider trying to get the product and finish your home as planned.
Good luck,
ICF Curious
|
|
|
|
|
pallsan
Registered Users
Posts:5
|
| 06/30/2008 9:07 AM |
|
We are taking our money (hopefully) and running. We were told they are 'shutting down'. Apparently, she sold her business to a man from Mexico. We did not get this info from the CEO. Instead , were told from her that machinery was broken, meetings were being conducted to get new, upgraded equip., etc.. The CEO even pushed me off to this new 'apparent' owner telling me, at the time, he was the 'production' crew manager and to ask him what was wrong with equipment. After a couple of failed attempts to get my promised product from him, I started to lose faith in the company and decided to stear my questioning and directly asked the CEO if she was shutting down or if she were in Bankruptcy. This is about the time when phone calls were not being returned to me, e-mails getting kicked back, phone disconnected. If I am 'burning my bridges', we tried not to for many months, being patient and trusting they were just having problems. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case. We have saved every e-mail and none of them indicated they were selling or shutting down. Luckily, we have enough of the blocks to complete our 'guest house'. And we have been happy working with these particular blocks. It's too bad this had to happen. We are sad. But moving on and researching with other companies, hopefully with our money safely back in our hands!
|
|
|
|
|
walltech
Registered Users
Posts:469
|
| 07/02/2008 9:38 PM |
|
Wow, either you have a large home or these forms must be expensive. I don't quite understand why anyone would go with a company that is not even recognized as a major player in the ICF industry. I hope they had a good reputation at some time locally there as they hold no reputation in the US.
Dave |
|
|
|
|
|
| You are not authorized to post a reply. |
|
|
|
ActiveForums 3.6
|
|
|
|