Bridgepoint Networks

Horrible experience!!! Unprofessional! Cliff Reymond solicited me through Linkedin in October 2011. He seemed like a nice guy, so I had him out to look at my computer system for the purposes of receiving a quote to have a server and software installed for remote access, with an interim solution of locally networking two computers for my business. He was late (~ an hour). He was ALWAYS late to every appointment. After about 2 hours, we had a list of 9 action items of varying urgency. He summarized the list in an email, and promised to send a proposal an quotation within one week, but never sent either, only emails indicating he would later send the proposal. In April 2012, he sent another email apologizing for the delay and stating that he would get me the proposal right away. I didn't hear from him again until I contacted him in July 2012 to tell him that the situation was very urgent and please send the proposal for the server ASAP. I also asked whether he had time to do the work because I would seek out someone else if he did not. He said he did and drew up an estimate to purchase the server. After reminding him of several aspects of my business and computer needs, he sent a revised formal estimate for the hardware only, but no installation and maintenance proposal. I reminded him that I needed the proposal many, many times and he estimated the cost to set up the server and software to be $2,000 at the "deeply discounted rate of $105/hr." if I agreed to a long-term maintenance agreement with him. I agreed in principle and sent him a check for the estimated $6,000 cost to purchase and install the servere, but asked again what I would be paying for and how many hours the installation and maintenance would take. He again promised a proposal, but it never materialized. He come out twice (late by more than an hour each time) to look at the space for the server installation to make sure that he would have everything he needed for the installation. We had installed shelving for the server, had a monitor, mouse and keyboard he could use, and I told him a drill was available for his use. When he came out, he didn't even have a screwdriver and had to interrupt my work every 10 minutes! Even after two previousl pre-install visits he for the first time discovered that that monitor, keyboard and mouse were unsuitable and had to go back home to get these. Of course he couldn't find a keyboard or mouse, so he had to stop and buy these. He had promised that he would reserve time for the server install, but didn't, so he could not finish that day. After more than a week, he came back only and stood around while software loaded, then said he would finish from home. The primary purpose of the server was to allow my employees to access highly specialized software that was to be installed in coordination with the software vendor. I specifically told him he would need to schedule an appointment for the installation with the vendor. He agreed to contact the vendor and set up the appointment when the server was ready. I also asked how the remote access was to be set up and how that would impact using the software remotely. He gave me some general indictations, but as I now have learned from IT professionals, did not know of or failed to inform me of the preferred method that would solve all the issues I raised with him. I asked several times when he had scheduled the appointement for installing the software with the vendor was, knowing that it could take a month or more to get an appointment. He indicated it was Tuesday, 9-11-12. I asked repeatedly what time it was scheduled for, having some concern that if he was late, it could delay the project by another month, but he never replied. Instead, it just didn't show up on the Tuesday, but on Wednesday gave some excuse about Go-Daddy being down and all his other clients were calling..... As it turns out, he had never scheduled the appointment and was planning to wing it. I told him that he must do the installation in conjunction with the vendor or my vendor service agreement would be voided. So he reluctantly called them, but was indignant that I would suggest he didn't know what he was doing. But by that time I was ready to just cut my losses becuase I didn't believe he knew what he was doing and couldn't tell me how much it would cost so that I could evaluate whether the costs were reasonable in comparison to other providers and I asked him again to explain and put in writing what work was needed to install and maintain the software, and he finally admitted he didn't have a clue. So I fired him without completing the project. After nearly a year, I still didn't have a server with remote access to my software. At that point, I asked him to return the server and refund the costs, but he said it was not returnable (a UBS and router were returned.) Finally, I asked him for a detailed invoice for the time spent, itemizing what he did do. He promised to send one, but after 3 months, I still didn't have an invoice and he accused me of being unreasonable because I need an invoice now for year end closing. He now refuses to provide an invoice saying if he wrote it up, I'd owe him money!! He's worked here less than 10 hours total and the job was not completed after more than 1 year, but I will likely have to sue him to recieve a return of the advance. Now he is also refusing to give me his tax ID information so that I can prepare a 1099 Misc. If he calls you RUN, don't walk, away!!!!