Hale Lenard Plumbing & Heating

The bid was for $26,000.00 $23,000.00 OVER the bid and he quits leaving built in leaks and dozens of code violations. For the $49,000.00 and 18 months later all we had was heat and one toilet. Some of the issues are: He charged 14,000.00 for a $995.00 refurbished furnance. He did not have a license to work on our septic system. His poor workmanship created fecal matter to blow up into home. He did not have a license to work on our well which resulted in contanminated water and the health department shutting down the use of the water. He purchased excessive materials not used in order to "stock up" at our expense. An example of this is that he purchased over 3 gallons of pvc glue and cleaner when the job should have taken only 3 quarts. He charged us for personal use items, as well as tools not used on this job. He purchased 3 rechargable flashlights and 48 batteries. He also marked these items up 50% before collecting from us. He purchased an extra hotwater heater and kept it. We wonder if the excess is found in his new addition to his home, which was added on at the same time he was doing our home? He charged us for his continuing education classes (3) which did not pertain to our home. He charged $71.00 for a $10.00 bit PLUS $500.00 to go 20 minutes to pick it up. When finally producing receipts, he altered them in order to try to cover up his deceit. He charged for installations that were either not finished or not done at all. He roughed in 5 sinks, all had the hot on the right and the cold on the left. Basic plumbing 101 and he failed. Another plumber had to be paid to change them. It took another $15,000.00 to undo and redo his mistakes to get us into the home. We still have another $25,000.00 to go. He is currently in a court case for breach of contract and FRAUD. Both are very provable. No one deserves what this plumber does in order to cheat his clients.

We met with Mr. Hale in March of 2009 . He was told about my wife's health and the urgency to finish this project. We gave him a list of projects that her health required, and he claimed "no problem". And he quoted us $13,000.00 for each level of the new home. We accepted his bid. We had requested that he use high quality copper throughout the home, he agreed. And, work start a few weeks later. We advanced him $7,000.00 and gave him another $7,000. within a few days. Within the first few weeks he has already "spent" more than the first level's moneys. I asked for a itemized statement and a few days later he handed me a paper with a total due, nothing more. Because he did not do his work in a timely fashion, we were forced to purchase a forced air heating unit. This was never part of our agreement. He charged us another 6,000, and $6,000 to install it. No duct work was put in at this time, he ran this unit openly into the lower level. When he gets to installing the unit he charges me time and materials to install it. He charges me a year ago to install and now he charges me again. Now he is over his bid by $10,000.00 and we several times asked and requested for itemized statements. He refused. He refused our request four times throughout this project. He never called in a inspector. So drywalling went up. We get our first toliet 18 months later. Still nothing else functions. The water purifying unit is leaking. The tub is still not working. No shower and no laundry. And, the amount is over $39,000 at this point of time. As each holiday passes, he promises his work to be finished and the home move in able. In October of 2010, the home still leaking....and he has taken from us $51,000.00 and only one toilet. On this day he accknowledges the leaks and wants us to write him a check to fix them talk about job security!!! Build in the leaks and charge to fix them. I asked when should we see some of the projects finished....it has been 18 months and nothing is installed and working. And remember about the forced air unit? He charged us up front to install, yet a year later when it truely is installed he charged me time and materials....this is double dipping! He also double dipped on the hot water units. We questioned again about the amount of money and the many jobs left unfinished. He got quite upset and quit. Still expecting more money from me. On the day he quit, it forced me to go over all of his statements and invoices. Up until that day I had TRUSTED him and had not reviewed all the statements, just wrote him checks. Not only did I find double dipping going on. I found where he had charged,(and I paid)for items he did not even do. First was almost $5000.00 for an airconditioning unit and labor to install - this home does not have air! Where did this money go? Second, he charged me materials and labor for venting of the home - he never cut a hole in our roof nor did he vent anything. Where did this money go? Third, as stated before I requested he use high quality copper in our home....he used the cheapest! He used the cheapest everything in our home. He never purchased the name brand items we requested. And, as mentioned before he refused to show us any receipts on anything purchased. We have photos as proof to our statements. We picked Mr. Hale because of the ecomony....he was a local man...we wanted to keep our small town, home town men working. He took gross advantage of us, not only financially but my wife's health/life is put at risk. He left us knowing we could not move in. It took many more months to find someone to "pick" up Mr. Hale's mess and try to finish. Fact, he did not even get the basic plumbing stuff right....we had to pay someone to put the hot on the left and the cold on the right. The copper was ran so close together, finishing flanges had to be cut or just left off. Fact, it took the next guy only 30 minutes to read and finish the install on the airpurifyer. Something that Mr. Hale left undone, even after being paid. Eighteen months and numerous charges to install,and it was finished in under an hour? Can we say milking me dry! Fact, it took only moments to "fix" the leaks in the water purifyer. He could have within moments that October afternoon had his leaks fixed...he decided it would wait till Monday. Responsible, reputable, honest, ....good at his skill? Thinking all is well.....We moved into the home just 10 days ago.... We got a phone call today from the County Health Dept......stop everything! The water test is in......we have fecal matter in our drinking water! So for 10 days we have been bathing, washing and cooking with waste water. Yes, Mr. Hale failed.....he somehow crossed, did not connect, did not secure.....our waste. Now, we must dig everything up and start over. Two years and over $50,000.00 just to Mr. Hale and we get drinking waste water. He had the nerve to phone our son and ask him what the F*** is wrong with me and my wife? Do not let this person in your home! In all honesty, Marc Johnson and Weslee