DECKS, RAILING & DESIGN

Got this guy from a flyer in my mailbox Let Me start off w/ the PRO's: Jim did excellent work VERY well built He paid alot of attention to detail VERY reasonable price (still don't know how I paid this price for azek composite at that size) He painted trim work and deck posts (did not ask him to that. wasn't expecting that. nice bonus) Zero money upfront (3 installments: 1st when deck is framed; 2nd when decking is laid down; Final upon completion) Now the CON's: ZERO CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS. ZERO COMMUNICATION SKILLS. Stared project 8/4/2011. Told me it would take 4 days (i wish) Final Completion 9/17/2011. (I'll cut out maybe 2 1/2 days due to weather) Why did it take almost 7 weeks to complete? This guy (jim) blame everything and everyone, except himself. He blamed inventory problems, he blamed a bad economy (still trying to figure that out), he said it was the " end of the season", he also blamed me & my wife because we wanted steps on the deck (note: my deck is 10 ft off the ground due to my walkout basement, so I needed about 14 steps, not the usual 3-4. Originally he tried to persuade me not to put steps on the deck. Although before he started the project he knew exactly what we wanted. It was not as if half way through I said we wanted steps). He never returned a phone call/email/text msg in a timely fashion. One time he guaranteed me his crew was at my house working on it when they were actually at another house. He never kept me in the loop about the progress (or lack there of). Everytime I would question him about the issue he became defensive and almost argumentative. Constantly blaming suppliers, saying "whata you want from me? I can't help it if they don't have the inventory!" This whole time he was starting (in one case totally completing) other decks in my neighborhood and in other neighborhoods. He gave me 5 different completion dates which he didn't come close to hitting any of them. I just feel as a professional, you should be able to set a completion date and be able to come within 3-5 days of it. The whole time never once sincerely apologizing to me or wife about the time it took. Never took the time to see it from our side. He just kept reminding us/me "you still have the final $2000 don't ya? what, you don't think I want to finish and get that money?" By 9/10/2011 he had about a day and a half of work left on the project. He stretched that out to a week, finally ending on 9/17/2011. At one point (around 9/9/2011) he told me "I'm giving you right answers, you just don't like the answers I'm giving you. You had to wait you had to wait, what are you gonna do about it?!?" To this I told him, maybe when he comes for his final payment he'll have to wait. His response to my half serious comment was threatening to put a lein on my house. Really? I guess he felt I had no reason to be aggravated. I guess he figured I should be lucky that he was doing my deck at all in the first place. So like I said this was pretty much the most stressful, aggravating, unprofessional experience I've ever had w/ a contractor. And I've dealt with many contractors. He is the only reason I became a member of angie's list, to let others know. The only saving grace was the whole time I still had $2000 final payment in my possession. Also let me be clear: It is a VERY well built, reasonably priced deck. We are VERY happy with the finished product (including steps on side door off garage). I DO NOT want to down play that, or Jim's craftsmanship. It's just too bad the guy was, lack of a better term, pretty much a non-communicating jerk. Here's the bottom line: If you want a meticulous, well built, VERY good priced deck he's your guy. BUT... If he's done in a week he'll say "See that's what I told ya" if he done in 7 weeks "Hey whata ya gonna do? You gotta wait, you gotta wait..."