DAVID HAHN FINE KITCHENS

I went to David Hahn Fine Kitchen and Design in October 2010 to talk to him about our kitchen remodel. A few days later he had a print for me and an estimate of $32,160.00. I questioned how he could get such great prices on everything and he said it was because he had been in business for so long (41 years) and he buys in such large quantities that he can pass the savings onto his customers. He stressed the fact that he could do it cheaper as the general contractor than I could ever buy on my own, that he had 21 employees working for him, and that he would be responsible for everything. (I learned later that everyone who worked on my job was a contractor, not an employee.) Since we had never done this before and he was in business 41 years I thought we could trust him. We signed the contract and gave him the first check for $16,000 as a down payment on our cabinets, Zodiac Quartz counter tops, and hardwood flooring. Not until Wednesday, January 5th 2011 did they start to tear out the kitchen. On that very day, David and two gentlemen showed up at my house mid-morning. He asked my husband for an additional check of $14,737.00. David Hahn said the money was needed to make the final payments on all of the kitchen supplies, to pay his men on a weekly basis as they did their work (each guy was to be paid $20.00/hr and he (David) would charge us $25.00/hr) and to pay for all of the electrical supplies and materials to complete the job. I called David a few days into the project to ask if anyone was ever going to work an 8 hr day at my house. He laughed and said that they had several other jobs and he had to send his guys where they were needed. The second week two different men worked at our house taking up all of the ceramic flooring in the kitchen, guest bath, laundry room, and foyer. On Tuesday, January 25th, David called me at my office at 8:45 AM and said he would like for me to stop at his office to discuss an issue. Since his office is right down the street from my office, I went over right then. He said he needed me to pay for my cabinets and counter tops again because he had put the money I gave him into the company ?cashflow? and it was now gone. He said he couldn?t continue on with my job because he had completely run out of money. I said the money I gave him was to go directly to the payment of all of my supplies and that he had told us before that he already had the cabinets in his possession. That?s when he told me the cabinets had never been ordered. I left his office hysterical and went home to call my husband. At this meeting Daivd Hahn told us nothing was paid for except the counter tops and the labor and that he had our sink, faucet, and backsplash in the backroom. Later we learned this was all false. The counter top place, The Countertop Shop, didn?t even have an order or a print for our job and that David Hahn owed them $15,000 and two of the contractors (Jeff and Steve) told us they hadn?t been paid for their labor either. In the following days we contacted the cabinet company, Vista Cabinets, and found that they never even saw a blueprint of our job and that David owed them a lot of money. The owner, Henry, said his attorney was working on trying to collect. I went to the police to file a criminal action report but was told this was not a criminal case and would have to be settled in civil court. Since work was done at my home, this would have to be a civil suit instead of a criminal case. I contacted the Wood County Prosecutor?s office and the assistant prosecutor, Melissa Schiffel, has agreed to take the case. She said she feels there is criminal intent here and will prosecute it as a 4th degree felony. I sent two certified receipt requested letters to David?s home and office summarizing this issue and confirming that he is in breech of our contract and that we are continuing on without him. As I tell this story to people, I keep hearing of others who this has happened to. My daughter?s in-laws have friends who had a similar situation happen for $60,000. They threatened him with picketers if they didn?t get their money within a few days and David obliged. Both the CounterTop Shop and Vista Cabinets said he owes them money but stated that was business as usual with him. In summary, David stole $30,737 of our money. He left us with a stripped first floor of our home making it unlivable knowing he could not finish the job. Although he had laborers at our house off and on for 3 weeks, he did not pay any of them and we may be liable for their work.

It seemed to start ok and went down hill fast. Mr. Hahn got sick which I don't fault him, but the job came to complete hault. It would not have been for my constant phone calls - it would not have ever been completed. The main problem is the shower which unit has constantly leaked, the shower door has broken and it has ruined the wall. His workers have failed to fix it and he does not return our calls at this time. I would tell everyone not to use this guy who just brags about his cars.

The job began mid July. A job that should have taken a maximum of 8 weeks was only partially complete by September. His workers usually only worked part of the day and usually were pulled off to go to the other jobs. Initially a locke box was put on the front door ,so the workers would have easy access to the job site. However, since my wife was at home recovering from a total hip replacement and geared her PT around the workers, it became evident that this really was not needed...especially after one day when she was told the workers would not be there and she had just emerged from the shower ..and in walks one of the workers and scared her. Except for 2 days when we went to New York city and one day when she had a medical procedure done on her, every day was available for the workers. However sometimes as long as a week would go by without any one appearing. The excuse was often given that they needed to wait for the supplies (which were supposedly bought with the January check ,but obviously not the case). The vanity which was installed was not the one in the design which we had agreed and had major flaws. The sinks could not fit as there was not enough room for plumbing and they were the wrong ones. Mr Hahn' answer was to cut out parts of an already mishaped cabinet. Futhermore with the flaws the plumbing would not attach to the incorrect sinks. The floor tile was not completed as the air vent had to be reattached. When challenged about all the flaws, his response was that we would have to wait another 3 months for him to get to it. We realized that what work that was done was very shotty and we needed to finish this project ASAP. We have had to hire new plumbers, tile man, carpenters, painter plumber to correct and finish the job. We have had to pay twice for the closet as the money for this particular job was never given to the '"closet people".. This undoubtly was was one of the worst experiences we have encountered. We hired a supposedly reputable contractor to oversee the work so that the right cabinet would be built the plumbing would fit etc. etc. This was not the case and we have learned a very costly lesson in terms of paying in advance, trusting a contractor without first having an attorney review the contract and not putting everything in writing. Had we known this company was neither bonded nor insured, we would never have hired him. We only found out after he had done his work.