Advanced Recovery Corp

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! Good luck getting timely responses. The list of complaints is too long. They took a $2,000 deposit and then double dipped with the insurance company. I have yet to get my $2,000 deposit back. They also illegally cashed the insurance checks by co-signing my name (either that or their bank asked no questions). Do your homework by researching this company. I didn't because I was in a panic emergency situation.

The signed contract did not provide a proper scope of work. Emergency clean-up services - this is what it is about. No written inspection report, no written cost estimation, no written scope of work, and no documented damage evidence. I have given ARC more than two weeks to deliver some of the above documents. We had good communication with ARC representatives over the phone. They promised to prepare the materials. They promised to include me in their communication with my insurance company. They claimed there is ongoing written negotiation with the insurance which goes well so far. Meanwhile, their crew has stripped the insulation and the vapour barrier. Then installed a new vapour barrier. I was promised to be contacted soon by insulation and HVAC subcontractors to complete the project. A few days later ARC office contacted me trying to collect insurance deductibles. That was a red flag for me. I put together all available information and made my own inspection of the crawl space. I was not happy with my findings: *The insurance company never received any documents or supporting materials for the damage estimation from ARC . There was no approval from insurance for work performed by ARC. *No single document was sent to me either, despite my constant reminders over the phone. *The installed vapour barrier is very far from industry standards. My property is being damaged. *No temporary patches on the damaged ducts. *The air extractor device is left on my property with no use (they promised to remove it a few days ago). My property is now damaged and I do not see any positive activities from ARC toward fixing their business practices. I did not ask anything beyond CCB guidelines, which any licensed contractor should be ready to deliver. [*** Link removed ***] Only after a written request for the paperwork I was given an estimate. All so called "emergency" works on my property are halted. I'm still awaiting for the docs.

When the technician hadn't arrived by the appointment time, I decided there may have been heavy traffic. After 45 minutes I called the office and asked if I had the time wrong and was informed, I had the right appointment time, and they would attempt to contact the technician. Fifteen minutes later the technician called to say they were running late due to changes in assignments, and they would be here in 30 minutes. When he arrived, he brought no tools in with him, not even a flashlight or moisture sensor. He was not wearing a uniform of any kind, no name tag, and nothing to indicate he was anyone other than someone that wandered in off the street. He proceeded to tell me how bad it looked, most likely had damage to the floor joists, and needed to get into the crawlspace to do an inspection. I told him that couldn't happen for a few days. He then said he couldn't give me any kind of an estimate without the inspection. He then put me on the phone with a man he identified as the sales manager who proceeded to strong-arm me with the importance of the inspection immediately and how once I filed a homeowner's insurance claim the company would handle everything for me with the insurance company because they speak "insurance talk". I repeatedly told him that there would be no inspection before the following week. He was probably on the phone with me for about 10 minutes while the technician waited nearby. When the call ended, I handed the phone back to the technician who told me he hoped the man on the phone hadn't scared me off. He said he hoped they could do business with me. The following Monday I received a call from the company asking me if I was ready to schedule the inspection. By then, I already knew that the damage was not nearly as bad as they indicated, and I would be able to handle the job myself. I felt they were more interested in dealing with an insurance claim than they were in helping actually get my problem fixes. I would never recommend this company or hire them.

The crew was fast, efficient, quiet, and friendly. We had a short window of time to get the job done and they came out within a couple days. The crew left our property clean after they finished. We very much appreciated the friendly and professionalism of the crew led by Michael. We will definitely use this company again.

Unprofessional, disorganized, messy, took too long, didn’t take accountability for their incompetence. I wish I had read reviews on this site before using this company. Absolutely embarrassing.

We asked Advanced Recovery to give us an estimate on water and mold cleanup we were told was in our crawlspace. Joe came out and went into the crawlspace, he came out and said we had water damage and some mold issues. He thought it would be about $1500.00 to take care of everything. We wanted another estimate and wanted to see his estimate in writing. The estimate was emailed to us and it looked really odd; first it was for $1070.31, not $1500.00 and second $576.75 of the bill was for equipment rental, fans and dehumidifier. Something just didn't seem right. The holidays were upon us and we had company from out of state staying with us so we put off getting another quote until after everyone left. During this time, and still to this day of writing (1/10/12) they keep calling us to let them do the work. We told them on the phone we wanted to get at least one possibly two more quotes before moving forward. Joe kept calling and reducing the price each time he would call. To be candid I almost just said go ahead, which I'm sure is what they are counting on. Anyway, we finally did have another company out last week to give us an estimate. This company told us there wasn't any damage to clean up. He said it was obvious there had been water on the groundat one time but there wasn't any standing water and absolutely no mold to clean up. He couldn't figure out what Advanced Recovery was going to do to justify charging us any amount of money. I would not recommend this company to anyone, whatever you do, DON'T give them your phone number.

The plumber recommended Advanced Recovery, and we're very glad they did. Russ went under the house directly to the leak and the large pools to look at the full extent of the problem, then told us the next step, which was to await the insurance company adjuster's determination about coverage. In the interim (several days, including the weekend), Russ deployed a powerful air evacuator to keep the vapors from coming up into the house. He told us the cost up front. He continually watched for ways to contain costs. Before we called the insurance adjuster, he suggested we check for an access port on the main sewer line, since emptying the mess down that pipe would cost less. While we don't have an access port, we still appreciated Russ' approach. On the day after the insurance adjuster confirmed coverage, Russ gathered his crew and supplies and arranged to meet the pump truck at our house. Upon arrival, the abatement technician suited up completely, the pump truck operator deployed the hoses, and the pools were cleared quickly. With the fetid water removed, the Advanced Recovery team flushed the area with antimicrobials and mold killers in several cycles. Payment wasn't an issue at this time, since the insurance company will cover most or all of the cost, and we're awaiting that information. Throughout the experience, Russ always returned our calls. After they left, the crawlspace literally - I mean this - smelled perfumed! Like someone had just finished a long shower. Since the affected area is deeply under the house, I couldn't do it justice with photos, unfortunately. I highly recommend Advanced Recovery for your environmental & household cleanups of this kind. They handle businesses as well as residential customers; I urge you to have them on your Go To list should you face a problem like the one we faced. /JR

I have mostly praise about the work that was done by the technician -- he arrived on time, worked quickly and cleanly, and communicationed well what he was doing. My disappointment was in the "estimate" process and followup, paperwork, and office management. After the technician arrived and started working, I checked Angie's List and the BBB and they had nothing good to say about Advanced Revovery and both listed several complaints. Their paperwork, that I was required to sign before they would start, there was no estimate for costs for this job. Instead the "Work Authorization" included a price list for equipment rental fees, hourly fees, and such, and the technician was unable to even tell me if this was a $300 or $3000 (or more) job. Instead, the Work Authorization said, "...it is impractical to give an accurate quote for services before completion". I didn't get a final "estimate" until the job was actually completed. After all the wet material was removed and the dryers setup, the technician was unable to return to my home to check equipment (because he was called away to another job) and so fans and dehumidifier remained running for two additional days. I asked if I'd be charged for the equipment since he wasn't coming back and he said no, but when he did come back I was indeed charged for these days. When he did arrive to remove the equpment, we found no water in the dehumidifier drain bucket (so clearly it had done nothing while it was there). I brought this up with the technician and was told that was the standard time for how long the equipment needed to be there. He also asked me to sign another "Change Order Form and Accounting Summary" -- a blank form that appeared to be something they'd fill out after I signed it. I had the technician write in "No Additional Work" and $0 for the additional cost before signing it (and made a copy of the form as well). In the final bill, the hourly rate for equipment rental was higher than listed in the original Work Authorization paperwork -- I was told they charge more for an insurance claim. Interactions with "the office" were not very professional and they didn't seem to know what the others in the office were doing. Despite being promised a cost estimate, it took three days to get one (basically after the work was completed). When my insurance agent called them about the $100 coupon, one person (the owner?) said he didn't know anything about any coupons. Having water damage to deal with is stressful enough, so despite good work by the technician, I can't recommend these folks until they get their business act together.

I hardly know where to start. On a Friday, our basement had water in it. Plumber recommended Advance Recovery. At that time, we had no idea what we'd be getting into or what we would need. Woops. Mike Murphy came out Fri. afternoon, brought in a pump to remove water from basement, set up enormous fans to dry it out. Made the mistake of saying, during an early conversation, that HE would handle everything, even with our insurance company, and WE would write him a good reference. Woops. Sat. am we were bagging up ruined stuff for disposal; water came pouring in from window wells. I unplugged the big fans ? sitting in water by then - and dragged them to higher ground, plugged in the pump again. Phone calls to Advance Recovery were unanswered. No big thing except he had explicitly told us he was available all the time. Plumber arrived just then, opened up the sewer cleanout valve, got nailed with a spray of sewage. (Isn't there another way to see if the pipe is clogged?) Advance Recovery finally called back, came back and pumped the stuff out. Sealed the basement off from the upstairs to protect us from contamination. Very officious about how we must NOT go down to the basement (where we have a freezer, an office and laundry). Next day he goes up and down the stairs (carpeted) tracking wet "stuff" out the back door, where everybody walks. Walked into our kitchen without removing his shoes. Gave me a phone number to call to rent a pod for our stuff while they clean the basement, then clean and disinfect every piece and return it to its place. (Wow, I thought.) I called the pod people, not open (Sunday). (He didn't know this?) Monday am I called the city of Portland to ask about codes, etc. Was told driveway is too narrow for the pod, had to go in the street, we needed a permit. Advanced Recovery did not know any of this. Permits take time to obtain. Meanwhile, we can feel the dampness upstairs, and the smell, too. Mike had said the job had to be done FAST to prevent mold spores and all that. Yoo-hoo! Two days have passed. I called Mike and had a forceful conversation during which I told him what was not going right for us, including his walking in sewage up and down our stairs, ignorance about pods and codes and the job stalled for no apparent reason and his general not too with it-ness. Supervisor called, we explained the problems, she had him call again and he promised to come THAT DAY with a crew to finish the job. Hello? Finish? He had told me the pod would be in the street for two weeks or more. Regarding my phone call, he later told my husband ?your wife was confused.? Woops. My husband said, Nope, she wasn?t. You need to get to work in the basement, pod or no pod. He and his crew of 4 worked a half day and went home. Hahaha. (Not done.) Mike had the idea that he could make us feel better by promising the impossible, which made us less confident than ever. We were not hysterical, worried or catastrophizing. He was condescending. Once he got to work, it was apparent he hadn?t even needed the pod, the time, the removing every object one by one and inventorying it all. Weird. In the end, it all got done ? though things were left all over the place. I was too fed up to ask them to put shelves and boxes back where they had been, so we had to move everything ourselves which maybe is usual. But I think if you move something, you should put it back. Oh well. Insurance paid us, we paid Advanced Recovery, we did not provide a good reference.