Wilson's Plumbing and Heating

We asked Hubert Wilson, of Wilson Plumbing, heating and restoration to give us an estimate to repair our water services-inclusive of well pump, pressure tank and filtration systems and the replacement of a boiler. Our home had been badly damaged by the 9/8/2011 flood. When he arrived at the property, he had given us a form-style greeting letter and assured us he had worked with insurance companies under emergency circumstances before and that he knew exactly what to do. We wished to begin with the restoration of water to the home. We explained that we would need to coordinate payment services with the insurance and the mortgage company against the whole of the job due to needing to apply insurance funds to repairs in accordance with the Mortgage Company policies applying to the release of funds. He stated that he understood this. We told him we were negotiating for the release of emergency funds from insurance to do clean-up/reinstate water to the home. He presented us with an estimate for the restoration of water services/installation of a boiler. The whole of the job was estimated a little over $10,000.00 which would have been reasonable if everything outlined within the estimate had been done and all equipment/materials outlined in same had been used. He said he needed the entire amount of the emergency funds to get started...to apply against materials, getting the permit, renting equipment, etc. We signed on the estimate and gave him $4,000.00 to "get started". Through the process of installing, 3-5 hours a day for 3 days, we requested that Mr. Wilson complete paperwork necessary to procure additional funds to install the boiler, inclusive of an official estimate and a substitute W-9. Mr. Wilson returned some, but not all of what was required. Due to living in close proximity to water, we would not be permitted to install another oil-burning furnace. We needed to switch to a propane burning boiler. We needed to get an adjusted estimate documenting what had been done with the $4,000.00 and what would need to be done to install a propane boiler, etc. to bring the job to completion. Mr. Wilson returned a "proposal" documenting that he installed different items than what had been agreed upon in the estimate, increased the completion amount of the whole of the job and did not document any line item pricing on what had been completed to that point, or document the reason for the increase. Additionally, he adjusted a form meant for the mortgage company stipulating that he would require another $5000.00 as down against the installation of the boiler, even after it was explained to him...twice...that the mortgage company released 1/3 down, 1/3 at the half way point and 1/3 upon confirmation of completion. We contacted him in regard of the discrepancies and also brought up that we were missing documents and that the wording of the form/estimate to the mortgage company was very aggressive in light of the fact he was already given $4000.00 down. Further, he not only failed to give us the missing documents, he failed to clean up after himself. He left innumerable old components in the house and on the property, he did not properly fill in the hole created in the yard around the well-head and multiple pipe joints had been damaged in the completion of the removal of the old boiler. At this time we had questions about the price of items installed/procuring warranties for the items, etc. Around the beginning of November 2011 the Township Office contacted us to inform us that Mr. Wilson applied for; but, failed to complete the application for permit and that he worked on our home without the permit. The office further went on to state they explained to him he had an emergency start contingent on coming in immediately the following day to complete the permit. He never came back. The township office told us to follow up with the Attorney General's Office in regard of his license. He had allowed his license registration to expire in July of 2011 and we were told that he should not have bid, let alone worked on our home with an expired license. When all of this information came to light, we requested that he not do any more work on our home, that he provide us with receipts for everything put in our home and warranties for same. He became very upset about the matter; but, failed to provide any documentation justifying what transpired. We were in an emergency situation and Mr. Wilson was not as knowledgeable or organized as he Initially assured us he was. We ceased utilizing him...informed him about his license registration and reported him to the Attorney General. The Attorney General tried to mediate the situation; but, Mr. Wilson refused to cooperate with them. We were advised to file private criminal charges or pursue the matter in a legal manner. Everything surrounding the services he performed and the items installed remains suspect to this date. We had to hire another Plumber to undo some of what was done and perform repairs/replacements on some items. We had to clean up much of the mess left behind, even though that was part of what was in the estimate. We could pursue this civilly; but, we would just waste more time, energy and funds in an effort to recover our damages. Mr. Wilson may not have done this with intent to defraud; but, he most certainly does not possess the skills necessary to properly estimate and execute a job that he estimated. He additionally will not provide a customer with necessary items to properly warranty the work. We were extremely dissatisfied with his conduct and will never utilize a contractor again without first checking the Attorney General's website and making certain that the contractor is reputable.