Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/11/2025

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnresolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  In October 2022, I hired Tri-State General Contracting & Development (***** ********** is the owner) to install a privacy fence. I paid ***** $9.341.72 because he said I was getting a great deal by paying for the project in full. The only thing I didn't pay for is the labor for the left side fence, because my project was part of a joint project with my neighbor (he was going to install a retaining wall for them). He finished installing the front, right side, and back fencing in December 2022. It should have only taken 3-4 days to install, but it took way longer than it should have because of the multiple lies he told about why he couldn't work on it. The fence he installed is shoddy at best. He didn't even use pressure treated lumber for the rails. The right side fence is structurally unsound and is leaning towards my neighbors property. The rear gate was not installed correctly, so it is crooked. I paid him an extra $225 for thinner pickets for the front and he never purchased them. He kept that money and just cut down the wider pickets he had originally installed. I also paid him an additional $625 to remove a mulberry tree and it's *****, as well as 2 other stumps. He only removed the mulberry tree (the stumps are still there). He was supposed to install my neighbors retaining wall and my left side fence in 2023. He strung us both along with his lies, making up excuses for why he couldn't finish our projects. In April of 2024, he said he would finally be finishing our projects and then he completely ghosted both me and my neighbor. He was dishonest, disrespectful, and unprofessional. He stole $2,260.71 from me and he has now filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, so I have no legal options to try and get my money back. He is a convicted felon and has over 40 lawsuits against him. I hope this review prevents others from being taken advantage of by ***** **********.

  Business Response

  Date: 02/12/2025

  The claims made by this individual are false. I was contracted to complete a fence for her; however, as outlined in the contract, she only paid for the work that was completed and did not pay for any work that remained unfinished. Any warranty concerns she raised were brought up after the warranty period had expired. She was dissatisfied when I refused to perform additional work at no cost.
  

  Regarding my bankruptcy, I filed in November 2024 for reasons unrelated to this matter. She was listed in the bankruptcy as a Priority Unsecured Debtor in a disputed claim and was formally notified in December 2024 with instructions on how to file a claim through the bankruptcy court if she believed she had a valid case. She chose not to take action. Instead, she has taken to social media to make false accusations, including publicly sharing personal addresses associated with my children and their mother. As a result, multiple individuals have shown up at their home and workplace, forcing them to temporarily relocate out of concern for their safety.
  

  She had over a year to pursue legal action but failed to do so. Now that legal recourse is no longer an option for her, she is using public platforms to harass and defame me. Based on legal counsels advice, I intend to pursue legal action for defamation.
  While I acknowledge past legal matters, including lawsuits related to standard contractual and landlord-tenant disputes, they have no bearing on this situation. There are only two prior complaints related to past contracting work, and I stand by the integrity of my business dealings.
  

  At this time, there is no money owed to this individual, and her claims are entirely without merit.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/13/2025

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  The claims made by the company are false. I paid for ALL of the material up front in October 2022, including the material for the left side fence, which was never installed. I also made the owner aware of the warranty items well within the 1-year warranty period. I have proof of this.
  
  Regards,
  
  **** *****

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/15/2025

  All of the claims made by the owner in his response are false. The attached document "Message from ***** ********** 4.18.24" is the document requested by the BBB. I also need to provide additional information:
  
  The Initial Payment of $9,341.72 was for all of the material needed for the entire project plus the labor for the front, side, and rear fences (see attached document c). This payment included the materials for the left side fence, which was never installed 

  The Final Payment is just the labor for installing the left side fence (which was never installed), so that is not included in the amount of the refund I am owed (see attached document Contract Information).

  The total cost for the left side fence (materials + labor) was $3,490.00 (see attached document Contract Information). The labor cost to install the left side fence was $1,229.29 (Final Payment). So, the material cost for the left side fence that I paid for up front was $2,260.71 ($3,490.00 - $1,229.29). 

  This amount does not include the additional $225.00 that I paid the owner for thinner front pickets, which he never purchased/installed. Copies of this, and all payments, are attached to this complaint (see previously attached document Copies of Payments to Tri-State GCD). 

  This amount also does not include the additional $625.00 that I paid the owner to remove a mulberry tree and its *****, as well as another partial ***** on the property. He only removed the mulberry tree, and the cost for that was $250.00. So, he kept the difference of $375.00 (see attached document "Tree & ***** Breakdown"). 

  The three amounts added together ($2,260.71 + $225.00 + $375.00) equals $2,860.71, which is the total amount the company owes me. 
  In regard to the warranty items, I have attached proof that I contacted the owner within a few months of the project being partially completed (see attached documents "Warranty Items (with dates)" and FB Messages (Oct 2022-June 2024). I brought the issues with the fence to the owner's attention in February 2023, March 2023, and June 2023. That was well within the 1-year warranty period. In July 2023, the owner asked me to send him a list of the warranty items (which I did on July 19, 2023) and he agreed to take care of them in his response on July 25, 2023 and again on April 18, 2024. 

  My left side fence, along with my neighbors retaining wall, was supposed to be installed in 2023. The owner kept making excuses and pushed the job into 2024. In April of 2024, he contacted me and told me he would be completing both projects that month or early May (see attached document "FB Messages (Oct 2022-June 2024)"). He had the mulberry tree removed on May 9, 2024, and he stopped communicating with me altogether after that. His wife contacted me in June 2024 and told me she was trying to find another contractor to finish the job. That never happened and I never heard from her, or the owner, again. I was strung along until June 2024 believing he would finish my project, so I couldnt file a civil suit until I knew for a fact that he was not going to finish the job, which wasnt until the end of June 2024. 

  I emailed the owner in June 2024, requesting a refund, but I never received a response. 

  I filed a complaint with the Attorney General in July 2024, but again, the owner did not respond. After 21 days with no response from the owner, the complaint was closed in August 2024. 

  I was gathering my information and saving money to file a civil suit against the owner, but then I received a letter in December 2024 stating that he had filed chapter 7 bankruptcy, which, according to the bankruptcy attorney I contacted, prevents me from filing the civil suit. So, it hasnt even been 1 year since the owner breached the contract and ceased all communication with me, and I have made multiple attempts at getting my money back, to no avail. Because I can no longer file a civil suit against the owner, filing a complaint with the BBB is my only option.  
  
  There has been absolutely no defamation. My post on social media was simply a negative review of the owner and his business, which is 100% legal (freedom of speech). People have a right to know if a contractor is taking advantage of, and stealing from, homeowners. I shared my experience so that others would not make the same mistake I did in hiring him. I have absolutely no control over what other people say or do in response to my review. 
  
  I never claimed that all of the lawsuits against him were against his company, Tri-State General Contracting & Development. They were against him as an individual as well as his company. The sheer number of these lawsuits speaks volumes about his character. 
  
  All of the attached documents prove that what I am saying is the truth. This contractor strung me (and my neighbor) along until June 2024, telling lies, making excuses, and making promises he never kept. He breached our contract and kept my money. He did the same thing to my neighbor. ***** ********** is dishonest, disrespectful, and unprofessional. He is a con man. The company owes me $2,860.71.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/30/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Contractor was paid for services that were not complete and has walked off the job site claiming to close his business. When asked for the supplies to finish the job the contractor spent all the money and has yet to provide the materials. He has not hooked up the heat in our basement for my 84 year old grandfather to stay warm. Not connected it to keep my two young kids warm in there rooms.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/29/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I signed a contract for a pole garage to be built on March 6th 2023 with a $2500 down payment. The contract stated that the job would take 30-37 business days to complete. Finally on April 17th, nearly 6 weeks after I signed the contract, they arrived to begin construction. At this time I made a $10,000 payment. I also at this time inquired about them installing a fence for me and drawing up a contract. Eventually that week they started excavation and ran into a power line in the ground so they stopped work for another 2 weeks right from the start. I’m not sure why after 6 weeks they would not have someone come mark the utilities. I did agree to a contract for a fence to be built and made a down payment of $6,100. From there on out it’s been nothing but excuse after excuse and setback after setback. The framing is still incomplete, they finally did put the roof on (crooked) two weeks ago. They were supposed to poor concrete and have electric installed for nearly 8 weeks. They finally poured concrete incorrectly last week. It will all have to be dug up and repoured. By now I had already made another payment for $8,100. At this point I had asked several times about the delays and nothing had changed. I sent the owner a message on July 25 stating I was tired of the excuses and I would not give him more money until he finished. He did not respond. The following day I received a message from the owner that he had pulled all of the material (The metal for the building and the remainder of the fence) and equipment off my property while I was at work and they would not be returning unless I met the demands in a 2 page letter he sent me. The concrete is incomplete and will need jackhammered up, they left trash, a hole next to my house where electric was to be installed. Much of my property was damaged and needs topsoiled and reseeded. I am seeking my last $8100 payment back. The address I have for this business is PO Box 144 New Stanton, Pa 15672 Cell ************ (Owner)