Derrick originally cleaned our small smoker and barbecue on April 16th. <br /> We paid him $500.00 for the job. That day he did finish the initial <br /> cleaning the barbecue but it did not worked properly again until we <br /> hired another company to replace parts and complete the job. Derrick <br /> told us on his initial visit that some of the parts were worn out and <br /> gave us a quote for new parts. We agreed to purchase the parts and have <br /> Derrick install the new parts as the barbecue was 5 + years old and was <br /> an expensive built in model. We waited about a month for Derrick to <br /> deliver and install the the new parts. In the meantime, Derrick had to <br /> come back twice to adjust the barbecue because it was not lighting or <br /> working properly. After one such adjustment, my husband attempted to use <br /> the barbecue but flames came out through the knob and burned his hand. <br /> Derrick said the burners needed to reinserted in the gas valve and he <br /> would fix the problem. While our barbecue had initially needed <br /> cleaning, it had been working before Derrick's cleaning and we had never <br /> had any safety issues with it. On May 19th Derrick came back and <br /> installed some of the parts but said the burners he ordered were the <br /> wrong size. He asked for payment in full, including $300.00 for the two <br /> new burners and $250.00 for new briquette trays. We paid him an <br /> additional $750.00 on the 19th. Derrick said he would be back the next <br /> day with the proper size burners. He never showed up the next day nor <br /> did he call to let us know he would not be there. <br /> On May 22nd, Derrick again promised to return but, once again, did <br /> not show up. We had planned on using the barbecue for dinner guests and <br /> told him that when he promised he would indeed come. He did not show up <br /> and, when pressed, Derrick then told us that the burners he was supposed <br /> to pick up were accidentally sold but we could use the barbecue as it <br /> worked "fine". This was the time that flames came through the knobs and <br /> burned my husband when he tried to use the barbecue. On May 27th, we <br /> were still waiting to get the burners and for Derrick to fix the <br /> barbecue. He finally showed up on May 29th after several requests by us. <br /> On May 29th, my husband told Derrick we were not comfortable using the <br /> barbecue until the new burners were installed and, after the burned hand <br /> incident, everything was completed and checked out. Derrick reiterated <br /> that the barbecue was safe to use. It was, in fact, not safe. On June <br /> 8th, we again asked Derrick when he would install the burners we had <br /> paid for on May 19th and he said he would be there at an unspecified <br /> time that day. He again never showed up and later said he was "slammed" <br /> and would be there June 9th in the AM. We once again arranged to have <br /> someone wait for him. He never showed up that morning. He texted us <br /> later that day and said he was in the hospital with a finger injury but <br /> his associate would deliver the parts to us in the morning on June 10th. <br /> Again, no one showed up or called. We expressed our sympathy about his <br /> injury but told Derrick we were, by this time, completely fed up with <br /> the un-kept commitments and no shows, We asked him for a date he would <br /> DEFINITELY be able to deliver the parts or give us a refund of our <br /> money. On June 15th, we still had not heard from Derrick. On Wednesday, <br /> June 17th, Derrick told me he would be at our home before Saturday the <br /> 20th to deliver the parts. He did not show up on Thursday June 18th but <br /> on Friday June 19th said he would be at our house by 3 PM the next day, <br /> Saturday, June 20. For the last time, we arranged to have someone wait <br /> for him and, once again, no one showed up on Saturday. When he <br /> originally told us he would be there Saturday June 20th he added that, <br /> if he was not, we would have a refund of the money by Monday June 21 or, <br /> at the latest,Tuesday June 22. <br /> To date,we have not received a refund and we had another company come <br /> to inspect our barbecue and install the new burners. It has now been <br /> two and a half months of broken commitments, excuses, missed <br /> appointments and general frustration with derrick and BBQ RENU. We are <br /> now preparing a small claims action to recover our $550.00 and cover any <br /> work that needs to be redone by the new company as we do not trust <br /> anything Derrick has said or done. On his initial visit, Derrick tried <br /> to sell his services to have our patio furniture redone, our patio tiles <br /> refinished and our cars detailed. The only bright spot in this <br /> experience that our contact with Derrick was limited to our barbecue! <br /> Today is June 30. We still have not received payment and have had an <br /> established and reliable BBQ contractor come and inspect our BBQ. Our <br /> BBQ parts have been replaced and installed by a new, established and <br /> reputable company. This was done within three days of their initial <br /> visit. When the new company inspected the work Derrick had done, it was <br /> discovered that Derrick had plugged holes in our old burners with <br /> aluminum foil and that was how he determined that the burners would <br /> "work just fine" until he delivered new ones. The new contractor told us <br /> the burner was indeed a safety hazard and a liability for anyone to <br /> suggest we use it that way as Derrick did. We also discovered that <br /> Derrick had not replaced the two briquette trays which he had charged <br /> us $250.00 for. We now had a new charge for the parts Derrick charged us <br /> $550.00 for. The parts were replaced and installed for $150.00 less <br /> than what Derrick charged us for 5 1/2 weeks ago and never delivered. <br /> Since this all began, I have looked up Derrick's "License" that he <br /> represented on this site as TL12467017 and that he was licensed as a <br /> Handyman.The State of California does not issue Handyman's Licenses. <br /> There is, in addition, no record that we could find of a valid <br /> Contractor's License with the State License Board. The State also <br /> requires all licensed contractors to display their license number on all <br /> advertising. The Angie's List ad did not have a valid California <br /> Contractor's License in it. A Trade License is not the same as a State <br /> Contractor License. In addition, the State Board website states that it <br /> is a crime to contract for home improvement services (for which built in <br /> BBQ repair qualifies - I checked) for more than $500.00 without a valid <br /> State Contractor's License. Derrick charged us $505.00 for his first <br /> service and $750.00 for his second service including $550.00 for parts <br /> never delivered. Both amounts are in violation of State law for <br /> operators without a valid Contractor's License.The penalty for doing so <br /> is a monetary fine and or 6 months in jail. The State site said it is <br /> currently very active in cracking down on offenders. We intend to pursue <br /> a complaint with the State in addition to our small claims action. As <br /> my husband and I are also over 65 years of age, we intend to report BBQ <br /> RENU to the State Consumer Affairs Board as "Elder Abuse" statutes also <br /> apply for payments made and merchandise and services not supplied to <br /> consumers over 65 years of age. On Friday, June 26, Derrick said he was <br /> putting a refund check to us in the mail. When it did not arrive on <br /> Monday, June 29, we asked Derrick if it had indeed been mailed. He <br /> stated that it had not been mailed on Friday but had been mailed on <br /> Sa