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Right Choice Pools & Spas, Inc.
Deck or Porch - Repair, Hot Tub or Spa - Repair or Service, Brick and Stone Patios, Walks, and Steps - Install,
About us
Statewide Licensed Pool Contractors. Building custom swimming pools & spas and offering monthly pool service. Serving clients from Royal Palm Beach to North Miami Beach. Additional phone - (954) 345-7274.
Business highlights
14 years of experience
Services we offer
Custom Swimming Pool & Spa Construction, Pool Service & Remodeling
Amenities
Free Estimates
Yes
Accepted Payment Methods
- CreditCard
Reviews
3.240 Reviews
| Number of Stars | Image of Distribution | Number of Ratings |
|---|---|---|
| 48% | ||
| 8% | ||
| 0% | ||
| 10% | ||
| 35% |
Showing 1-25 of 40 reviews
Andres C.
Dec 2017
Update......Another Right Choice pools lawsuit in Broward County Florida case CACE17022438. Several files this year in Broward and Miami Dade County. Be beware of Right (Wrong) choice pools!
Doris C.
Nov 2017
I am also by default a Right Choice Pools victim. We paid them tens of thousands of dollars and after 23 months we had to fire them and was left with a bare pool shell! The owner just takes your money and does not supervise, the workers are horrorable and even one confirmed was a ex convicts, another we demanded they kick off our property due to anger issues and profanity, they cant pass one inspection for 5 months they offer financial incentives in the hundreds for social media post in order to inflate star ratings and bury negative posts, the constantly failed inspections and tore our pool shell trying to fix plumbing the inspectors flagged. We posted all the pictures (only a picture of many here) and online documents proving our family nightmare on RCP facebook and now the page is inactive and not found! We are also joining others recently suing Right Choice pools. They just lost a lawsuit for about $70,000 to Mr. Bentacourt in Miami Dade. We highly suggest you check all right choice pools reviews if you dont want to suffer at the hands of this company.
Thomas A.
Nov 2017
I contracted with this company after interviewing a half dozen others. I had a great relationship with the salesman (Joel) who made several upgrade promises to my wife and I. Since we were living mostly in New Jersey, we have a deposit and returned back to NJ. We made arrangements to have our pool started in the following May but the they never applied for permits. After starting the job on July 16th of that year, they ripped down my downspout, scuffed my house with the backhoe and installed the pavers over the storm shutter bolts. They caused me problems with my HOA to the point that I have to move and but I can’t because I need to install an electronic screen to protect my patio during a storm, not even a hurricane.
Andres C.
Nov 2017
UPDATE, so much proof we posted with pictures and docs, on 11/1/17 plus several new RCP victims posting RCP Facebook account is no longer active or found!
Andres C.
Nov 2017
I suggest all Right Choice Pools & spas victims post legitimate grievances on Right Choice Pool & spas Facebook under reviews on the left-hand side. Please google Right Choice pool reviews if you value your time, peace and hard-earned money.
Andres C.
Nov 2017
In May 2015, I hired Right Choice Pools to construct a luxury pool and grotto. The contract specified that the project was to be completed 18 WEEKS from the start of excavation. I was told then by Matt Barrass, the President of RCP that I would receive a discount if I posted a positive review online (before the pool was completed). After close to 2 YEARS, my pool was still not complete, and the work that was done had multiple defects, was not compliant with plans, and failed numerous inspections. After dealing with this nightmare for nearly 2 years and after trying to be flexible just to get this project done, I was finally forced to terminate my contract and hire another company to correct and finish the job, , and this is after we have already paid RCP over $100K. The new company we hired had to tear out most of the plumbing, passed 100% of inspections the first time, and finished the pool and grotto with waterfall and slide in a few short months. We have been forced to file a lawsuit in Broward over this dispute. In my experience, the owner, Matt Barrass, uses every excuse in the book to justify delays and defects in his performance. I am not the only one to have this experience. I have read numerous reviews/complaints posted by other victims of this company with similar situations. I have also read Matt Barrass’ responses to them, and have seen how he likes to claim the bad reviews are either fake and written by competitors, or that the person is lying. AND SINCE POSITIVE REVIEWS CAN EASILY BE FAKED, let me share with you some FACTS WHICH CAN BE VERIFIED ABOUT THIS COMPANY AND ITS OWNER, MATT BARRASS: 1. In addition to my lawsuit (Case number CACE17019536), RCP has had multiple other lawsuits filed against it, in all 3 south Florida counties. In the most recent case in Miami , RCP was ordered to pay over $46,000 plus interest for damages, in addition to reimbursing the Plaintiff for $20,000 in attorney's fees and $2,000 in administrative costs. Another case settled for $23,000, and another reached a confidential settlement. This can be confirmed by going to the clerk of courts website in each county (Miami, Broward and Palm Beach) and searching under Right Choice Pools. You can click on the links and read the complaints/details. 2. Several years prior to opening RCP, Matt Barrass was fined and penalized $5,000.00 by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation for engaging in unlicensed contracting (Case No. 97-09811). Matt is still not a licensed contractor and operates RCP under his brother’s license. 3. Prior to opening RCP, Matt Barrass worked as General/Regional Manager for Nationwide Pools, a company that the Attorney General filed charges against and froze the assets of NATIONWIDE POOLS. Anyone can google Nationwide Pools for the information, and if you go to RipOffReport.com and do an advanced search for reference number 316326, then scroll to the bottom after the complaint, you will find responses Matt Barrass wrote to people complaining about the company, and he identifies himself as the General/Regional Manager and denies any wrong-doing on the company's behalf. Also, if you do a search on the Broward County Clerk of Courts website, you will find a lawsuit where Nationwide Pools sued Matt Barrass. Matt Barrass also informed me that he paid the site [*** Link removed ***] $30K to essentially bury the bad reviews about him under RCP under pages and pages of information about the company, claiming how wonderful it is. IF YOU RELISH YOUR FAMILY MONEY AND TIME I WOULD DO MY RESEARCH AND AVOID THIS COMPANY.
Aurelie B.
Jul 2016
The Worst choice you can make- We have signed his contract April 2014 - permit closed January 2016 - we have a pool but .....unfortunately we were too na?ve at the time we started .... THE MOST STRESSFULL EXPERIENCE in our life's ... I will agree with previous comments I have read about MATT the OWNER that uses his relative license and contract other people to get each job that will need to be done - and confirm the following - RUDE- NO MANNERS- LIAR-OBNOXIOUS -NO WILLINESSS TO LISTEN HIS CUSTOMER who pays him $$ to get the job done - he sends his team to make you sign the contract fast ( showing they can do a pool in 12 weeks) and then add to that contract addendums that must be paid in full on top of the contract before job is done.... then Matt comes in and tells you that he is the one we should contact... we saw him 2 times at our place in 1 year and 9 months for all the events we experienced - he is not interested to meet with you to follow his job unless is to get a Check $$ ... anyway don't expect any proper invoices or payment schedules from them ... I had to create my own and even update them with all my check's number I had made - they are good at sending you their team to get the Checks before each job starts... Matt is well experienced at blaming the Weather and Mother nature as well as blaming the Cities with permits at all times .... they are basically good at delaying the job days after days..if you are willing to spend additional money in legal fees make sure you have a good attorney that will help you in the process ... they are no responsible if they damage the road on your street with BOB Cats ( SO PLEASE BE HOME WHEN THEY WORK ON YOUR PROPERTY AT ALL TIME) - we paid an $875 to the city for re doing the road - Matt did not want to hear it and had no responsibility ( but they are showing you that they have more than 1 million on their insurance... - - BS-- I know that MATT will probably reply to that review as this is what he seems to do best and will send you a book with his reply.. ----- .. that is probably why you do not see him on your site... too much time spent to read bad reviews that are sent to RCP. --- one thing that always made me think ......I would love to know why he does not put sign outside your Home with his company name and contact ( oh yes ...he does not want other peoples to see how long it takes RCP to get the job done ) - Anyway I have spent way more time of my life talking about this HORRIBLE COMPANY OF RIGHT CHOICE POOL and MUST PUT AN END to this very UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE. I will not even recommend RCP to my worst enemy. AB.
James N.
Jun 2016
Friendly, helpful and professional
Kenneth B.
Feb 2016
I signed a contract with the company. They have pulled a bait and switch with me and they are trying to get me to pay more for equipment not stated in the original contract to help with digging the pool in the back yard and it would cost $3000 for that extra equipment. I would not recommend them to others and their honesty grade is also an F. Quite frankly if I could resolve this with them I would not move forward due to other reviews I have read and the standings they have with Angie's List and the BBB and they are not responsible for anything. If they damage anything it makes me responsible rather than the company.
Response from Right Choice Pools & Spas, Inc.
"I am honestly so shocked right now! - I actually have right in front of me 3 documents signed by Mr. [Member Name Removed] that clearly state in 6 different places what RCP allows / includes for access... - I WISH I COULD DOWN LOAD THESE FOR ALL TO SEE ... Mr. [Member Name Removed] mentions "bait & switch" - that is the absolute 1,000% opposite to what RCP does... We even give a full copy of the BACK OF PURCHASE AGREEMENT to all of our potential clients for them to review weeks before they even ever consider purchasing a pool from RCP... We have spent a long time with Mr. [Member Name Removed] both today & yesterday, we even sent Mr. [Member Name Removed] an email with the original purchase agreement & specifications etc... attached along with highlighted parts where it clearly stated that we needed at least 10 feet of access to bring our equipment in & that was what was included... Our designer also hand wrote in bold characters on the front of "Purchase Agreement" that all was based on LARGE MACHINE ACCESS which was written solely on the conversations with Mr.[Member Name Removed] regarding the access... RCP will always honor our signed contracts & EVERYTHING that is included within... We respectfully ask that Mr. [Member Name Removed] please just do the same & honor your contract & all will be good!!! As far as bad reviews go - RCP has worked with over 800 clients & we have a total of 16 clients with stories just like this one, which means that 98% of our clients are happy & like I said RCP will always honor our agreements & our warranties... I am sorry Mr. [Member Name Removed] feels this way & I wish this could be resolved but unfortunately RCP cannot cover these costs due to access at Mr. [Member Name Removed]'s property... Sincerely, Matt Barrass @ RCP"
Kelly B.
Sep 2015
unknown
Response from Right Choice Pools & Spas, Inc.
"Dear Mrs. [Member Name Removed], 1st, thank so much for your review & your comments... We also think that your pool came out amazing!!! & we are truly sorry for any delays but I am also sorry to say that we do use both in house workers & sub-contractors - in fact about 70% of our work is done by in house employees that we also insure them on both our liability & workman's compensation policies... We truly tried to get the pool built as soon as possible, however there are possible delays that can occur that can slow the production of a job down & most of these delays are really beyond anyones control... Mrs. [Member Name Removed], if there are ever any problems or concerns with your new pool, please contact us as soon as possible & we will be happy to immediatley respond to your needs... Sincerely, Matt Barrass @ RCP"
Sotiri J.
Aug 2015
I am in utter disbelief that it has been a year and a half since signing and my pool is not finished. Form the day I signed my contract to the day it was filled with water it was one year to the day. Even though actual digging time was under 8 hours, included per contract, RCP (Right Choice Pools) charged me $1,800.00 for extra digging time, but those hours were spent by the backhoe driver <br /> sleeping while waiting for one dump truck to go back and forth to a dump apparently very far from my home, not digging. So Beware! I had a soil sample done, but RCP never wanted to see it. <br /> I asked repeatedly for a rep from RCP to come check on subs to make sure work was done correctly, but no one ever came. I failed inspections four times. It took three Electrical contractors to do the electrical work. One quit before he started, the second installed the electrical all wrong (not according to code), the third corrected some of the errors of the second but it took <br /> five months for the third one to show up, and he ever finished getting the job to code. Meanwhile, I sat with a big hole of unfinished concrete and an open trench across my yard, playing host to mosquito larvae for several weeks, and <br /> not one peep from RCP until I pushed the envelope. Then he charged me $920.00 to fix the electricians' mistakes. Then the pool sat for weeks and weeks without a soul showing up to do anything. <br /> So I kept on calling, emailing, emailing and calling, I received a gazillion excuses, mostly rain delays. His contract says that one rain day equals FIVE days delay in construction. It rarely rains an entire day here in Florida. So how can five or ten minutes of rain cause five days of delay? I went to his showroom to complain in person about the delays and subs hoping to <br /> get RCP to get my pool finished, but received another one of his favorite excuses: "I have no control over my subs. I don't know when they show up or not"... What??? He can't control his sub contractors???? Even when I <br /> asked again and again for an RCP rep to come check the job, no one showed and again RCP failed an inspection; this time the pool heater was anchored incorrectly. <br /> The electrical inspector came yet again and found that the metal hurricane shutter was closer than 5' to the pool, (this requirement is in the building code, but no one ever checked) and needed to be bonded to the pool's grounding <br /> system. This meant sending out a person to ground (bond) the metal shutter and tear up the pavers in order to connect the wires, get another inspection and put pavers back. This error/oversight took several weeks to accomplish. <br /> The Diamond Brite finish was applied with splotches, spots and boot pints in it. When I called to report the horrible finish, he said it was impossible that boot prints were in the finish. Matt did send someone out and he verified <br /> that there were in fact boot prints in the finish and the finish was indeed splotchy, not an even color throughout the pool. <br /> I called the Diamond Brite Company and asked fro a pool inspection but they never showed. <br /> When the pool was filled with water Matt came himself to collect the balance due. When I mentioned the color was not uniform he said the pool finish must be brushed daily for a month and eventually the color would even up... Some of it did, but I still had dozens and dozens of white spots and the boot prints never disappeared. <br /> He tried to blame the pool service person, for the inconsistent pool coloring, saying he must not have had the pool in chemical balance, but I used the service person he sent to start the pool up and recommended to me. <br /> Then there is the matter of the handrail I paid for: It was never installed! I asked for it, and nothing... I said does the pool have to be emptied, holes drilled in the steps to install the rail and is an inspection needed? I never received an answer. <br /> I sent a plethora of emails asking for the handrail to be installed and the finish to be corrected. <br /> All I received was an email two months ago stating "have patience". I think 18 months is patience enough. <br /> It was delay after delay; excuse after excuse, his "60 day spiel" took one year! And the pool is still not finished one and a half years after signing. <br /> On the plus side, his staff was very accommodating, friendly, polite, and helpful in the design and choosing of finish, pavers, equipment etc. Matt did respond to my emails, and calls, despite my complaints he was not overly rude or demeaning, but sadly there were no results. My pool remains splotchy with boot prints ingrained in the finish, and no handrail, after one and a half <br /> years. <br /> I'd advise anyone that decides to use this company to get an attorney and revise the RCP contract to spare you the extra charges and get a penalty clause added for excessive delay in completion. <br /> I'm still waiting for a response, seven months after pool was filled, as to when the handrail will be installed and the finish brought to a uniform Diamond Blue color that i had contracted to be installed. <br /> <br />
Samantha K.
Aug 2015
Doing a big construction project is not expected to occur without issues and we certainly ran across some. Our space was very small and that was a challenge. The pool took longer than we hoped it would. But, Right Choice was reasonable and available throughout the process. We didn't get nickel and dimed; all costs were as expected. We passed every inspection on the first try. And we have a beautiful new pool that we are now enjoying every day!!
Response from Right Choice Pools & Spas, Inc.
"Thanks [Member Name Removed], the pool came out amazing & looks so good... & yes the pool did take longer but there were also a lot if rain delays & some addendum's (client changes) & even some delays with the building department... [Member Name Removed], we will always honor our warranties, so please call me if you ever have any problems or concerns... Thanks, Matt @ RCP"
Paul J.
Jul 2015
unknown
Response from Right Choice Pools & Spas, Inc.
"We are truly sorry that Mr. [Member Name Removed] isn't happy - but we have amazing pictures & his 30 year pool remodel came out looking really really good... PLUS - we did pass every inspection on the job with the building department of Coral Springs - The problem was as it can be with many remodels jobs is that the clients think that because a pool contractor is doing remodeling work that ALL WILL NOW BE A BRAND NEW POOL, but its just a remodel, where a client usually chooses specific items to meet a budget... - Also, the client thinks that the pool contractor will inherit all of the many problems with the pool (example - items not per code that are not even in the contracted job scope... Anyway, RCP completed our agreed to job scope, it looks awesome & as I said, we passed all of the inspections including the Final... I wish we could of done more to please Mr. [Member Name Removed] & I hope he knows that RCP stands behind our work & he can call us at any time... PS - I forgot to mention that because of some of the issues - RCP gave Mr. [Member Name Removed] some pretty substantial FREEBIES along the way!!! Sincerely, Matt Barrass @ RCP"
Joan A.
Jun 2015
unknown
Sandra T.
Jun 2015
We went with them due to their 50 day guarantee. However, the owner constantly stated that the 50 days didn't count due to things like "weather". One day of rain, two weeks of sunshine with no shows. He was argumentative and rude when pressed. 50 days turned into at least 6 months. <br />
Luz J.
Jun 2015
We're super-happy with the pool that Rigth Choice built for us, is one of the nicest pools I've seen, the pool came out exactly as we designed it. The construction took a little longer than we expected, but really there are many things that are out of control, like rainy days, inspections, permits... What I liked most was dealing with Matt and Nancy, apart from being good people they are very professional and always willing to answer questions, to help in the process and reassure us at times when we were beginning to get nervous, Very few companies gives you the opportunity to deal directly with the owners. In short words, despite the few drawbacks that could have been the result was the best, and best of all his work was always very clean, they always collected the debris and waste generated by the construction. <br /> It is very difficult to choose the best company when you decide to build your pool but we are sure that we definitely made the Right Choice. <br />
Response from Right Choice Pools & Spas, Inc.
"Thank you so much... I am so glad that you are very happy with your new pool, it does look awesome... I also want to thank you for being fair & reasonable throughout the entire process... & if you have any warranty issues at all, please feel free to call either me or Nancy... Thanks, Matt @ RIGHT CHOICE POOLS"
Margie B.
Jun 2015
Matt from Right Choice was very reachable and helpful from the idea/design phase all the way through the completion of the project. As with many construction jobs, there were minor issues along the way but Matt made sure they were taken care of. We are pleased withy the final product and love enjoying our pool. Matt has also been helpful with advice/troubleshooting long after the project's completion. <br />
Response from Right Choice Pools & Spas, Inc.
"Thanks guys, it really is nice to have someone not only love their new RCP pool but that last part - where you said that I was helpful even long after the job was finished honestly gave me the chills & you just gave me enough of a boost to make it through another 3 years in the pool business in South Florida - lol... Thanks Again!!! & call me any time!!! Matt @ RIGHT CHOICE POOLS"
Amy T.
May 2015
Right Choice Pools built a great pool for me. I love it! While with any construction job, there were hiccups, Right Choice Pools worked through all those timely and responsively. They worked with me from the beginning on the design of the pool and visited the house to ensure that everything would fit and would make sense. They also provided me a 3D design prior to moving forward with any construction. The contractors they hired to build the pool were great and definitely built me the best pool around! Whenever I had questions or needed to get a hold of someone at Right Choice, Matt, the owner, was very responsive. <br />
Michael G.
May 2015
Jared came to provide a quote.
Response from Right Choice Pools & Spas, Inc.
"Thanks, [Member Name Removed], sorry we couldn't work together but I appreciate you honest review... Good luck & if you have any questions, please feel free to call me anytime... Thanks, Matt @ RIGHT CHOICE POOLS"
Robert B.
Apr 2015
I have waited almost a year to write this review. The experience with RCP was the worst I have had since moving to Florida in 1998. We have remodeled 5 houses in that time period and our overall experience with Matt and RCP other than Jared the Sales Rep was poor at best. While we all will await the long rebuttal to this review, the project started off well like most do. Hefty deposit, and then a 4.5 month project that was promised in 5 weeks. Granted as we might remember, last spring and early summer was very rainy. In fact there were days where we had continual rain for weeks, somewhere in South Florida. So before we here from Matt, we agree that the work schedule was a challenge. RCP staff were on site 6 days out of the first 3 months. Getting any priority to get our project moving was met with excuses and delays. Without exception, the promised work dates were always missed. Very little morning work, when it was not raining, and they would call to say they were coming in the afternoon, no Saturday work, and of course as it tends to do in Florida..it was threatening rain. I say threatening because he would tell me the weather in Coral Springs, while it was sunny and or overcast in Weston. I am not going to write a book here, but the installation was very poor. We PAID for a salt system and they did not install the salt cell. Had to call them back to install it, once they installed it, they did not install the sensor to connect to the Heyward system. Pool Heater was also plumbed incorrectly as were the returns and the spa pumps. On start up day, and after making full payment, they came and dumped some solution in the pool, brushed it for a few minutes and then left. <br /> That was my last interaction with them. Because they did not start up the pool correctly and or inform me how to use the automated system, the pool had its issues least of which is seever calcium buildup on the new finish. Long story short, $3500 more dollars from a local pool company corrected the issues, re-plumbing the spa jets, and fixing the heater, training us on the system and after corrected RCP's errors, the pool is now functioning. <br /> All in all one of the worst experiences. Would not recommend them for any pool work.
Response from Right Choice Pools & Spas, Inc.
"To All Angies List Clients... 1st let me say that RIGHT CHOICE POOLS is finishing up our 3rd year in business & we have had dealings and / or contact pertaining to pools with approximately 1,600 people & we have a total of 12 REAL / LEGITIMATE complaints / unhappy clients & 5 of those we never even did any work for... THAT'S LESS THAN 1%... I truly try & wish that we had zero unhappy clients but I have learned that it's really impossible to do that, especially in South Florida... When I am in the role of a customer / buyer & I purchase anything, I do all of my negotiations up front, I don't wait until a month after I sign a contract then try & continue to negotiate, my word & my signature means something to me & when I agree to terms & pricing, I stick to it... I also read every word of contracts before I sign them & if I have any questions, I ask them up front again before I sign, not weeks later... & unfortunately this is partially what had happened with (removed member name)... I never get surprised by some of these complaints... (removed member name), fails to mention that he made over 5 changes on his job, some were major changes & mostly all of them required plan changes, permit changes & additional inspections & time... (removed member name) also fails to mention that he was very abrasive & border line abusive to everyone that works for us including my wife... & when he found out he was talking to my wife disrespectfully, at least he had the decency to apologize, but it doesn't change the fact that he was down right mean, used curse words & was very difficult to deal with... (removed member name), received everything that he had purchased & then some... We answered every call & text & email & have over 150 communications with (removed member name) throughout his job, but we could never do anything well enough for him, no matter what we did... (removed member name) also fails to mention that it rained over 50 days during the course of his job, last summer... If someone just does not want to be at the very least reasonable, then yes that person will not be happy, no matter what... We area family business & we work over 70 hours per week, we give 110% & we always honor our agreements & treat our clients with respect... but if a client wants do re-negotiate after the fact or wants free items or is abusive in any way shape or form, especially to my wife, yes I will defend our position, our contracts & our character... RCP will also always be available 7 days a week to our clients both during the job & after the job is finished... & we will always honor our warranties... I am truly sorry that (removed member name) is not happy... Matt @ RCP"
Paul J.
Mar 2015
Initially my wife and I met with Jared from Right Choice Pools who was very personable and professional. Jared/RCP was unlike other pool construction companies we obtained quotes from as they listened to the concerns we had about some of the mature landscaping we wanted to protect during the installation of our pool. The also consulted with us versus some other companies just did a very quick and hurried sales pitch. Right Choice Pools also listened to the type of pool we wanted and provide a range of options and features I was unaware of. They also pro-actively provided documentation regarding their insurance, customer referrals and provided a copy of their contract so all the details or fine print were available for review and clarification. <br /> After the initial design of our pool we visited their showroom where they explained the equipment they would be installing and we selected the various decking, tile and other materials that were to be used in the pool. They had many options available to make the pool your own and they also provided suggestions that would look best with our environment and home design. <br /> The initial permitting phase took longer than I anticipated but this was explained and expected when dealing with the city government. We just broke ground on our pool and we did encounter an obstacle with the electrical service we need which we were not fully aware of. The President and owner, Matt Barass, went out of his way to explain the situation and work with his team to provide a timely and cost effective solution. I was especially impressed at their quick response, understanding and willingness to go to great lengths to provide exceptional value and customer service. While I knew there would be challenges with a project of this scale, it's very good to know Right Choice Pools values their customers and remains committed to doing quality work. I am excited for Right Choice Pools to complete pool just in time for the brutal heat of the South Florida summer! <br />
Laura L.
Feb 2015
The company resurfaced our pool and spa, replaced and upgraded pump and filter system, installed a saltwater chlorinator, and placed travertine pavers on the pool deck. 8. How did it go overall? Tell us the story from start to finish (10,000 character limit): Company was contracted to do the job in the spring of 2014. Job required roughly 7-10 days of work, but it took them about 9 months to complete, with rain delays as their excuse. They continuously demanded partial payment for parts of the job before they were completed and rarely actually came to do any work unless we complained about how long it was taking. Matt Barass, the owner, seemed to have no clue as to how little was being done and, when confronted with the facts, berated us for being unreasonable. When the resurfacing of the pool was finally done and had time to cure, someone from Right Choice came to fire up the salt water chlorinator system. They dumped bags of salt into the pool wihtout bothering to estimate the water volume and as a result, our pool has twice the recommended salt concentration. They left without checking to see if the system actually functioned. Nobody from Right Choice ever came over to review the function of the new system with us, and it was left to us to realize that the chlorinator was not functioning, to trouble shoot it and to discover that the system had a defective flow sensor. After quite a bit of back and forth over several weeks, Right Choice came ot evaluate the problem and then got the Hayward representative, Joe Ketcham to replace the flow sensor. The plumber from Right Choice hadn't a clue how to properly configure the automatic and manual intake valves for the pool vac, skimmer, main drain, and spa drain. He simply glued valves to the pipes that were sticking out of the ground in no logical fashion, leaving us unable to use the skimmer and pool vac simultaneously and unable to use the automated system to run the spa without also turning two manual valves. Two different professional companies looked at the system and concluded that the set-up was moronic. We drew diagrams of the existing system and how it should have been done, and sent them to Matt. After many weeks of back-and-forth, denials and complaints that we were nasty and unreasonable, Matt sent the plumber over, but he seemed incapable of understanding. After more back and forth, Matt agreed to come with his salesman Jarod to look at the system. We waited all afternoon for them to come and got a call from Jarod at 6PM saying that they were running late and would have to reschedule. The plumber showed up the next day, unannounced and started to saw apart the pipes. Fortunately we were home at the time and were able to supervise, because over an hour and a half, he needed to be stopped and redirected multiple times. It was as if he had never set up a pool valve system before. The system is still not optimal because he used internal bushings for the connections so that the valves could be reused. As a result there is some flow restriction and a perpetual air-gap over the pump basket, but at least that part of the system works. The 3way return valve to the pool and spa jets does not function properly , causing water to gradually drain out ofthe spa when the system is in spa mode. We are still going back and forth with Matt and the Hayward representative, who are in denial mode. We could take the valve apart ourselves and fix it or diagnose the problem, but that would void the Hayward warrantee, so 9+ months out, we still do not have a fully functioning system.
Response from Right Choice Pools & Spas, Inc.
"Dear Angies List Customers, This simply is 95% not true, it's just that simple & does not sound like anything that RCP would do & sounds completely the opposite of any of our posts... There are 1,000%circumstances to the delays & to some of the miscommunications & there are always 2 sides... but I want to stay professional & respectful & to also refrain from being negative towards the [Member name removed] in anyway... The job is 100% done & we answered every call & every text & every email always within hours of getting them... We even immediately went out to check on the work (service call) & we also had our Hayward Rep. & our warranty department also go there to fix / correct a few things... I let both [Member name removed] know that they can call us anytime & we would always respond & stand behind our work... I am sorry that they are so upset... Thanks, Matt Barrass, President of RCP"
Greg B.
Feb 2015
I feel compelled to author another review on Matt Barrass and his company Right Choice Pools. I purchased a pool from Matt the summer of 2012. This past summer i encountered a minor warranty issue concerning my pool light. I called Matt right away. He not only answered but was more than. friendly and accommodating. Within a few days a representative was at my house and took care of the issue. Matt also followed up with a call to ensure that the rep took care of the issue and that i was pleased with the service. Too often i see negative reviews written by angry people and some are valid however; i feel more customers should write and review when all goes well as it has always been With Matt. I wrote in my first review on Right Choice Pools that if your looking for an honest company that goes that extra mile for the customer then this is your company. I still recommend them today to anyone who asks me if I know a good pool company.....its simple Right Choice Pools!!!
Jennifer M.
Feb 2015
We are a retired military family that recently ended a pool remodel project with Right Choice Pools (RCP). This is a factual account of our experience. Hopefully reading it will help you draw your own conclusions about RCP. <br /> After two meetings with Jared and a visit to their showroom to meet Nancy, we hired RCP on 10/6/14. We were told the project would take three weeks. The timeline was very important as this was the first Thanksgiving we were hosting at our home since retiring. We were assured multiple times verbally, by email, and text that the Thanksgiving deadline would be met. <br /> By Thanksgiving the only items that had been accomplished were the demolition, the coping installation, and a part of the tile. By mid-January, RCP had worked only 21 days at our house. Three days were to clean and three others to repair previous work. Days were often wasted because previous work had not been completed before the next subcontractor arrived to do their job. <br /> In an attempt to finish, our focus shifted to having multiple craftsmanship concerns addressed by Mr. Barrass. After insisting multiple times, we had to delay a payment to basically force him come to the house. Our 1/13 meeting discussed multiple discrepancies and problems with work craftsmanship. Mr. Barrass acknowledged our concerns and agreed to amend the existing contract by deducting $1,000 from the final balance. <br /> The following morning we received a legal binding hold harmless agreement worded to prevent us from making a complaint to any regulatory committee or negative comment on Angie?s List or the like. This was a surprise as we never discussed and of its' contents. We declined to sign it and afterward, Mr. Barrass? emails, texts, and phone calls became even more belligerent and threatening. <br /> October 6th, the night we agreed to hire RCP, Mr. Barrass told us over the phone he would be here at least a couple of times per week to manage job progress. When I pointed out the 1/13 meeting was the first time he had ever been here, he said ?but I?ve seen lots of pictures and videos?. From the very beginning, his inability to properly track our job and communicate with us and his subcontractors made him look completely disengaged and like he had no idea what he was talking about. The entire <br /> process amounted to a three month nightmare and not what we signed up for or envisioned. <br /> The overall quality is fair, but multiple items were never fixed and the headache was not worth it. Instead of being thankful for <br /> customers Mr. Barrass chose to fight us from the outset. In our first conversation after hiring RCP, he was defensive and paranoid. After our last completely unproductive phone conversation ended up in a screaming match and us hanging up <br /> on Mr. Barrass, we had what Jules Winnfield might call ?a moment of clarity?. The bottom line is RCP?s problems aren?t Jared, Nancy, Don or their subcontractors; it is Matt Barrass. Did they goon up a lot of work? Yes, and we have and will undoubtedly continue to come out of pocket to fix it. But to their credit, they discounted the job $1,000. If there were just some way to have eliminated Matt from being involved or at least make him show an ounce of contrition, the stress level would have lowered and we are convinced things would have moved more fluidly. <br /> All of his subcontractors seemed like good honest guys, and we think all possess the ability to produce quality work. We actually felt sorry for them. The following is from an email we sent to RCP 1/20/15. <br /> ?We are not fans of your company, and, despite your multiple texts and emails to the contrary, do not think you run a very efficient business. In fact, our disdain was echoed by nearly all of your subcontractors. Without fail, they...confirmed what we suspected shortly after our first conversation with you. Our situation is not an anomaly and in fact the norm with nearly all of your customers. After meeting you in person, I can see why they feel the way they do. All you did was make excuses, pass the <br /> buck, place blame and insult nearly everyone in your organization...Yesterday was 30 days since the Diamond Brite was installed and right on cue, you were not here like you said you would be. Since you have never done anything on time, we will extend the installation of the saltwater control panel until Friday the 23rd. If it is not installed by then, we will use the remaining $624 to hire someone who will. It has been more than three months since your three week job has commenced. We have endured countless delays, miscommunication, and undue stress. We are ready to move on and looking forward to never having to communicate with your company again. We?re hoping a warranty issue never arises because if past performance is an indicator, we would probably spare ourselves the headache of dealing with you and just hire a reputable company. Please <br /> finish the installation, make sure it is operational, collect the $624 balance and go away.? <br /> They did not make their deadline or ours and we had to have the salt system control panel installed by another business. Below is another excerpt from the same email: <br /> "If you had better business acumen, you would accept the truth instead of running from it...It only makes you look insecure, paranoid, and disconnected. Speaking of disconnected, I found it interesting that when I recommended you hire a project manager, you quickly replied ?who do you think I am?? Ok, if you are such a great project manager, answer the following: <br /> Why did you have Bruno come over to install the patio when there was a four foot hole in the deck? <br /> Why did you have Alex come over to install the Diamond Brite when the pool had not been sandblasted? <br /> Why did you have Marco come over to install the grill area ledger stone before the granite was repaired? <br /> Why did you argue with me over insurance? You knew we wanted proof of everyone working at the house and asked for it weeks before anyone came to the house. Yet you continually sent subcontractor certificates the same day or night before they came to the house knowing we wouldn?t have time to review them...Instead of holding them accountable to meet Florida law, you decided to argue with and insult me. <br /> Why did you have us open the gate for the granite to be installed when we were in the Keys? When we texted a picture and said how disappointed we were it didn?t happen, you answered ?sorry didn?t mean to upset you, but you?re getting a custom job and they had to triple measure?. When is installing granite NOT a ?custom job?? We knew you were full of it, so when the granite guys came the next day, we asked if they were here the day before and they said ?we measured two weeks ago.?...easier to lie? <br /> We had to go to Miami on 12/18 and Alex was installing the Diamond Brite the next day...the night before, I stressed the thing that worried me the most was the hose would be left in the pool and no one would be there to turn it off before it overflowed. You reassured me that would never happen and RCP would be here the entire weekend...the next morning my neighbor had to turn off the hose because the pool was overflowing. He emailed me a picture of what you guaranteed would not happen. <br /> Why did you initially tell us your ?he has forgotten more about pools then I know? chemical/start-up guy treated the pool with chemicals the day after the Diamond Brite was installed only to say last Tuesday that in fact he used the muriatic acid to try to clear the clogged pipes? Let me tell you what really happened. A week after the Diamond Brite was installed, the only chemical in the pool was acid...A Pinch a Penny report showed our stabilizer and chlorine levels were zero. I asked the manager if stabilizer was initially added, would it show on the test a week later. He said it absolutely would. Therefore, you did not perform the start up like promised. I mean how could you have? The pipes wer
Mary W.
Jan 2015
Well I can't tell you how the job ended up since Right Choice Pools has not yet finished the job we contracted on July 25th. So I will finish this review as soon as my pool actually has water in it again.
Response from Right Choice Pools & Spas, Inc.
"What do we do??? RCP has worked with & interacted with approximately 800 people in 2 1/2 years & we only have 10 real customer complaints... That's less than 2%!!! We have 0 law suits & have been A rated on Angie’s list for 2 years, but unfortunately in today's world - it is all about the empowerment the people have with the Internet --- Whether people are right or wrong they use, or shall I say abuse the Internet & all of the social media outlets... this, now available resource, which I know was created for good, is not being used that way. This has created a type of intimidation that homeowners & even competitors are using against any company or person that they aren't happy with - & whether the posts are true or not & whether the problem ranges from the littlest thing on up... It's become like a type of blackmail to get something for FREE... Example -- "Piss me off - or make a mistake & I will destroy you on social media" --- & with just a few key strokes - true or false, it can be seen by millions... & as I said earlier - unfortunately a lot of home owners today will use this as a tactic to try & get something for FREE... or to just spitefully intimidate or hurt a contractor / business owner... Due to this, (Social Media attacks) just try finding a 5 Star restaurant anymore today - you can't - it doesn't exist because if just a few people don't have an absolute perfect experience they can / will take the time to go onto social media outlets & trash the restaurant. Just take a look at all of the complaints against some very successful companies like Disney World, Publix, Home Depot, etc. It's crazy & if you believe half of these complaints, you would never step foot in any of these businesses... & another example of this, just look up Rip Off Reports on motivational speaker Tony Robbins - you would think he was the worst human being on the planet... So, if you believe in Social Media, without question you wouldn't go anywhere & you wouldn't trust anything or anyone... I have spoken to hundreds of business owners & they all say this is a huge problem today --- It's almost like politicians that run negative ad campaigns - they just put it out there & half the people believe what they see & in this case what they read... What happen to innocent until proven guilty or what happen to 2 sides to every story... Don't get me wrong - I am sure there are bad companies & bad people out there but this has gotten out of control... & somehow some way needs to change... Our future as human beings isn't looking that good... Just compare when 20 years ago how people would react when their doorbell would ring - people would jump up & joyfully go to the door to see who it was, but compared to now when the doorbell rings people will say "OMG who's that" & will sneak to the door & quietly look through the peep hole or their security camera & probably not even open the door at all... There is no trust amongst us anymore, everyone is looking for an angle & we immediately look / jump to think the worst & now we can trash people & companies in a New York second... & sadly it doesn't work the other way - happy customers don't really take the time or really have the time to post positive comments or to give compliments... What do we do??? I have answered every one of [member name removed] calls, texts & emails & have responded & we are taking care of everything that we have been contracted to do... Regretfully, Matt @ RIGHT CHOICE POOLS"
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FAQ
Right Choice Pools & Spas, Inc. is currently rated 3.2 overall out of 5.
Right Choice Pools & Spas, Inc. accepts the following forms of payment: CreditCard
Yes, Right Choice Pools & Spas, Inc. offers free project estimates.
No, Right Choice Pools & Spas, Inc. does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
No, Right Choice Pools & Spas, Inc. does not offer emergency services.
No, Right Choice Pools & Spas, Inc. does not offer warranties.