Woods Basement Systems Inc
Woods Basement Systems Inc
It's been 30 years since Rick and Anna Lee Woods founded Woods Basement Systems, and today the company is one of the largest foundation repair and waterproofing contractors in Missouri and Illinois, serving both residential and commercial clients. Working from a 16,000 square-foot office facility, a 30-acre property for our production teams, dozens of community and industry honors, and a growing team of dedicated professionals, Woods Basement Systems still maintains a focus on the most important aspect of our business...you. Having established a track record of quality customer service, Woods has received the Better Business Bureau's TORCH Award for Business Integrity four times. Woods also leads the industry in innovation and expertise, offering more than 24 uniquely patented products. No matter what your concern—for home or for business—Woods has the expertise to diagnose the problem and offer the best, most cost-effective solution.
"Woods Basement Systems: A Scathing Indictment of Deceptive Practices and Customer Disregard My experience with Woods Basement Systems has been profoundly disappointing, prompting this urgent warning to potential customers. Despite direct communication to their executive leadership about my intention to share my negative experience widely, I have received no follow-up or attempt at resolution. This silence speaks volumes about their disregard for customer satisfaction. My specific project, a basement waterproofing in a bathroom closet, was plagued by a series of misrepresentations, operational failures, and a shocking indifference to customer commitments. Initial Deception and Broken Promises Woods Basement Systems was chosen based on their purported reputation, and previous successful work on my home over 30 years ago. However, the initial consultation on June 6, 2025, with representative Phil Haxel, set the stage for a cascade of issues. Mr. Haxel explicitly assured me that the necessary work could be done without removing the toilet, stating his team would cut into the wall behind it and go under the closet door. These assurances were critical to my decision. Crew Admissions and Failed First Attempt On July 9, 2025, the crew arrived and immediately declared the job impossible with the toilet in place. When confronted with Mr. Haxel's promise, their response was alarming: they openly laughed, stating that "Phil is notorious for saying whatever he needs to say to make a sale and then expect the crew just to make it happen." This direct admission from their own employees reveals a systemic issue within Woods Basement Systems' sales practices. The crew then advised me to contact the office for a refund, as the job could not be completed as agreed. Scheduling Chaos and Uncommunicated Cancellations Following this, I was contacted by Taylor Beck, who suggested I arrange for the toilet to be lifted, with Woods covering the expense. I agreed, and a plumbing estimate of $320 was approved. My job was rescheduled for July 18, 2025, at 1:30 PM. Despite assurances of a follow-up call from their Customer Care Team, no one called. On the scheduled day, no crew showed up. After a lengthy hold time, I was informed by Whitney that a crew had not shown up for several jobs that day, and my appointment was canceled without notification. Second Attempt: Upcharges, Further Damage, and Damning Revelations A new appointment was made for July 19, 2025, at 1:30 PM, with assurances of their "best crew." However, this visit brought further aggravation. After jackhammering approximately 75% of the floor, the crew stopped, informing me that the system they were scheduled to install would not work and required an upcharge for the correct one. They insisted I authorize the upcharge before disclosing the cost. Feeling I had no choice given my torn-apart basement, I authorized the work. The crew resumed, only to stop again at the actual leak area, stating they needed to remove the toilet's plumbing, incurring additional expense for a plumber. I refused, demanding they find a solution without damaging the existing plumbing. Miraculously, a solution was found. However, in stark contradiction to Mr. Haxel's initial promise, the crew proceeded to cut the door frame of the basement closet, rendering the door unusable. Throughout this ordeal, the crew members consistently vocalized their frustrations with the sales team's deceptive practices, stating that sales representatives frequently make unfeasible promises to close deals, leaving the production team to negotiate "deals" and additional payments from angry customers. They also revealed internal issues, including: * Unfair pay practices. * Unfulfilled promises of salary increases. * High turnover in customer service due to stress from dissatisfied customers. * Regular Tuesday meetings where these issues are raised, yet no action is taken. Conclusion: A Company Unwilling to Rectify Its Failures When I directly expressed my intention to share my experience publicly with Woods' executive leadership, I was asked what could be done to "improve my feelings and restore my faith." Yet, in the week since that conversation, there has been no follow-up, no attempt at resolution, and no acknowledgment of the profound issues I raised. This comprehensive failure—from deceptive sales tactics and broken promises to operational disarray, uncommunicated cancellations, unexpected upcharges, and a complete lack of post-complaint engagement—serves as a stark warning. Based on my experience, potential customers should exercise extreme caution and seek alternative providers for their basement needs."
Aaron B on July 2025
It's been 30 years since Rick and Anna Lee Woods founded Woods Basement Systems, and today the company is one of the largest foundation repair and waterproofing contractors in Missouri and Illinois, serving both residential and commercial clients. Working from a 16,000 square-foot office facility, a 30-acre property for our production teams, dozens of community and industry honors, and a growing team of dedicated professionals, Woods Basement Systems still maintains a focus on the most important aspect of our business...you. Having established a track record of quality customer service, Woods has received the Better Business Bureau's TORCH Award for Business Integrity four times. Woods also leads the industry in innovation and expertise, offering more than 24 uniquely patented products. No matter what your concern—for home or for business—Woods has the expertise to diagnose the problem and offer the best, most cost-effective solution.
"Woods Basement Systems: A Scathing Indictment of Deceptive Practices and Customer Disregard My experience with Woods Basement Systems has been profoundly disappointing, prompting this urgent warning to potential customers. Despite direct communication to their executive leadership about my intention to share my negative experience widely, I have received no follow-up or attempt at resolution. This silence speaks volumes about their disregard for customer satisfaction. My specific project, a basement waterproofing in a bathroom closet, was plagued by a series of misrepresentations, operational failures, and a shocking indifference to customer commitments. Initial Deception and Broken Promises Woods Basement Systems was chosen based on their purported reputation, and previous successful work on my home over 30 years ago. However, the initial consultation on June 6, 2025, with representative Phil Haxel, set the stage for a cascade of issues. Mr. Haxel explicitly assured me that the necessary work could be done without removing the toilet, stating his team would cut into the wall behind it and go under the closet door. These assurances were critical to my decision. Crew Admissions and Failed First Attempt On July 9, 2025, the crew arrived and immediately declared the job impossible with the toilet in place. When confronted with Mr. Haxel's promise, their response was alarming: they openly laughed, stating that "Phil is notorious for saying whatever he needs to say to make a sale and then expect the crew just to make it happen." This direct admission from their own employees reveals a systemic issue within Woods Basement Systems' sales practices. The crew then advised me to contact the office for a refund, as the job could not be completed as agreed. Scheduling Chaos and Uncommunicated Cancellations Following this, I was contacted by Taylor Beck, who suggested I arrange for the toilet to be lifted, with Woods covering the expense. I agreed, and a plumbing estimate of $320 was approved. My job was rescheduled for July 18, 2025, at 1:30 PM. Despite assurances of a follow-up call from their Customer Care Team, no one called. On the scheduled day, no crew showed up. After a lengthy hold time, I was informed by Whitney that a crew had not shown up for several jobs that day, and my appointment was canceled without notification. Second Attempt: Upcharges, Further Damage, and Damning Revelations A new appointment was made for July 19, 2025, at 1:30 PM, with assurances of their "best crew." However, this visit brought further aggravation. After jackhammering approximately 75% of the floor, the crew stopped, informing me that the system they were scheduled to install would not work and required an upcharge for the correct one. They insisted I authorize the upcharge before disclosing the cost. Feeling I had no choice given my torn-apart basement, I authorized the work. The crew resumed, only to stop again at the actual leak area, stating they needed to remove the toilet's plumbing, incurring additional expense for a plumber. I refused, demanding they find a solution without damaging the existing plumbing. Miraculously, a solution was found. However, in stark contradiction to Mr. Haxel's initial promise, the crew proceeded to cut the door frame of the basement closet, rendering the door unusable. Throughout this ordeal, the crew members consistently vocalized their frustrations with the sales team's deceptive practices, stating that sales representatives frequently make unfeasible promises to close deals, leaving the production team to negotiate "deals" and additional payments from angry customers. They also revealed internal issues, including: * Unfair pay practices. * Unfulfilled promises of salary increases. * High turnover in customer service due to stress from dissatisfied customers. * Regular Tuesday meetings where these issues are raised, yet no action is taken. Conclusion: A Company Unwilling to Rectify Its Failures When I directly expressed my intention to share my experience publicly with Woods' executive leadership, I was asked what could be done to "improve my feelings and restore my faith." Yet, in the week since that conversation, there has been no follow-up, no attempt at resolution, and no acknowledgment of the profound issues I raised. This comprehensive failure—from deceptive sales tactics and broken promises to operational disarray, uncommunicated cancellations, unexpected upcharges, and a complete lack of post-complaint engagement—serves as a stark warning. Based on my experience, potential customers should exercise extreme caution and seek alternative providers for their basement needs."
Aaron B on July 2025