BEFORE READING, WATCH THIS VIDEO CLIP:
http://www.kens5.com/news/consumer/eyew ... 81719.html
I'm writing this post in the hopes that people will be careful when selecting contractors and early warning signs.
Back in June of this year, my father hired a man named Brian Olle of "First Impressions Buildings" to build us a 1500 square foot metal building that was going to be our garage. He agreed to build the garage itself, the retaining wall, and a car-port attachment and slab in front of the garage. He was to do all this over a 2 month period contract for $25,000.
When we had other contractors look at the site and we were taking in bids, almost everyone else quoted 35,000 to 40,000 because they would have to dig down in order to pour a 4 inch slab.
From day 1, this guy was so full of sh*t his eyes were brown. Kept giving us the run around with materials, saying he was going to show up on this day, or he was always down in the valley (south texas near mexico). We had one crew come out who excavated it down to where it needed to be, but then Brian would never pay his subcontractors and sometimes we had to pay them ourselves. Hell he even sent out this 70 somethin Mexican man to work by himself while his wife suffering from Leukemia would sit in the shade. We thought he was going to have a heart attack on the job!
So two months pass, no slab, just wooden forming left after his subcontractors walked off the site. At one point he paid his subs 2500 to keep working and they ran off because he owed them money on past jobs. The contract went up at the end of August. But our lawyer advised not to pursue because he would probably file bankruptcy and we would never see the money again. Brian at this time stated and promised that he would finish the job.....he just needed a little more time.
Since August, we have only spoken to Brian a total of 3 times. We had KENS 5 "Eyewitness Wants to Know" get involved in the matter. He tracked down Brian based on the address on his drivers license (we scanned a copy). Turns out it was his fathers house and his father said his son has been scamming for 5 years now and hasn't spoken to his son in two years. At the same time the news was getting involved, we had a $100,000 lawsuit waiting. Our lawyer told Brian last week that if he did not pay back the 17,800 that the lawsuit would be filed. He didn't show on friday, and our lawyer gave him one last chance and told him 9 in the morning today.
He did not show up until 2 this afternoon telling everyone different stories that he was told noon not 9. He finally dropped off a check to our lawyers attorney. When my father went to cash the check, because the news was airing the story today, my father saw that the b*st*rd made the check out to himself. My father contacted the Barry Davis at Kens 5 and our lawyer, who became furious. The District Attorney contacted him and said "If you are not at that bank by five this afternoon and cash that check, you will be in jail by 6 with felony charges and will be sent to a federal penetentiary.
The little b*st*rd showed up and paid up in full. At the same time we heard a phone call he had. He was in the middle of conning another person!!! Same stories and BS he told us over the past 6 months. So beware deadbeat contractors and do your research. And watch out for Brian Olle!
http://www.kens5.com/news/consumer/eyew ... 81719.html
I'm writing this post in the hopes that people will be careful when selecting contractors and early warning signs.
Back in June of this year, my father hired a man named Brian Olle of "First Impressions Buildings" to build us a 1500 square foot metal building that was going to be our garage. He agreed to build the garage itself, the retaining wall, and a car-port attachment and slab in front of the garage. He was to do all this over a 2 month period contract for $25,000.
When we had other contractors look at the site and we were taking in bids, almost everyone else quoted 35,000 to 40,000 because they would have to dig down in order to pour a 4 inch slab.
From day 1, this guy was so full of sh*t his eyes were brown. Kept giving us the run around with materials, saying he was going to show up on this day, or he was always down in the valley (south texas near mexico). We had one crew come out who excavated it down to where it needed to be, but then Brian would never pay his subcontractors and sometimes we had to pay them ourselves. Hell he even sent out this 70 somethin Mexican man to work by himself while his wife suffering from Leukemia would sit in the shade. We thought he was going to have a heart attack on the job!
So two months pass, no slab, just wooden forming left after his subcontractors walked off the site. At one point he paid his subs 2500 to keep working and they ran off because he owed them money on past jobs. The contract went up at the end of August. But our lawyer advised not to pursue because he would probably file bankruptcy and we would never see the money again. Brian at this time stated and promised that he would finish the job.....he just needed a little more time.
Since August, we have only spoken to Brian a total of 3 times. We had KENS 5 "Eyewitness Wants to Know" get involved in the matter. He tracked down Brian based on the address on his drivers license (we scanned a copy). Turns out it was his fathers house and his father said his son has been scamming for 5 years now and hasn't spoken to his son in two years. At the same time the news was getting involved, we had a $100,000 lawsuit waiting. Our lawyer told Brian last week that if he did not pay back the 17,800 that the lawsuit would be filed. He didn't show on friday, and our lawyer gave him one last chance and told him 9 in the morning today.
He did not show up until 2 this afternoon telling everyone different stories that he was told noon not 9. He finally dropped off a check to our lawyers attorney. When my father went to cash the check, because the news was airing the story today, my father saw that the b*st*rd made the check out to himself. My father contacted the Barry Davis at Kens 5 and our lawyer, who became furious. The District Attorney contacted him and said "If you are not at that bank by five this afternoon and cash that check, you will be in jail by 6 with felony charges and will be sent to a federal penetentiary.
The little b*st*rd showed up and paid up in full. At the same time we heard a phone call he had. He was in the middle of conning another person!!! Same stories and BS he told us over the past 6 months. So beware deadbeat contractors and do your research. And watch out for Brian Olle!
They are never big enough!!!
