Caveat Emptor

[shaughnn]

Hello all,
I usually belong over at a tile forum, but I have a problem that I hope that you can help me solve. I'll try to make this short.
Just moved into a house that the inspection noted had a cracked heat exchanger. 28 year old furnace so replacing it was an easy choice. I've been really buzy and got lazy about finding estimates. Called a few places and got a few visits.
One of those estimators (owner) called today to say that he would knock $300 off of the estimate if we had his guys install today. Everything was in stock and he had a window. We'd liked his estimate anyway and my wife ,who met with him while I was working, liked his no-nonsence presentation. He offered impressive referances, and everything seemed to be in order. So we agreed and his guys showed up around 11AM.
About 5PM, while I was trying to set a tile arch, my wife calls me all upset because the guy says the discount is only if we pay "cash". I know the game he's playing, being a contractor myself, and I ask to talk to him on the phone. I straighten him out and the price is confirmed and I let him go back to work while I am starting to not feel so good about this guy.
I get home tonight, and my wife tells me that the guy told her that he elected not to pull any permits and that they didn't bother shutting off the gas at the meter, also because of cost, and just plugged the gas main with a helper's hand while they switched out the units. Okay, now I know something isn't right about this guy and I do what I should have done when he first gave us his bid; check out his license. So 'nuff, no such license exists in the Washington State database. Neither is there a license under his name or the name of his business.
I called him immediately and left a message that unless I heard from him by tomorrow evening, I would be filing a fraud report with the state of Washington and King County.
The unit he installed in our 2,800 sq. ft split-level is a Coleman Echelon 8.S series, model #FC8V100C20UH11 gas furnace with a Honeywell HE365A Humidifier and Honeywell H8908B Humidistat. It appears to be a new unit, free from defects. It also appears to my untrained eye to be well connected and secure.
Firstly, I believe that this unit configuration is adequate for my home and that these components are compatible.
If this guy is truely unlicensed and a permit is indeed required, which I'm certain it is, then what avenue should I take to resolve this. Do I call the inspectors myself to get the permit that I'll need to address the "cracked heat exchanger" on my home inspection? How do I make certain that this work, if I choose to leave it in my house, is correctly installed and does not pose a hazzard to my wife and daughter?
I never would have hired an unlicensed installer, and I would not have considered this guy had he not lied to us about his status. But now that I'm here, how to I make things "good" again?
Thanks,
Shaughnn

[shaughnn]

Anyone? Bueller?
Shaughnn

[comfortdoc]

Call your local bldg inspector for guidance. What does the contractors proposal say about permits? Has he been paid in full? If he said he was pulling permits insist he does and the system is inspected before final payment.

Other than getting the inspector involved call a licened reputable contractor to inspect the installation. Expect to pay for the service.

[Mr Bill]

Well I have never been a vengeful person, me personally I would call out a "Licensed" service company make sure all is up to snuff, and if not pay them to correct it and just chalk it up as a lesson learned, unless you have plenty time on your hands to deal with all this because you will have to be at any and all hearings if it even goes this far, and if you want to have to worry about possible retaliation everyday, my opinion is "lesson learned" we all have them almost everyday, and that is what grows us up.

[rickboggs]

yeah

[pecmsg]

Only your local building / code enforcement can answer your question. See what they have to say.
You sound like now you don’t trust this contractor, it’s a little late.
You will need someone else to double check the entire installation, not free but what is your family’s health and safety worth?

As mrbill said Lesson Learned

Keep us posted

[shaughnn]

Thank you all,
The contract states "payment upon completion" and my wife was here to handle that, so he's got our money and we've got his equipment. I plan to give him the entire day to get back to me, to offer an explaination if there is one. If he fails at that, I'll call the inspector on Monday.
The worst part is that I'm a member of the local Master Builders Association and I kept asking my wife to call one of those associated contractors, as I really don't have time during the day to be on the phone more than necessary.
After I've heard from an inspector, I'll call for an evaluation of the work done and I will indeed expect to pay for the service. I charge for similar service, too.
Shaughnn

[comfortdoc]

Did his contract say he would pull permits?

[shaughnn]

No, his contract didn't say that he would pull permits but neither do mine, most often. He called this morning to say that a permit isn't required for a replacement, but my local inspection guidelines say different. He did not address my accusation of his false representation as a "licensed, insured and bonded" contractor but did volunteer to come and remove the new unit and refund our money.
We're playing phone-tag right now though.
Shaughnn

[comfortdoc]

Originally posted by shaughnn
No, his contract didn't say that he would pull permits but neither do mine, most often. He called this morning to say that a permit isn't required for a replacement, but my local inspection guidelines say different. He did not address my accusation of his false representation as a "licensed, insured and bonded" contractor but did volunteer to come and remove the new unit and refund our money.
We're playing phone-tag right now though.
Shaughnn

Interesting attitude. You will probably have difficulty with warranty service. If you paid by check you might consider a stop payment. Have the system replaced by a licensed, reputable contractor and tell him to pick up his stuff. His comment about removing equipment and refunding money is the only reason I suggest this drastic action.

[gto boy]

I have lost jobs and have gone back and repaired the mistakes,for a letter and a price.I also use the homeowner as a referance.

[shaughnn]

Well, I finally got him on the phone. His story is that he let his bond expire and is in the process of getting his license reinstated (will be a couple of months). He cited the unmanagable cost of the bond and insurance and I'm starting to see a competant mechanic who hasn't got a head for business. Anyone else ever encountered one of those? :)
At this point, I've told him that I'll wait to confirm with the distributor that the warantee is valid and he's going to pay for a permit and independant inspection. I've reserved the right to change my mind in the next couple of days and just have him pull it out though. I'm reluctant to do this as it really does appear to be a quality installation and I don't imagine that he'll be able to re-install it elsewhere as "new" without the boxes and such. I don't want to punitive, I just want the confidence that my family is safe.
If I'm not happy, I believe I have many options.
Does anyone have an opinion about the equipment that was installed?
Shaughnn