HELP! My cabinet maker has my $15K and went under!

15 years ago

Oh my, I am so stressed right now. We gave a custom cabinet maker $15,000 in Jan. We just started demo to redo our kitchen, guest bed, bath, and laundry room. He just went out of business and has not returned any phone calls or emails in 2 weeks. Anyone have this experience? I have just filed complaints with the better business bureau and California State contractors licensing board. Should I get an attorney and file a suite against him? The worst part is that we literally have our entire budget accounted for and have no more money to get someone else to do the cabinets now,so we'll have to use credit I guess.

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Comments (10)

bluekitobsessed
15 years ago
Try one letter (not a phone call) yourself before hiring an atty, then get an atty who can move fast, and don't mention the atty to the CSLB. The only place the CSLB is any good is when a contractor completely abandons the job, but they move very slowly and if they know you have an atty they give up on your case. Good luck from one Cal chick who sues contractors for a living.
mrsandrews
Original Author
15 years ago
bluekitobsessed- Thanks so much for your speedy reply. I took your advice and hired an attorney who will be filing the claim today. I appreciate your help! Cheers to you girl!
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Well, there are certainly guys that can pull it off but just as certainly, some should stick with kitchen cabs only. My top-of-the head response, in your case, would be "No". The reason being your kitchen guy mentioned a furniture maker that he uses. By that reference, he is telling you he's waffling on the project and my bias is generally to go with a specialist, no matter what the subject. Having said that though, my guy does both but he sticks to certain styles and he has been doing both for 30 years with a huge portfolio of both kitchens and individual pieces. Before I hired him, I saw examples of his work, both cabs and furniture pieces, and went to his shop to see projects in process. I'd have no issues at all with commissioning him to do individual pieces. I started off my work life as a traditional cabinetmaker (read this as we made furniture) in Boston so I feel I have a good background to evaluate quality pieces. Of all furniture, case pieces, such as you need for your bedroom are the easiest to build (as opposed to chairs for example). So, your kitchen guy has that going for him if you decide to use him. Just as you did your research when investigating whom to use for your kitchen, you'll want to fully research the same provider concerning furniture. They are completely different animals. How many pieces has he made, what style were they, are you happy with the quality of his furniture, etc. Ask for drawings or renderings; ask about construction methods, joinery, finishes, design, veneering, drawer construction, wood specie choice, timeframes - you know, the whole enchilada. Once again, you will need to educate yourself as to what goes into a quality piece of furniture so you can intelligently evaluate a furniture maker's responses. There's more to it than you might think. Good luck!
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I've always had simple kitchens I could make my own because they were not so great that I couldn't mess with them a bit:) I have sympathy with a kitchen which you don't feel reflects your style, but is too good to play around with - I mean if you painted or removed doors or anything like that you risk blowing a nice kitchen. You have a good layout. Look into the cost of simply changing out the cabinets you have for new cabinets. Donate the older cabinets to ReStore - they will be great for someone in need of decent cabinets. Many years ago I did this - just changed out cabinets and a new laminate countertop - kept appliances and layout. Your budget is much better than mine was and stone counters might be doable. Some will say a new kitchen cost X amount of dollars, but a lot depends on what part of the country you are in. Keeping the layout and appliances will save $$$$. I would loose the over the range micro though - not the style you want. I bought my present cabinets, made by Medallion, at a home center store 20 years ago and they are still in good shape. Many cabinet companies have different levels - don't get the lowest - look for dovetail joints in the drawers and sturdy construction. If your cabinets are standard size, replacing them with standard size cabinets but in your style might be doable - its not custom, which will save money. Check local cabinet makers too. One of my local cabinet makers is very reasonable.
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gshop
15 years ago
Did you give your cabinet maker a check or use a credit card? If credit card, then you also may have some recourse. Ask your attorney? I feel for you as it puts everything on hold, what a nightmare! Good luck!
rmkitchen
15 years ago
I have no advice but I just wanted you to know I am so sorry! What a nightmare. You have us here and we'll all be pulling for you and a speedy and satisfactory resolution.

My fingers are crossed.
rosalita
15 years ago
I just want to say the same - we are in support of you here and hope you get a quick and positive ending to this awful situation.
cate1337
15 years ago
I am so sorry this happened to you. A few months ago, someone also in California had a problem with their money and a contractor. I did a search but can't for the life of me remember who it was. There were some good tips on that thread, in addition to what has already been offered here.

Maybe someone else here can link in that thread?
mrsandrews
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you all so much, from the bottom of my heart for your support. It really touches me. I believe that all things happen for a reason. Its really hard to find the reason sometimes, but I just have to have faith.

I did hire an attorney who is filing the complaint tomorrow. It is so stressful, but it really makes me thankful that we all have our health and I have a great family. That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right? Important to remember.

Now onto looking for another cabinet maker and trying to trust contractors. It's like being in a new relationship after being cheated on . LOL!!

Thanks again, you are wonderful. I love this forum. :-)
mrsandrews
Original Author
15 years ago
ngng- unfortunately, he gave us a "discount" for cash so I did not use a credit card.

2 lessons learned
1) always use a credit card
2)never give more than a 20% deposit (this was actually 50%)- totally me being naieve and too trusting to his line of bs about custom work being different. The law says 20% down or $1,000.00 whichever is less, until you see work being done, then they can collect more gradually.
sherilynn
15 years ago
MrsAndrews: I did exactly as you did and fell for the cash discount line, too. I also contracted in January seeing that he had a "busy" schedule on a large calendar on the wall. I did get some version of shoddy cabinets that just left me in one nasty, nasty court battle. I also learned that even after a court case and winning, I got nothing but a fictitious lien on our property removed. WHY did I get nothing, because they were incorporated and the guy changed his business name. The judge told me that I would have to hire someone to prove that he moved assets from one business to the other and it would be a waste of time in this case.

Add to your lessons learned list above: 3)NEVER do business with anyone that is not big enough to afford to lose in court and damage their business name. (Unfortunately, in the state of Florida there is no one regulating the outrageous cabinet business. I believe if you give a business a certain amount of money, then they should be regulated.)
mrsandrews
Original Author
15 years ago
Sherilynn- Im so sorry for everything you've gone through. That is terrible. Did you end up hiring someone else to repair/finish the job or are you still in the middle of the mess? Our contractor, turns out, has two different business names also, so we're sueing him for fraud. Don't know if that will get us anywhere, and I am not the litigous type at all, but I feel robbed! Im sure you can relate. Thanks for sharing your story and lessons with me. Hugs to a fellow SUCKER! LOL

HELP! My cabinet maker has my $15K and went under!

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bluekitobsessed

mrsandrews
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HELP! My cabinet maker has my $15K and went under!

Comments (10)

bluekitobsessed

mrsandrewsOriginal Author

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