Money Hungry

I have decided to vent my anger in the healthiest way I know how. I bottle it all up until it just explodes when I least expect and usually when it’s not the time nor the place.

We live in what I thought was a small town, business could still be done by handshakes and quick phone calls, the contract held by each other’s word. Not worrying that the other will find some backhanded way for a grab at money. And for the first couple years I entered the workforce, it was heartening to experience this firsthand with no problems whatsoever. And to be fair, I still know quite a few who still function the same way. But also over the years I have experienced more and more conniving, money-hungry people. No matter how low they have to go to get it. Let me explain.

I worked as a project managers assistant in construction when I got out of high school. So I knew what went into each project, how budgets were formed, what work was completed and how it should be completed, pricing and billing, and what would be considered warranty. Now, we did mostly commercial work but every once and awhile we would do some residential work. These clients needed some work done on their house, some internal remodeling, and exterior work. Well everything went going smoothly in the beginning, they payed each monthly billing cycle and the work continued to go on to schedule. Looking back there were some signs that should have been red flags, but they seemed like upstanding people and it was such a family oriented company that nobody was the wiser at the time. We were near the end of the project and they insisted on paying some things early for that month for certain subcontractors to get their work done. Usually we wait until they are done so we can make sure the work was done correctly, so that we can have them come back if there is a problem, but we did it their way. What we didn’t expect was that that was the last of their money because the next month came and it wasn’t paid. But everything was pretty much done at this point but there was still a decent sum left to pay. After months of not being able to reach them, we finally get a call about a crooked edge of some sort or something wrong with some work that had been done. We explained to them that they hadn’t paid their final bill, so no warranty could be obtained until then. There were threats of lawyers and suing and so on, and when they finally agreed to come to the office for a meeting with our boss, we could hear them shouting through the walls. Eventually, we discounted the work that was “crooked” or something to that extent as long as they would pay the rest of their final bill. To say the least, we lost money on that job and that was the last time our company dealt with homeowners or anything near residential work.

Time goes on though and I soon didn’t think much of it. I got married to a wonderful hard-working man also in the construction business. Him and his brothers build custom homes and are rather successful. His two oldest brothers started the company, and now my husband and his twin are part owners. The rest of their three brothers and their dad also work for them now and I have never met more honest, kind hardworking people in my life. I can say them without bias in a way because, before I even dated my husband, I knew them growing up. I don’t usually stick my nose into their business, but when your husband comes home stressed out for awhile you start to wonder what’s going on. Turns out they took over for this family’s build starting at the framing. The crew they had been using were way over budget and way behind schedule just for the framing already, and upon inspection of the framing, it wouldn’t have passed a city walkthrough. So they brought out an engineer to look at it and make a list of everything that needed to be fixed. But as the family was already over budget they picked out a few key things to fix. So to not be liable, the company fixed a lot of the other framing free of charge. The rest of the project seemed to go about as smoothly as could be expected until around the end of the project. Well, besides this guy constantly expecting more for free, and expecting things that were nowhere near his budget line, the guys were still professional and polite. Fast forward to now, I find out that this client has been talking to everyone possible how ill-mannered, and corrupt the business is. When I know for a fact they have never got anything for free in their life. It’s just not possible with a family of fourteen. My husband talks to clients in his sleep for crying out loud. But no, this client doesn’t stop there, he goes to the other job sites of the company and talks to subcontractors and other homeowners that they have built for or next to. I guess what he didn’t expect was for them to say they have never met a more family oriented, honest, fair and kind group of guys and if they built again they wouldn’t think of anyone else to use. They also called my husbands brother and told him what this guy was doing. This family also went as far as to print stickers with a line through their name for their vehicles, and their son slanders them on social media. He also calls the business just to yell obscenities at the secretary or just to call and hang up. Now they are suing. I forgot to mention that this man also has a history of ludicrous lawsuits. Never have I ever been so dumbfounded at the lack of morals in a man, a whole family no less. What is really sad is how he even got to the point to do this without any remorse, or guilt even when he know there was nothing done in the wrong. I almost pity them. What has happened in his life that made it so miserable that he has to take something down with him? The company had only helped them get their house done so they had somewhere to live, working long into the night. One brother even had a broken leg propped up cutting beams so they could get their house done on time.

After hearing a few more similar to these two scenarios, I truly wonder if there is ever going to be a time where you can just help people without getting screwed over for it. Maybe that’s why everyone is obsessed with (including me) the ‘good ‘ol days’ and throwbacks.

Lesson learned: Even if you document every little thing in today’s world, I guess you can sue for ‘emotional distress.’ Hell, I’m building and I’m stressed out but I’m not suing anyone for it. But thats just me.