Complaint Review: V & T Installations

This report is to warn consumers about V & T Installations of Highland, Indiana owned by BILL COSGROVE acting as subcontractor for a company in ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS.
Our salesman was in Arl. Hts. He came out to my condo with tile samples in November '99. The 12 inch tiling was to be set throughout the condo; bedrm., hallway, lvgrm. and dining room. The floor was carpeted at the time. He asked a rather strange question which stuck with me after: "Is your floor level" I said I didn't know...how could I tell through the carpeting?? He said the crew would determine this when they took up the carpet (I'm on a concrete slab). I asked for a certificate of insurance from the subcontractors and he said "oh no, you don't need that; THEY ARE OUR EMPLOYEES AND WE COVER THEM." This is not true; they were subcontractors.

The crew consisted of Bill Cosgrove, another man and TWO TEENAGE BOYS one of whom identified himself as Bill's step son. At the end of the day they already had more than half of the tile laid and the dining room already grouted and shoe molding installed on the baseboards. (the floor was never levelled but I didn't know all about that until much later) I don't believe there was ever any WORK ORDER because on the morning of the second day I asked them if they were also going to tile my bedroom and they said they didn't know anything about it. I never signed off on any work order. At the end of the third day I waited and waited and the crew never came and got me. I walked in to my condo at 4:45 and just freaked out. They took the base paint I gave them for the shoe molding and used it to PAINT OVER ALL THE GROUT MARKS ON MY WALLS!!! I HAD SPLOTCHES OF PAINT ALL OVER ALL MY WALLS!!! I DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE FLOOR...MY EXPENSIVE PRISTINE PAINT JOB WAS RUINED AND THE s****.> I called the salesman and he didn't offer any sypathy, no, he said "Well, I'm sure they were just trying to be CONSCIENTIOUS." Then he said he would have to call Bill and get his side of the story. The next day I called and told him the tile job was a bad one. Uneven tile lines, hollow tiles, missing grout etc. Jack said "WELL, I STILL HAVE TO CALL BILL AND I HAVE CUSTOMERS TO TAKE CARE OF RIGHT NOW." What the hell am I then??

Salesman finally called 5 days later and said "THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO BE CONSCIENTIOUS" again. I was livid. Then he started to ask me could they get some paint and repaint my walls. I hit the roof! They can't even set tile and now they're painters??? Not!
I told him the estimate amt. my painter had given me and he said that Bill would have to have time to get another estimate (!)"HE HAS THAT RIGHT DOESN'T HE" I told salesman he didn't have the right to do squat!
FEB 25: Salesman finally agrees to come inspect the damage. Two witnesses are present. He was defensive showed no surprise at the job. He told us they were willing to pay for repainting, replace any loose tiles and skim coat grout over the whole floor.
Salesman: 'this floor doesn't need to be levelled, it's the rustic look.' Told him we would have to take this up with the corporate office. Made a video of the damage and took photos.

After several weeks of phone calling, research, letter writing and paying for professional tile setters and a home inspector's written evaluations I was able to get Bill Cosgrove's insurance company (thank God that he had some) to reimburse me for the paint job and for the DAMAGE THEY DID TO THE OUTSIDE PARKING LOT (grout was spilled all over,damage to neighbor's landscaping). Thanks to the District Manager of Customer Relations,they agreed to rip out the tile and shoe molding, haul it away and give us a full refund. I found out Bill Cosgrove's other jobs were investigated and many other problems were found. He no longer installs for this retailer BUT HE'S OUT THERE SOMEWHERE SO PUBLIC BEWARE!! All in all it took 6 weeks to come to this agreement and I am now awaiting removal. Remember: If a deal looks too good to be true IT IS! Thank you for your time.