This is a letter I wrote in responce to our situation. We have not yet been able to get an attourny to take our case either because of finacial reasons or they think that no payment will be recieved even if we win, therfore not only will we be out of the original money but leagle fees as well.  By the way Pictures are your best defense. Lots and lots of pictures.

 

We have also tried to contact the media and all were umresponsive. ” They felt it wasnt news worthy”

 

To the Office of the Attorney General, Vermont

 To Whom It May Concern: This is a brief summery of what our problem consists of. For a complete understanding of the situation I have enclosed all records that we have, including contracts and cancelled checks.         In December of 2007 my girlfriend and myself, entered into a contract to remodel our home with Gordon Hudson of T & G Contracting based out of Hoosick Falls, NY. The Contract was for and addition on our home with a completion price of $52,000.00. The original agreement was 1/3 up front, 1/3 at 50% complete, and the remaining 1/3 due at 90% complete. Work was to begin on or around the 15^th of December. We signed the contract on the 14^th of December. Some work began but weather was an issue and hindered the start of the project. Mr. Hudson said the concrete would be poured on the 24^th of December. On the 24^th there was a no call / no show. I called and left a message but no call back. On the 26^th again it was a no call / no show. I called and finally had a call back from Mr. Hudson. It was then that we found out he was ill, and said they would be there on the 27^th. This was a no call / no show again. They finally arrived on the 31^st. A few hours that day were spent preparing the form to pour the concrete. The foundation was poured on or around the 4^th of January. Around this time Mr. Hudson approached my girlfriend and stated that all of the money was tied up in the materials and he needed to make payroll. He was wondering if an agreement to make weekly payments of $5,000.00 a week to coincide with the progression of the project. She agreed with the stipulation that a new contract be drawn up stating these changes. He agreed. A week or two later I asked him about the new contract and he said that she never said one way or the other but would get one to us. We never received the contract. At this time work seemed to progress at an acceptable rate but still behind schedule. Shortly after the first of February the roof over the garage was taken off to prepare for the construction of the second floor. From this point on work seemed to start to trickle off. Ever since the time she began to pay weekly the workers never worked a full week, However Mr. Hudson still required a full weeks pay. With less than half of the project completed T & G was paid up with the balance remaining of $2,500.00.Mr. Hudson kept telling us that the weather was a factor but on the clear days no workers were found at our job site. Around the 14^th of February Mr. Hudson spoke with my girlfriend and stated that her and I had not decided between stick framing or trusses. After she had consulted with friends who were also contractors, she made the decision to go with the trusses. No mention of a price difference was made and she felt that since in the contract it called for stick framing that there was no additional charge for the trusses. Later we found out different. We were told a week after we finalized the floor plan that the trusses were ordered on the 18^th of February and would be delivered no later that the 25^th of February. The 19^th of February was the last day that any workers were on site. On the 21^st of February I called the truss company and asked the status of the trusses. They said they were waiting for Mr. Hudson to give final measurements. I told him that I was told they would be delivered on the 25^th. He stated they had not been ordered. I gave the information needed and ordered the trusses. They were complete and on the truck by the 22^nd of February ready for delivery on the 25^th. On the 23^rd Mr. Hudson came to our house at my request. He wanted to pick up the check and presented us with a bill for an additional $6,000.00. We then began to discuss the fact of the lack of work verses the amount of money paid. He still sited the weather as a factor. We then discussed our concerns of water damage due to the fact that we had been without a roof since the first of February. He stated as long as we had water standing we didn’t need to worry about it getting into the insulation on the floor. We then returned back to the amount owed and lack of work, and Mr. Hudson became irritated and raised his voice to my girlfriend stating that if we didn’t pay he would pull his equipment on Monday and he would see us in court. After he signed an agreement that the balance owed would not be expected until the 100% completion mark I gave him a check for $3495.15. As he left he said the trusses would be delivered on the 25^th. The morning of the 25^th of February he called the truss company and cancelled the delivery. When I asked him about this he said the trusses were not done. I told him I called the truss company and told him what they told me. He said they would be there on the 26^th. On the 26^th this was a no call / no show. When I called him he said the crane company wouldn’t release the crane. That Thursday the 28^th they would be there. Again this was a no call / and a no show. I called and left him a message, which he called me back and left the message that due to bad weather coming it would be another week. I went to an attorney on the 3^rd of March to find out our rights. He called Mr. Hudson and spoke with him and stated all we wanted was our project completed. Mr. Hudson told the attorney  that the trusses were to be delivered on the 10^th and he would have the crane and crew there on the 11^th. The 4^th of March he came to the job site and removed all of his tools and then on the 5^th he had the dumpster and portable toilet removed. When I called and asked him about his tools he simply said they needed the tools for another job. I said ok as long as they were not stolen. This was the last time I spoke with Mr. Hudson. On the 10^th I called the truss company and was told that Mr. Hudson said that we still owed him money and that the trusses were not to be delivered until he said to. I then called the crane company and found out that Mr. Hudson had cancelled the crane on the 29^th of February and never called to reschedule. This was done three days before the attorney called him. Since then I have contacted the Police Department and my girlfriend and I have given our formal complaints to them. We were then told that the District attorney who based on a phone conversation didn’t know if it was enough to get a conviction. The Police officer did call and ask Mr. Hudson to report to the station to give his side of the story. He said sure and never showed up for his appointment. To date I have contacted about 8 to 10 attorneys who are either to busy or didn’t feel like we would get paid if we won. In the meantime our home is experiencing more and more damage to the existing structure due to the negligence of T & G Contracting. On the 13^th of February The Reynolds group, a company sub contracted by Mr. Hudson contacted me and said they had not been paid. That unfortunately they had to come and take the fireplace insert and pellet stove back. We do not know where to turn from here. Please advise as to our options. Incidentally we have tarped the structure ourselves in an attempt to slow the degradation of our home. I have also contacted the building Inspector from the Town who when he visited sighted several building flaws and issued a stop work on our construction. We may have to completely tear the structure down and begin again.  Thank you for your Time and Attention in this matter.  Sincerely  

Rick D                         

    

CC: The Office of the Attorney General, New York

Vermont Governor, Jim Douglas, via email

New York Governor, David A. Paterson, via email P.S. On 4/14/08 I was notified by an officer of the Police Dept. and told that the States Attorney will not be perusing charges against the contractor. It was stated that since some work has been done that this was a civil matter. If this is a civil matter, does this mean that no criminal wrongdoing has occurred?         At this time I am doing what I can to try and save and prevent my home from further damage from the elements.  Thank you  

Rick D

To date  have recievedsome lettersfron the AG in Vermont. They have contacted te contractor two times and continue to move forward. The NY AG has sent me a letter that said they were in the process of contacting the contractor. No responce yet. I have als recieved a letter from Governor’s office of Vermont. They sid they were forwarding my letter to the Ag’s office with the letter sent t me as well. This is whati wanted because i couldnt get anywhere otherwise so nowte AG’s office is aware the Governor had been contacted. We wil see what happens next. Until then i am taking down the addition and will rebuild it according to code.

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