ACE Handyman Services

We hired Ace Handyman Services to pull up and replace 300 square feet of engineered hardwood flooring. He had to remove two cabinets from the wall and put down two new pieces of subfloor.

This took him 19 hours, and my husband was helping him. He spent the first six hours of each day mostly wandering in circles and then the last two hours feverishly working. He left without cleaning up anything and didn't nail parts of the trim back to the wall. Corners of individual pieces are sticking up, and one in a high traffic area is particularly bad.

We called about it and they sent him back out.

He hit it a few times with a mallet that didn't really do anything to it, and told us that's all he can do. We paid almost $2000 in labor alone for this.

I can't believe I got duped. Cost me almost 1300.00.

I DID NOT GET 1300.00 value as work done was very poor. The web site is full of glowing company claims, yet you get nothing. Especially if you call to register your dissatisfaction of the work done. They won't return your calls after they have your check.

They will not try to fix your issues so that you are satisfied. You become a non-entity once they have your money. They have no concern for you. Really poor quality of work.

If I could have given them a zero stars I would have, but you have to click at least one star. I'm beyond disappointed and distressed. I can't believe I fell for their glowing website promises. Please be careful...my only wish now is to inform others to stay far away from this franchise.

They seem to teach ask their franchise owners how to rip people off. What a shame that there are those out there who are so keen on taking advantage of others instead of just doing a good job and being of service to help others.

Craftsman's estimate was 4 hrs @ $120 per hr to install 8 1/2' fence, including gate. Said it was labor plus materials, but he didn't want to estimate materials because "it could change".

Had to insist 3 times before he reluctantly gave a $300 estimate. Everything was done on his phone, no copy for me. Because my fence had been kicked in and was only propped up, I accepted the terms.

When job was finished, he told me the price was $1233.00! 5 hrs labor, plus materials.

Claimed everything was more expensive than estimated. When I demanded to see receipts, he provided one from Home Depot and one from Lowe's, totaling $372.31. Charges included $37 for a shovel, $28 for a pick, $95 for screws (1 container of 1080 screws for $70), lumber that was not used for my job. I asked for the remaining receipts to account for their material charges, he wasn't able to text the contract that he said provided details, but the office could send a paper copy to me.

I resisted having to pay for their "tools of the trade" and he kept saying, "Would you rather I charge you for the blades? Because I promise you it will cost more." I asked him, "What blades? What blades?" His response was to repeat his earlier question/threat. The more agitated and impatient he got, and since he wouldn't explain "blades", I had a mental image of knives and switchblades.

Stupidly, I thought it was safer to pay him, make him leave, and complain later. When I came back outside, he said his boss said to deduct the shovel and pick. This was said as if they were granting me a great discount. Later, I found a worn, discolored handsaw blade laid on my patio table.

Price checked a replacement cost. $6.99. Was that what he meant?

The next day I fact gathered, spoke to other fence companies, showed the pictures of the fence and the 2 rcpts, and consulted other people familiar with reasonable costs for professional fence installation. Consensus (of eight individuals) was that $500 was the max that should have been charged.

Pictures also show the poor quality. The receiving portion of the handle lever was upside down, so the padlock can't hang down, but stays flipped up. (Owner later said this was installed correctly.) Locking mechanism will rust faster as it's exposed to rain. Hinges are missing screws, and some that were used were not the ones that came in the gate latch packet.

So there's a mix of black and silver screws. Some screws almost miss the wood and are almost in the gap between boards. One picket badly split at top. I called and spoke to the office receptionist, telling her I'd planned to stop by the office.

When I did, no one was there. The receptionist apparently answers phone off-site, and everyone else was at job sites. I regretted announcing my intention to stop by.

I texted pictures and complaints to owner, who returned my call a couple of days later.

Said all charges reasonable, but will refund $50 (out of $100 with tax) for screws not used. Said they were in compliance with Ace Handyman Services business model.