I need some advise

[jx3smom]

My kitchen is finally done. Everything is in and installed except for the one cabinet door that was broken and will be in next week. My refidgerator has 2 major scratches along the side (right into the metal). This is a GE Profile side by side semi built in, with ice maker, ice and water dispenser. It cost almost $2,000.00. The contractor did the damage while installing it into the surrounding cabinet. The appliance store came over yesterday and painted it but this is not sitting right with me. It is brand new! I have to pay the final bill to the contractor today. Do you think that I should be compensated at all for the damage? If I move and take the fridge the dents are still there. Everything rusts in our area. How should I go about this?

 

[binny]

if the contractor did the damage he should take care of the bill for the repair. IMHO Beyond that I dont know what else he could do.

 

[MosMom]

I might mention something at first to him and point out the damage. Be really nice about it and approach it that way and he may offer to compensate you.

However, what are you wanting for compensation? Do you want a new fridge? Do you want $$ off his bill for the damage (which won't prevent the fridge from rusting)? Do you want him to pay to have it repaired (not sure what can be done). I would get a good idea of what you want from him before you talk to him about it.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

That really, really stinks!!!

I know my dh would not stand for that and expect to be compensated somehow.

Sounds like a sticky situation. Good Luck!

 

[DoeWDW]

I'm thinking along the lines of MosMom - what exactly do you want the contractor to do? If you have a reasonable request to have it repaired, the contractor may agree. If you're expecting him to pay for a brand new refrigerator, then I don't think he could afford to do that.

Be clear about what you want when you talk to him, even going so far as to give him several options - "fix the dents or take $200 off my bill".

Best wishes for a resolution that is fair to all. Just remember that in life, things happen.

 

[shelbyjosh]

I would be pretty ticked about this! I would just tell him that this is not how the fridge arrived in my house and I do not expect anything less than how I received it. Is it repairable? Will you be able to notice the repair? I wouldn't give him too many opportunities to "make it right". I am sure he is going to finangle and weasel his way out of accepting responsibility for this. Push comes to shove...without the $2000 that you spent on the fridge and tell him you will be calling your attorney.

Can you tell I won't put up with that crap!?!?

If you're expecting him to pay for a brand new refrigerator, then I don't think he could afford to do that.

If that's the case, maybe they should have exercised a little more care and caution for other peoples property. Not theirs, they don't care. Kinda like kids!!!!

 

[jx3smom]

Actually, the owner of the company is a woman. They did the whole kitchen and let me tell you it was NOT cheap. I want a fridge that is in the same condition that it was delivered. I don't want anything extra but I do not think it fair that I have to accept a damaged refrigerator. They forced into a cabinet that should not have been installed until after the fridge was delivered. They also forgot to run the line for the water and that is the only way I found out about the damage. These scratchs and dents go the whole width of the fridge and there is some more minor damage at the bottom. They were going to just hide the damage and hope that they'd get away with it.

 

[Serena]

Hmmm, I would have been more than nice if they had come right out and been honest with me.
Hiding the damage makes me angry. I'd get a new fridge.

 

[shelbyjosh]

Told ya they would be sneaky and try to weasel their way out. Accept only a new one or they don't get $2000 of what is owed to them. Plain and simple!

 

[luvsTink]

It is possible that if they shoved the fridge in and didn't pull it back out that they do not know the extent of the damage. Nothing beats good, clear communication. I would start there.

Anne

 

[pixie3]

New fridge. I am completely serious. That is what you paid for. You didn't get the frig for 1/2 off at a ding and dent sale. Unless they can take that whole side off and replace it new.......I say new fridge.

DO NOT PAY THE REMAINDER OF THE BILL - THIS IS WHY YOU DO THAT.

I ran into this problem twice.

ooooh, you got me so riled up now.

 

[jx3smom]

My DH is leaning toward demanding a new fridge. They guys had the nerve to say the appliance store installed it and my 23 yo DS was there and heard them tell the appliance store to just unbox everything and they'd install it. Now they are saying the hand truck did it. Don't you think they would have seen the damage then. Again, I am not talking small scratches here. They are long and deep.

 

[nowellsl]

The problem is, is the space so small that the only way to get the refriderator in is to damage it? In that case I would make them fix the cabinet as well - first check your blue prints to see what the size of the opening should be - did you buy too large of a refridgerator?

 

[shelbyjosh]

Regardless if the opening was too small. They still jammed it in there and damaged it. New fridge is all I would settle for!

 

[QuiltTeddy]

Well, I'm speaking from a contractor's point of view here as I work for a builder. Normally the builder installs the appliances at no charge, into the openings provided. This means that if you contracted with a cabinet company, it was their responsibility to obtain the "specs" on the appliances you selected and make sure the openings were the right size. Personally, I don't see the contractor giving you any credit for something that was beyond their control, unless when you say contractor, this means that your contractor was responsible for the cabinets and then it would fall within his realm of responsibility and he should be willing to give you a credit towards the damage. I don't think you stand much of a change of getting them to completely replace it. If the contractor was responsible for the openings, your other alternative is to go ahead and buy a new refrigerator, have it installed and then take the contractor to small claims Court (since it's less than $3,000 - but check on the jurisdiction in your courts) and resolve it that way.

Also, normally when you sell a house, you leave the appliances and it would be very unusual to take the refrigerator with you, unless it is a second refrigerator, so you wouldn't need to worry about it showing in the future.

Next, you should be forewarned that should you hold back and refuse to make full payment, the contractor can simply file a Mechanic's Lien against the property. This would then force you to incur legal costs if you decide to refinance or move.

The easiest thing it to talk to the contractor and see what you can get out of them. You never know what they may be willing to do unless you approach them. They aren't going to offer anything without your bringing to their attention.

Good Luck!


Please post how you ultimately resolve it.

 

[jx3smom]

The contractor was a kitchen design company. They measured, they ordered, they had the specs for all of the appliances, etc. The cabinets were custom made. How could it not be their responsibility to have the right size cabinet.

In my area almost every house that is sold on this island is torn down and the seller can take what ever they want from the house. I am not planning on doing this but I don't know what the future brings.

Regardless, I paid $2,000.00 for a refrigerator and it is damaged and chances are it will rust. I am ticked!

We have spoken to them and they feel that the touch up paint is enough and I don't feel that that will guarentee it to be rust proof. If I'd wanted a dented, scratched fridge, I would have bought one at a discounted price.

 

[kadaten]

I bought my fridge at Lowe's and had them deliver it. They subcontract out the delivery service to a local company. The local company scratched my fridge while bringing it into the house. It was a SMALL scratch, just in the paint, but on the front of the door. It was near the very bottom. I was VERY upset. They had the touch-up paint and touched it up, but I still knew it was there (you cannont see it). I was still upset. The delivery man called his boss, told him I was still upset, and the boss offered me $100 if I'd keep the fridge and not make him replace it. (It would come out of his pocket.) Since the scratch was SO small and unnoticeable, I took the money. I also didn't have a week to wait for another fridge.

In your case, however, if they scratches are as deep and bad as you say, and you really feel it might compromise the integrity of the fridge (lead to rusting, etc.), then I'd definitely insist on a new fridge.

Good luck!

 

[JPN4265]

Originally posted by jx3smom
My kitchen is finally done. Everything is in and installed except for the one cabinet door that was broken and will be in next week. My refidgerator has 2 major scratches along the side (right into the metal). This is a GE Profile side by side semi built in, with ice maker, ice and water dispenser. It cost almost $2,000.00. The contractor did the damage while installing it into the surrounding cabinet. The appliance store came over yesterday and painted it but this is not sitting right with me. It is brand new! I have to pay the final bill to the contractor today. Do you think that I should be compensated at all for the damage? If I move and take the fridge the dents are still there. Everything rusts in our area. How should I go about this?

The contractor should have insurance for just this type of problem. If you are not happy, get the contractor and the appliance store manage in a face to face meeting. You should not have to settle for this. Don't let them con you in to something you don't want or won't be happy with. Don't wait, resolve the problem now!

 

[jx3smom]

DH and I went to the kitchen conractors store yesterday afternoon and she was going to call the appliance store (across the steet from each other) and get back to me today. They took partial resposibility and explained it better than anyone. Some of the damage was from the actual delivery. There seems to be a defect in the fridge and it bulges in the middle which made it hard to fit. I checked when I got home and you could see a gap at the top and bottom but in the middle it touched the cabinet sides. She said her guy and the app. guys put it in together and should NEVER have forced it.

I got a call from her today and the fridge will be replaced. It is on order right now.

I feel so much better now.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I'm glad it was resolved how you wanted.