Made the mistake not to properly vet this "contractor" before signing. According to the Ontario corporations public records, BENCO CONCRETE INC. was registered 2009/05/22, and has an address in Strathroy, Ontario, not a FedEx PO box in Kitchener.
Be sure to read the other reviews before they get removed, here and BBB for example, not the reviews that appear to be solicited. On BBB there was Kim, who had the exact same story and timeline as mine, can't find it anymore. I can confirm for any post, the sloppyiness, defects, significant over charges, and lastly the bullying, especially if you stand up for yourself.
Save yourself some potential headaches and sleepless nights. Search for the Ontario governments publication "Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs". Be sure to study it carefully, you will need most of that knowledge. Be aware of the 10 day "cooling-off period" if you already signed. Be sure to ask for "proper" insurance documentation. Be sure to clearly define the scope of work, in Kitchener the bylaw is the walkways must be distinguishable from the driveway. Especially, look for answers on how disagreements and disputes will be dealt with. There is only one with this contractor from my experience, "pay", or there will be a "lien".
According to the Ministry database, under the Subjurisdiction Searched: Kitchener, there are 11 active Small Claims Court files naming Benco Concrete Inc. Only searched for Kitchener. Before you get that far, you may get something like the picture attached, which was during the simple adjudication of the contract, before that determination.
And now for the brass tacks. So far, my contract was for about $7,900, has gone up to near $12,000, plus costs related to the disputes. Lawyers work on retainers, that's $5,000 upfront, (unless you are a repeat client).
- Approximate cost of services:
- $12,000.00