Oh, TFP. We are at the tail-end of renovation. I dearly wanted to be able to post pictures here and celebrate when we were done, but it's been such an ordeal that my enthusiasm has waned considerably.
The drama, if you want the long version:
In addition to not following the contract regarding plastering over the main drain (they put a fake cover over it... I hate it and wish I could force a re-plaster), start-up was not completed as the PB initially described it to me. I was told there would be approximately a week of start-up -- to include brushing everyday and a full chemical balance. The contracted start-up guy came twice (we put a rock in front of the gate which didn't move, and our motion detection camera never recorded his presence). He brushed only one of those visits. When I went out to check things out after his second/last visit, there was 0ppm chlorine in the pool, low calcium hardness, and I realize he'd swiped our muriatic acid instead of using his own. I was flabbergasted to the point of laughing and emailed the PB. Start-up guy showed up at our door two hours later, apparently to apologize (we didn't answer because we were creeped out). Needless to say, I ended up doing all the research, brushing, and balancing that I was trying to shortcut by paying for start-up.
That all said... start-up was supposed to cost $600. I kept asking them to please let me know what they thought was fair considering the lack of work, and they repeatedly ignored my request. So I went ahead and figured... minus 5 days of brushing, using my chemicals, unbalanced water, and not even showing up 3-4 of the expected days... and wrote them a check for $100. PB has said he's ripped up the check and will be getting a third party. Despite the lack of communication prior to my sending the check, he now claims he has photos from each day during start-up (can't wait to see the EXIF data on those... something tells me they were all taken during his final visit). He says if it was not completed correctly, we would have had cloudy water, and all the pictures are clear.
TL;DR:
Basically I just would like some of you to chime in with either what you provide for start-up (any PBs in the house), or what you've received for start-up (as clients). As the conversation about what start-up included was not over email (they've been very sly, not putting much into writing), I'm mostly looking for what would be "standard."
Thank you for any help!
The drama, if you want the long version:
In addition to not following the contract regarding plastering over the main drain (they put a fake cover over it... I hate it and wish I could force a re-plaster), start-up was not completed as the PB initially described it to me. I was told there would be approximately a week of start-up -- to include brushing everyday and a full chemical balance. The contracted start-up guy came twice (we put a rock in front of the gate which didn't move, and our motion detection camera never recorded his presence). He brushed only one of those visits. When I went out to check things out after his second/last visit, there was 0ppm chlorine in the pool, low calcium hardness, and I realize he'd swiped our muriatic acid instead of using his own. I was flabbergasted to the point of laughing and emailed the PB. Start-up guy showed up at our door two hours later, apparently to apologize (we didn't answer because we were creeped out). Needless to say, I ended up doing all the research, brushing, and balancing that I was trying to shortcut by paying for start-up.
That all said... start-up was supposed to cost $600. I kept asking them to please let me know what they thought was fair considering the lack of work, and they repeatedly ignored my request. So I went ahead and figured... minus 5 days of brushing, using my chemicals, unbalanced water, and not even showing up 3-4 of the expected days... and wrote them a check for $100. PB has said he's ripped up the check and will be getting a third party. Despite the lack of communication prior to my sending the check, he now claims he has photos from each day during start-up (can't wait to see the EXIF data on those... something tells me they were all taken during his final visit). He says if it was not completed correctly, we would have had cloudy water, and all the pictures are clear.
TL;DR:
Basically I just would like some of you to chime in with either what you provide for start-up (any PBs in the house), or what you've received for start-up (as clients). As the conversation about what start-up included was not over email (they've been very sly, not putting much into writing), I'm mostly looking for what would be "standard."
Thank you for any help!
