emilyfordyce
08-31-2006, 11:42 AM
The short version: I had a 24' round AG pool installed and they botched the job and I need someone else to fix it. Is there anybody in or around Austin, Texas who can/will do this for me? I will gladly pay someone well to have it done right. The problem is the floor. They used crummy, unscreened sand with rocks and such in it and something sharp (a nail?) poked up through my liner and now it's leaking.
The very long version (with much ranting and venting): Basically, there are two companies in Austin who sell/install AG pools. I chose the cheaper of the two. They have been in business for 20 years, have an excellent BBB rating and seemed more like a mom and pop shop. I bought the most expensive pool they sell with all the accessories. I had my own dirt guy level the spot where the pool would go, so all the pool guys would have to do is put up the pool. The install was quite an ordeal. The three guys showed up two days late. They showed up at 10:30am and weren't finished until -- are you ready? -- 3:00 in the morning! Basically, they would work for 10 minutes and rest for 20 minutes (I'm not joking). After they were (finally) finished, the install seemed fine: everything was plumb and level, no wrinkles in the liner, the floor felt nice (I paid extra for a foam bottom). But beneath that cushy foam bottom was a ticking TIME BOMB (insert dramatic music here). I had been doing alot of work on the property and had a load of cheap, unscreened sand for fill for a raised patio. The pool guys said they would use that sand. I told them not to use that sand because it was full of rocks. They said they knew what they were doing and would get all the rocks out. I once again told them that it was unscreened and they shouldn't use it. They assured me it would be fine and they had been doing this for 20 years and blah blah blah and I said "whatever" because I'm an idiot and I was already exasperated and I don't know anything about pools.
All was groovy for about 4 weeks. I found a couple of rocks underneath the liner but brushed it off. I'm not that picky, I can live with a couple of small bumps. Then a couple of weeks ago I discovered something very sharp poking up at the liner. There was no hole yet, but I could tell it was only a matter of time. I called the owner of the company who seemed quite unconcerned and told me to call the guys who installed it. I told the owner that the install had taken 16+ hours and was wondering if someone else could take a look at it. He told me that 16 hours for an install was nothing and told me to call the install guys. I called the install guy and he said he would take a look at it the next morning. He didn't show up (big surprise) and didn't call. So, I called him and he said he was sorry and busy and blah blah blah and would look at it that evening. He didn't show up (huge surprise) and when I called him his phone was out of service. I called the owner guy and he seemed genuinely annoyed with the install guy. That was somewhat encouraging. He said he would talk to the install guy and send him to my house. A week later, no phone call, no pool guy. Another phone call to the owner and a few days later I got a message from the install guy who said he would get to it at the end of the week. I called today to ask him when he would show up and his phone is out of service.
Oh, yeah . . . the pool is now leaking.
At this point, I don't care about it being fixed for free. I just want it fixed by someone who will show up. Sorry for the long post. I feel much better now . . .
The very long version (with much ranting and venting): Basically, there are two companies in Austin who sell/install AG pools. I chose the cheaper of the two. They have been in business for 20 years, have an excellent BBB rating and seemed more like a mom and pop shop. I bought the most expensive pool they sell with all the accessories. I had my own dirt guy level the spot where the pool would go, so all the pool guys would have to do is put up the pool. The install was quite an ordeal. The three guys showed up two days late. They showed up at 10:30am and weren't finished until -- are you ready? -- 3:00 in the morning! Basically, they would work for 10 minutes and rest for 20 minutes (I'm not joking). After they were (finally) finished, the install seemed fine: everything was plumb and level, no wrinkles in the liner, the floor felt nice (I paid extra for a foam bottom). But beneath that cushy foam bottom was a ticking TIME BOMB (insert dramatic music here). I had been doing alot of work on the property and had a load of cheap, unscreened sand for fill for a raised patio. The pool guys said they would use that sand. I told them not to use that sand because it was full of rocks. They said they knew what they were doing and would get all the rocks out. I once again told them that it was unscreened and they shouldn't use it. They assured me it would be fine and they had been doing this for 20 years and blah blah blah and I said "whatever" because I'm an idiot and I was already exasperated and I don't know anything about pools.
All was groovy for about 4 weeks. I found a couple of rocks underneath the liner but brushed it off. I'm not that picky, I can live with a couple of small bumps. Then a couple of weeks ago I discovered something very sharp poking up at the liner. There was no hole yet, but I could tell it was only a matter of time. I called the owner of the company who seemed quite unconcerned and told me to call the guys who installed it. I told the owner that the install had taken 16+ hours and was wondering if someone else could take a look at it. He told me that 16 hours for an install was nothing and told me to call the install guys. I called the install guy and he said he would take a look at it the next morning. He didn't show up (big surprise) and didn't call. So, I called him and he said he was sorry and busy and blah blah blah and would look at it that evening. He didn't show up (huge surprise) and when I called him his phone was out of service. I called the owner guy and he seemed genuinely annoyed with the install guy. That was somewhat encouraging. He said he would talk to the install guy and send him to my house. A week later, no phone call, no pool guy. Another phone call to the owner and a few days later I got a message from the install guy who said he would get to it at the end of the week. I called today to ask him when he would show up and his phone is out of service.
Oh, yeah . . . the pool is now leaking.
At this point, I don't care about it being fixed for free. I just want it fixed by someone who will show up. Sorry for the long post. I feel much better now . . .