CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A well-known Charlotte construction company has spent years on the Better Business Bureau's radar.
In February the Bainbridge Crew was named one of the BBB's "dirty dozen," companies with the most unanswered complaints.
Action 9 has investigated customer complaints about the company numerous times, but spoke Thursday to a subcontractor who performed work for the company.
Action 9 investigator Jason Stoogenke spoke to a subcontractor who did work for Bainbridge Crew.
Subcontractor Tim Balough told Action 9 investigator Jason Stoogenke that Bainbridge Crew hired him to work on a neighborhood project, but he had trouble getting Bainbridge to pay him for it.
Balogh was new to the area and looking to build his electrical business when Bainbridge Crew offered him some subcontract work, Balogh saw it as a great opportunity.
He said he finished the first phase of the job, but weeks passed and Bainbridge didn't pay a bill for $2,746
"I just want to get paid for the fair services I did. That's all I want," Balogh said.
The BBB gives Bainbridge Crew an "F" rating and posted an alert citing a "pattern of complaints mostly about Bainbridge not finishing work after being paid to do so.
BBB president Tom Bartholomy told Channel 9 that Bainbridge is now going back to those customers, offering to pay them back in installments.
"In some ways, (they're) just kicking the can down the street. OK when are these repayments going to be made? And will he honor these new agreements? We hope so," Bartholomy said.
When Channel 9 contacted Bainbridge, the owner emailed Stoogenke and said he "hired the wrong people" which led to problems and work that had to be redone.
He called it a "monumental task" but promised that he was working through many of the complaints.
Bainbridge's owner promised to pay Balogh on Oct. 1.
When he didn’t and days passed Channel 9 followed up.
He told Channel 9 that he would pay Balogh on Thursday.
Channel 9 checked with Balogh Thursday afternoon.
He said Bainbridge gave him a check for most of the money, but that it hasn't cleared yet.
WSOC
