Homeowners say contractors overcharged, turn to KATU for help

Hal

These contractors are still under criminal investigation. Its up to you to decide.

Sub contractor

I have been approached by RPC to do a bid. I have 40 years experience in my trade and know that I can please the custumer. I want to here from other subs. Do these guys pay their bills on time?

It is good to see other people coming forward who are willing to make complaints against these guys.  They need to be stopped.  Making a complaint with the CCB is good to do, but it's also important to make one with the Department of Justice.  You can do that easily online.  The more people who join this effort, the better the chances of having an effect. Beentheregottheshirt email me and I'd be glad to talk to you about this.

Thank You Badquality and weisman and Pam...   I feel vindicated just knowing we were not the only ones...  Besides the electric  that stopped working a month later.., the wrong sized fixture that was installed, .. plus much more..., men walking into my home without even knocking or announcing themselves.!!  many months for a job that was supposed to be a few weeks ......  Yes, we got the $5,000 air fans too...   need I go on???  the worst was the way they talked to us, and the things they said in e-mails.. Any request for info was answered with a bombardment of junk info emails..  Any question of practice was met with demands for money, and accusations of witholding their money... they were paid for work not yet performed.. At  rates that made even the subs jaws drop!!  In the end.. Job was unfinished, and after a month another huge  bill arrived...  We now see that ours was just one of many...We plan to add our complaint to the pile..  

Example of RPC’s/Silver Star Group/All Star Construction negligence/incompetence.  This is what they did in our school.  When will this be shown to the public on TV?

 

http://www.deq.state.or.us/news/prDisplay.asp?docID=3845

Got the shirt, badquality, wronged customer and any others who may need it. I have been looking into who to contact in reguards to my parents case. This is who I am told is handling the investigation.

Terry Roach/ Investigator

Special Investigation Unit

Construction Contractors Board

503 934 3401

terry.f.roach@state.or.us

 

My parents had a bad experience with this company and were too distraught over the whole thing to file complaints with any agency,, now that so many people are coming forward I am going to encourage them to do so. Thank you KATU for running this story.

yes.. Pam I feel your pain....

Wow!!!!!  This is unbelievable!!  This is the type of e-mails/language that you may receive from RPC when you do business with them…

 

This is an e-mail sent from Cameron to Mr. Mistkawi and his wife.

 

The language in this letter is appalling.  But apparently this is the type of e-mails you will get from RPC if you question their billing and/or dishonesty.

 

 

From: CameronIII@aol.com [mailto:CameronIII@aol.com] Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 8:42 AMTo: Mistkawi, Nabil G; allstarconstruction@comcast.net; kmistkaw@hotmail.comSubject: Re: Mistkawi invoice attached * i*grate / withholding insurance money * breach

 

You are a stupid fu&*ing retard.

I said "so you want us to pay them..." it was a rhetorical question a*$-wipe.

Farmers is one of the worst insurance companies in America.

The independent is one of the "spl*t the ba*y" adjusters - a p&*sy, basically.

If you had called in your own insurance we would have been paid a long time ago.

I $h*t in your mother's womb, you low-life Mo&her-F*&ker.

Now, for the third time:  leave me the f*&k alone and stop harassing me.  I have asked you twice to stop harassing me.  You are a slime-ball and you are withholding our money from Farmers because you think it is cute.  You are the saddest f*&king d*l&o I have met in a longtime.

Please eat my $h*t you cheating p*$sy.

What f*&king subs are you talking about anyway?  You know you tried to cheat us by paying the plumber directly.  You know there were no subs on your job.  You are just trying to be cute and keep our money longer.

F*&k you.

We took out a loan, a personal f*&king loan you i*grate -

Go to H*ll.

 

In a message dated 2/2/2012 , nabil.g.mistkawi@intel.com writes:

RPC,

Based on CCB guidelines outlined in the attached document for consumer protection:  if subcontractors have not been paid then we have to write checks payable to them jointly.  Following the CCB guidance, we are requesting proof that the subcontractors received payment. 

As a result of the e-mail response sent on 1/27/2012 7:12:18 A.M, I was cautioned by my attorney and a CCB representative to adhere to CCB guidelines.  I’m kindly asking you to provide a proof that subcontractors have been paid.  Based on Cameron response in previous e-mail (attached), dated 1/23/2012 indicates that they have been paid and you took a loan to do so.  In the most recent e-mail, he specified that they have not been paid which means he was not telling the truth about the loan and subs being paid.

 

Cameron wrote: Dated 1/23/2012 (Also attached)

“Instead you made us take out a loan on your labor and materials.

It is just not right”.

 

Again, you had an opportunity to get paid the day I received the insurance check, but you insisted that your invoice is accurate and there was nothing else left to be done (poor customer service).  We were actually warned of fraudulent charges from the independent adjuster and Farmers.  Therefore, we reviewed your invoice under the microscope and will have the most severe response to lack of professionalism, nonsense bullying and threatening e-mails.  You have created conditions where no one trusts you and therefore we want to make sure that the subs are getting paid.         

Nabil

One more update regarding my positive appreciative email to Cameron about how nice it was that they said they would put everything back in my kitchens for me.....they charged Safeco for doing that, but I kept the money because it took me close to 4 days to put it all back.  They moved the boxes from the POD but I unpacked them and put everything back in the cupboards.  There were some other things they charged Safeco for that they didn't do....like replacing the floor in my dining room, hallway and stairs.  I kept the money from that as well.  They also charged Safeco for cleaning and packing a bunch of yard sale stuff I had in the room adjoining the kitchen and when the Safeco adjuster called me saying, "why is there a comforter, slippers, and other clothing in your kitchen?  We just got a big bill from RPC for packing and cleaning a bunch of bogus items"......I told her to send me that bill and I would mark off all the items that didn't belong there.  When I asked Cameron about this, his response was more bogus than the bill.  He said, "mold spores are airborne and if they landed in one of your yardsale items, and someone bought that item and it made their kid sick, they could come back and sue you for it."  Or something like that....absolutely ridiculous!  First of all, there never was any mold in that kitchen...they dryed it out within 2 days of the water spill and tore everything out before I moved the yardsale stuff into that room (I moved them from the garage to be out of the workers way). I should have fired them on the spot.  That was my first red flag that their integrity was not what I had believed it to be.  But they were so deep into the project, I was afraid another contractor wouldn't know how to pick up where they left off.  Cameron did take those items off the bill, after I told Safeco which ones didn't belong there, but he never forgave me for it.  He would say things like, "Well, if we hadn't lost so much money on the packing....."  knowing full well that that was my fault they lost that money.    Anyway, the comment about how I thought these guys were nice in the beginning was true....they both have nice personalities and for much of the project, we had a good connection.....friendly and, for the most part upbeat.  Adam only came to my house twice during the project and I only communicated with Cameron via emails.  The guys who did the work seemed competant and were nice guys.

 

I will say that they are good at getting claims through.  When I told the contractors who bid on repairing my floor how much RPC made on the job, noone could believe it.  One guy said he just finished remodeling a 2 bedroom house, painting, new appliances, etc., for $43,000.   My two kitchens are tiny and I had no new appliances put in....new cupboards, ceiling lights, floors ...but no new appliances.  Yet Cameron was able to get Safeco to pay that huge bill.....amazing, now that I know how overpriced the job was. I think these guys honestly see themselves as doing good works for the old and vulnerable....fighting the battle with the big insurance companies who rarely want to pay their claims, but they are also looking for ways to do more work than necessary and charge more than is deserved......and that is alot easier to do when you are dealing with people who don't understand the process and put all their trust in RPC.   Pam

 

 

What happened Adam, and Cameron.  ……….Que the crickets………

 

Looks like you have been completely discredited.

 

I wonder if the lawyer is the source of all the wrong that RPC is involved in.  Seems the Blaggs are quick to get him involved in any dispute.  Also the Blaggs are suing KATU.

 

Suing KATU for what, exposing an evil company that uses threats against women and old people to milk every cent out of them.

 

So,  the DOJ, FBI, and the CCB criminal investigator are very interested in Adam Blagg and RPC.  I wonder how deep this goes, insurance companies, lawyers, judges, adjusters, and RPC.  This is way better than a John Grisham book!!

 

I will defiantly stay tuned.

 

What say you Adam, or Cameron.

 

Que the crickets again……………………………………………

The CCB file:  The Mistkawi’s and Liddel’s are next.  Stay tuned. 

We’ll give RPC few hours in case they have any thank you letters that they would like to share!!!!

Adam did suggest ceramic tile, at the beginning of the project, but he didn't say anything about why it would be a good idea....just offered it up as a nice fix.  I totally forgot that conversation .....it happened 9 months before I stated that nothing was said to me about other flooring options. (he called me a liar because I forgot)   My comment to him at the time was that it would be considered an upgrade and Safeco would not cover it.  He proceeded to send a vinyl sales rep to my house with samples from which I chose one for the floor.  Again, nothing was said about sheet vinyl being a problem and I had no clue it would be since the floor I had down there for the past 24 years was vinyl and had no problems during all that time.  I feel that they should have called a moisture expert at the beginning of the project to advise me of that, but they waited until there was a problem and then used the expert's report to put the blame on me and shirk their own responsibility.

 

Adam is calling "Badquality" out for not using his real name?  What about "Honey badger"?  Is that you Cameron?  It sure sounds like you.  I know how busy you always say you are....with all those projects going at the same time and all the thousands of emails you have to write to insurance companies....you would think you wouldn't have time to write long winded comments on a site like this.  Of course, I counted over 1000 eamils from Cameron during the course of my project....and God only knows how many he flooded Safeco with.  I think that's part of your tactic....keep everyone confused and overwhelmed and then it's easier to sneak things by them.  It sure worked with me, didn't it?

I want to offer a response to the positive emails I sent to Adam & Cameron at the beginning of the project....they were absolutely sincere and I was very impressed, in the beginning,  with the work their team was doing. Actually, the sub contractors (most of them) did a great job and I had no complaints when the kitchens were completed.....UNTIL the basement floor started buckling and warping and it became evident that it was a serious problem that would require tearing out the entire kitchen again to fix it. 

 

That was when my opinion of them began to change.  As you read in my CCB report, they totally changed their tune as soon as I demanded that they repair the floor without charging me again.  All of their friendly and supportive demeanor took a nosedive and the relationship became wrought with untruths (coming from them not me), rude comments, threats that they would  come up with a bogus bill for $5,000 to $7,000 if I dared to cause them trouble.  This threat was intimidating because I knew they had their own personal lawyer and the moisture expert worked with them on a regular basis also.  I had never sued anyone in my life and didn't have a clue how to go about putting a case together, and I wasn't sure how much they could get away with.....they brag about how many lawsuits they have won.   I, on the other hand, didn't have the money to hire an attorney and they knew that. 

 

The stress this situation caused me, the loss of rental income for the many months before the kitchen was repaired, the hours and hours of time I spent trying to put together a court case on my own....well, all I can say is that when I got my tax refund back and realised I could add it to some of my savings and pay someone else to do the job, it was a HUGE relief!  Yes, I'm out alot of money.....many thousands of dollars, but there are more important things than money and health is one of them.

 

  Dealing with the Blagg brothers has been a real learning experience for me and I will never ever trust another contractor until I check and doublecheck their credentials, references, CCB complains, Better Business Bureau, Angie's List,  and until I read every word of their contract and compare it with other contractors' contracts and bids.  RPC didn't even give me a bid on the job.  There was nothing in their contract saying anything about how much they would charge for the job. They made up the bills as they went along, and I was a nervous wreck throughout the process because I never knew how much I would end up having to pay or how much Safeco would end up paying.  It was a fight to the end and I was in the middle trying to make sense of it all.

 

 I believe RPC has done enough damage to enough people that they will eventually run up against someone who has the money to take them to court and hold them accountable for their fraudulant and irrresponsible actions.  If this had happened to me when I was younger, I might have had the energy to keep fighting, but I had to let it go.  The slimiest  and most depicable thing they have done, in my case, is to use my early comments praising them, on their website and on this comment site....knowing full well how I feel about them now.  It's really beyond my comprehension how they manage to stoop so low.

In a previous post, RPC eagerly asked that we post what the CCB told Pam.  Hmmmmmmm……. as if there is a possibility that the CCB would be saying something worthy about RPC!!!   Well, after a great deal of thought and a thorough examination of the case, RPC’s request was considered.  However, the reader expressed substantial interest in learning about the letter Pam wrote to the CCB instead.  They wanted to know more about her terrible experience with RPC.  Highlights of her letter are presented below:

 

The CCB file continued:

 

Construction Contractors Board

Dispute Resolution Services

P.O. Box 14140

Salem, Or. 97309

 

Re: Claim#182747-103

 

To Whom It May Concern:

 

In February 2011, I hired a contractor to renovate and abate damaged kitchens caused by a flood from a broken pipe. The company I hired was Allstar Construction AKA Renovation Professionals and Consultants out of Albany. They were highly recommended by the plumber who came to fix my pipe, and he said they were experts at this kind of problem.

 

This job was completed and signed off by the City in June 2011. In November, the floor in the basement kitchen began to bubble and warp. The contractor was notified and he sent a moisture specialist and his brother down to look at the floor and we were told that the sheet vinyl was trapping the moisture that wicks up from the ground through the porous cement, and causing it to go into the wood sub floor. When I asked Adam Blagg if he had ever run into this kind of problem before, he admitted it was an oversight that they should have caught, but proceeded to offer to fix it for a minimal fee. He said they would come in at $35 an hour (instead of $60 an hour) and acted like he was doing me a favor. When I said they should fix it without charging me again, since it was their mistake, he started blaming the whole problem on me and my basement moisture issues, saying things like, “we believe this problem is entirely due to your drainage and poor maintenance issues...and you oversaw the project and you chose the vinyl”.and “you didn't tell us about the pre-existing condition”.

 

I had a floor in that same kitchen for the past 20 years with absolutely NO problems....no warping..no linoleum coming up..nothing! And I had the exact same moisture/drainage issues I have now. Whether this contractor used inferior wood, or the roofing felt they used as a moisture barrier is not doing the job, or whether it's the sheet vinyl that is causing the problem, the floor they put in is defective and they should stand by their contract, which states they warrantee any defects in their work for a year after completion. They made almost $50,000 on this job and to try to charge me again for correcting their mistake, in my opinion, is not right.

 

One of the contractors I've since talked to said “I won't know exactly what is going on until we rip out the floor”, but there is a clause in the letter I got from their lawyer saying if I touch that floor, it relinquishes RPC from any further responsibility.

 

In the meantime, my floor is worse than ever before and I've had several contractors tell me there is probably major mold growing under that floor by now and will cost me thousands of dollars to fix. RPC left me with a bigger mold problem than I had from the original flood and the way they have treated me is unconscionable. Cameron has called me a liar and two-faced and has even made up a bogus bill to scare me and keep me from taking them to court.

 

Well it worked. I can't handle the stress this situation is causing me and I am probably going to have to refinance my house in order to get the money to fix the floor. My blood pressure has gone up, I'm losing sleep, I'm so depressed I can barely deal with my job or the other responsibilities in my life. My kids are worried about me and frankly I'm worried about myself. It's not worth having a heart attack or a stroke, so I'm going to find a way to pay for this. I am a senior citizen, by the way, and this contractor raved about how they love to help seniors. Talk about false advertising... so if anyone else wants to hire them, there will be a record of this. I'm kicking myself for not checking into their record prior to hiring them.

 

This contractor has a reputation, by the way, that I've since learned of. One of the contractors I asked to give me a bid, had heard several negative things about RPC and commented, “they are the kind of guys that give the rest of us a bad name.” I also called a local moisture expert in January, thinking maybe if I got an unbiased report it would help my case. As it turned out, I couldn't afford them, but the man I spoke to asked me the name of the contractor who did this and when I told him, he said he was working with 2 other clients who had problems with them. I told him I was shocked by their behavior, because in the beginning they seemed like nice guys. His response was, “Adam and Cameron (he knew their names) are NOT nice guys.”

 

So my feeling is that if they have done this kind of thing before, they will probably do it again, and if they like to work with seniors, which is what they told me, I feel that something should be done to protect them from this kind of abuse. I don't know what you can do, but I want to at least make sure you are aware that this company is not living up to the contract I signed or the ethics that most contractors try to live by. I've had several projects done on this house in the past and never had anything like this happen.

 

I made the mistake, by the way, of signing the contract without reading it carefully, and found out from one of the contractors who came to give me a bid that I should have received 3 consumer protection forms and that contractors are required by law to keep those signed forms for 3 years. If you ask RPC for those forms, they won't be able to show them to you because I never laid eyes on them, even though I initialed that I did.

I looked them up on your website and realized that I'd never seen them before.

 

I would like to know what it takes for the CCB to give a bad contractor a consequence for bad work and bad behavior. Or is that even something you do? At least you will have this complaint on file, for whatever it's worth.

 

Sincerely,

Pam Lewis

I did few plumbing jobs for these guys (RPC) they are crooks and dishonest.  I’m glad people are writing about what they do to people.  They caused trouble to many people.  This is speaking from my experience.

You didn't post what the CCB told her.  You didn't post the hygienist report. 

 

You didn't post the emails where Adam Blagg told her to use Terra Cotta tiles and she insisted on vinyl flooring.  That did not allow the porous slab foundation to breathe and water vapor swelled under the vinyl in her old house.  If she had followed Adam's advice it would not have happened in the first place.  She then wanted them to fix it at their expense.  Adam even told her he would provide the labor, but she would have to pay for the materials. 

 

You are consistent at your slandering.  You really have an axe to grind.  Nice try!

The CCB file: Pam’s story with RPC.  This is available at the CCB.  Public record!

 

Pam hired RPC, Silver Star Group, and All Star Construction to perform a repair to a water damaged kitchen floor.  This company(s) used sheet vinyl laid over a wood sub-floor in underground basement w/cement floor that is trapping moisture causing plywood subfloor to warp.  The previous floor that Pam always had was installed in 1987 and had never had warping problems before.  Basically it was fine for 24 years, until this outfit touched it.  RPC, Silver Star Group, All Star Construction, etc… One of them (your pick) actually admitted to Pam that it was an oversight and they should have known better not to use sheet vinyl on that floor.  Then they went on not wanting to take any responsibility for their mistake or have any pride in their work, even though they’ve made more than $44,000 on this job.    How despicable and dishonest……The least this outfit needed to do is honor the 1 year warranty they offered Pam in their contract.  Instead, they informed Pam that the problem is her fault.  They also bullied and harassed Pam and they even had their lawyer send her a letter. This is as low as it gets.

 

What a joke!!! RPC are showing e-mails that Pam sent to them to thank them.  One wonders ----- why would Pam send them e-mails to thank them at some point during the project of fixing her kitchen floor but then at a later time she exerts a tremendous effort and goes the extra mile to report them to the CCB and department of justice.  Hmmmmmm…….. Oh ---- we believe we have the answer!!!!! And we are certain that the audience have a similar answer:  It’s very obvious.  At first Pam thought that RPC, SSG, All Star, etc… were decent human beings and can be trusted, but then at a later time she discovered that they are dishonest and a bunch of crooks.  Analogy --- Satan, at first he/she appears to people as kind, nice, and as someone that can be trusted.  But then at some later time, his /her true reality of deception and evil surfaces and become clear to everyone.  This is consistent with what many families we spoke with who dealt with RPC, they described them as “Pure Evil”. 

 

Investigation and Analysis: 

So Pam had a floor that had no problems for 24 years, and when the floor got replaced by RPC, it lasted for only 5 months.  Hmmmmmm…. Isn’t this consistent with previous examples of lack of workmanship, poor judgment and incompetence??? It seems like anything they touch turns into a disaster.  What’s even worse is that they portray themselves as experts in the field of moisture and water problems… this must be a joke.

 

Pam had to pay another contractor more than $3000 to fix her floor even though she had a one year warranty.  It looks like RPC have trouble counting months (math issues!!) ------ let’s help them count months since they don’t seem to know how……. this is incompetence at many levels!!!!  RPC, you were done with installing the floor in June and the problem for that same tile you installed appeared in November of that same year.  From June to November is 5 months, just in case you have trouble counting!!!  Your warranty on your work for that floor you installed is 1 year… Just in case you don’t know ----- 1 year has 12 months, and if the problem occurred after 5 months then Pam is still covered under this warranty that you had her sign in your contract (you breached your contract), I believe the audience agrees.  Let’s see…. Should I do the math again so you would understand it??  RPC warranties appear to be useless; if you let them know of any issue related to their work they will threaten you or have their lawyer send you a threat letter.  RPC, it’s very obvious that you have unclean hands; actually you have very disgusting hands.  Now, why don’t you come clean and pay Pam the money that you owe her for at least fixing her floor that you did not install properly, and while you’re at it, why don’t you refund her and her insurance company some money for services you did not perform or overcharged for.  It is a shame what you did to Pam, how appalling and disgraceful.

 

So RPC conspired and sent one of their moisture experts to Pam’s home to inform her that the problem is not RPC’s fault.  Hmmmmmmm ----- This is after admitting what happened to Pam’s floor is their mistake. This must be another joke!!! RPC actually have experts???? In what, one might ask??  Oh… yes --- we know ---- RPC have some serious expertise in fraud and dishonesty schemes.  

In this case however, they did not need to admit, because it’s obvious that RPC are the ones that installed the floor and if anything goes wrong with the floor it would be RPC’s responsibility (it doesn’t take a genius or an expert to figure this one out).  But RPC clearly don’t take pride in their work and are simply dishonest.  Don’t you think that their experts should have looked at the job before it started to give the proper advice to Adam and Co. on how to do the job right instead of having Pam go through what she went through in dealing with RPC’s arrogance, greed, dishonesty, and abuse?

Another note from one of our Happy Clients:  They had been going through a serious battle with the insurance company at the time this was written and we were repairing their home while waiting for payment. 

 

You boys touch our hearts with your caring and personal generosity.  Thank you for always being there for us through this trying episode.   Marty and I have spoken, more than once,  a bout how you have made a terrible experience, tolerable.

 

Adam, you and Cameron do so much for us,quietly,behind scenes and Mike is here 100% giving the physical restoration his all.  We feel so blessed to know the Blagg Brothers!!

 

Have a great weekend.

Shirley Berg

 

 

A couple of e-mails from Pam Lewis:  Thanks Adam   Scott and Joe are incredibly hard workers, and your whole business ethic is coming through loud and clear.  It looks like I will be able to have ceiling lights.  It would be great to have the recessed kind, so I'll look around and see if I can find them.  Hope you're enjoying your weekend! Pam Lewis

 

Well Adam, you are amazing....I didn't even know there was a code clause in my policy that made the lighting situation doable.  I"m lucky I happened to call Robert, who happened to know you and hooked me up!  You and your crew are amazingly careful to consider all the aspects of this process.....like helping me put things away when everything is finished.  I thought I'd have to sort through all those boxes and put it all back in order.  I just found out that someone is coming down on Monday with floor and cupboard samples for me to look at.....which means I might not need to hit all the stores to find what I want!  That is incredible!  The time it took me last time to find flooring, formica, tile, etc. .........hours and hours....days and days of walking through Home Depot, and other stores trying to make decisions.  You will definately get strong recommendations from me!  Thanks Adam. Pam  Lewis

"badquality" you are just loose with the facts and a slanderer.  If we read your previous comments with the following comments to that then it becomes evident you are a slanderer. 

 

This is Claudia's complaint that you mention.  If we look at what you said previous about Claudia it looks as if she was harassing RPC and trying to get out of paying. 

 

You try to mischaracterize and slant like KATU did.   Remember Claudia was trying to not pay her bill on what she thought was a license technicality.  She happened to be totally wrong.  So of course she will try to make unfounded accusations of which you try to convince the reader that it is true.  Slanderer.  It wasn't moving sand around, another mischaracterization.  Slanderer. 

 

You make an issue of them having different names.  One is their commercial side, the other their residential side.  The other their corporate umbrella.  This is not at all irregular.  If you think it is then well, like the comedian Ron White says, "you can't fix stupid".  But hold it you are attempting to massage the reader's perspective by propaganda.  That's called slander.  So you're a Slanderer.  You obviously have an axe to grind. 

 

By the way the insurance companies operate under more names than I have paper.  What's going on there?   Hmmmmmm!!!  By your statements people should be suspicious and not do business with that type.  Hypocrite. 

 

People need to watch the documentary on You Tube.  It is called the "insurance Hoax".  It is a PBS and Bloomberg Markets Magazine investigation.  People should go to, "fightbadfaithinsurance.org".  With these you can see how virtuous the insurance companies and the lawyer that defend them are. 

And now ----- here comes Claudia’s story…

 

The CCB file:

 

Claudia filed a complaint against RPC/Silver Star Group/All Star Construction.  Hmmmmmmmmmm …….. Why does this outfit/these guys have so many names ---- I think they should pick up a couple more names or few more!!! (We thought of some really good names for these guys… But we will perhaps let the audience know these names at another time, maybe during another story when the audience will actually be able to participate in giving them those additional names.  But really… why do these guys have so many names??????  This is like a red flag/warning that tells anyone that there is something fishy is going on and you should think several times before you hire them!!!!!

 

Ok, enough said.  Let’s get to Claudia’s complaint that she filed with the CCB.  RPC moved some sand for Claudia in Waldport.  

 

This is what she said:

 

I would like to file a complaint for Silver Star Group’s deceptive practices on their billing and contracting and for failure to properly register their assumed business name.    Here is an itemized summary of my complaints.

 

But since the complaint is too long, here - we will give a brief summary to keep it to the point:

 

It took Silver Star Group’s crew an extensive time to move the sand.  Claudia had several sand removal jobs done by two other independent contractors.  For two of those previous jobs, the sand had piled up against the house and reached the roof (in comparison, the sand removed by RPC was only several feet against the back of the house).  She showed us a copy of the invoices for the two previous jobs, one of them was for $1250 and the other for $755.  Claudia also showed the invoice for a sand removal job where the amount of sand is comparable to that RPC removed.  For that job Claudia paid $612.50.  But when RPC did the job, they charged her in excess of $3500.  Wow ---- this is a 6X over charge!!!  Claudia also has pictures to show the amount of sand removed by the independent contractor and RPC… the amount of sand is about the same.  But RPC charged much more, even Claudia’s neighbors were astonished.  Claudia also said that RPC performed unnecessary work (as usual); several charges were excessive and unusual.  This one is interesting ---- They charged 2 hours for taking one machine off the truck, cleaning it and loading another piece of equipment up (They felt the new piece of equipment may work better. Ha!!  So basically, RPC came to the job unprepared, not even knowing which machine to use or how to do the job.  It took them a lot longer to do the job due to their incompetence.  Maybe RPC did not have another job to go to, so they figured out they can hang around for a while to remove sand so they can change the home owner more, When in fact if they were doing the job correctly they should have been done in a timely manner similar to that of the other independent contractor that charged Claudia $612.  It might have been best if RPC have received some training from the other independent contractor so they don’t waste a lot of time in removing some sand and then charge the home homeowner for all that unnecessary extra time.  Once again they false advertise their skill set.  If RPC does not know how to do something then they should just tell the homeowner they don’t know how to do it so they can hire somebody else who knows how.  People don’t appreciate being charged 6X times for a simple job like removing sand.  AT least RPC should have given Claudia a written cost estimate before they started the job so she would know not to hire them.  RPC did not do that. 

 

The reason Claudia ended up paying RPC that outrageous amount of money for removing the sand because RPC proceeded to use profanity, intimidate, bully, harass, and threatened Claudia.  See the e-mail sent by Cameron to Claudia (posted previously).  If anyone needs to learn more.  contact Claudia or the CCB... that's what we did.

 

The next story is about RPC’s horrific treatment and business misconduct of Pam Lewis.  Stay tuned..

The problem is not about the insurance company's its about people trying to milk the system at any cost to anyone.

Those of you who had your claim fully paid by the insurance company....COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS..of course your happy, You have not seen what happens when there is a balance left...even though you will be told your insurance will take care of it.....They charge for things they never even did, expect the insurance company to pay for it and when they dont..,....guess who they come after with a vengence??????

 

Someone who has 6 or so CCB reports and 9 cases filed in the courts in the Salem area (I will be checking up here in my area on Tues) is not someone I would want to do business with.

 

My Brother had the misfortune of working with these people......

 

Mr. Badquality,  No name still I see.  Hide behind the vale of anonymity you wimp.  Claudia did not want to pay the bill for work she agreed to on her beach house.  As you very well know.  Just another story of people not wanting to pay for the steak after they have ate it.  Her husband called me and made threats because he works for the government flying CIA guys around and Claudia called and made threats about us not working at OSU ever again unless they get a break on the bill.  The work was great!!  As usual.  So we told them to stuff it and pay the bill.  We did the work for the price agreed and had photos to back it up.  They then paid the bill because they owed it.  End of story.  So they filed some complaints.  We did not get  fined or warned not to conduct ourselves in that manner any further.  Why, because the state investigated and saw we were in the right and they were just cheap loosers.  People make stuff up all the time to try and get out of paying their bills and it is usually someone with a beach house!!  As for the school kids picking up asbestos, I think you have had a few too many or something.  We actually cleaned the place up for the kids?  Get a life you looser!!!

Wow, there is like 8 complaints against RPC with the CCB only … we will let the audience/reader know the story of each shortly.  I think we’ll start with Claudia’s and then proceed alphabetically …. Stay tuned

Sorry this is not a story!!  We’ll get to the stories after this:  Quality control --> to the Badquality of RPC

 

This is an e-mail (below) that was sent by one of the RPC guys.  It looks like his name is Cameron or I think he is calling himself Honey Badger.  They sent this e-mail to a woman named Claudia replying to some questions/concerns she had.  Claudia lives in Philomath, OR, We were able to contact Claudia (We will tell her story/complaint after this).  She also filed a complaint against RPC with the CCB and Department of Justice.  Anyone can retrieve the info, its public record.  Before I get to the e-mail, --------- Hmmmmmmm how do you know if RPC (Cameron and/or Adam) are lying?  Their happy fingers are near or on the keyboard of a computer… well – or obviously - their lips are moving!!! 

 

Waaawww RPC’s e-mail is unbelievable!!!  People, be aware, if you question RPC’s business practices or their billing, they will threaten to sue you, harass you, and use vulgar and obscene language.  How appalling.  Also I still can’t believe that they let school children clean up their asbestos blunder that they left behind at a school and did not properly dispose it… RPC’s negligence and incompetence is unheard of.  The parents of these kids are angry and may take RPC to court in a class action suit for harming their children.  They will definitely deserve it.

 

From: CameronIII@aol.com [CameronIII@aol.com]Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 12:26 PMTo: Hase, ClaudiaCc: allstarconstruction@comcast.netSubject: Re: comments from my attorneyIn a message dated 12/20/2011 12:20:53 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, Claudia.Hase@oregonstate.edu writes:

 

Cameron and Adam,Here are some comment from my attorney

 

1. The first issue is that their DBA Restoration Professionals and Consultants is only registered in Linn County. Print this out for your own records. (As an aside, that name is available for use outside of Linn county if someone wanted to file for it. They should be careful not to lose the name if someone else filed to have it as an ABN. I had that happen to a client once and getting the name back was a real pain for them).

 

No, we reside in Linn County, but our ABN is for the entire State.We will take you to small claims court anyway (as per the contract).

 

2. I also believe that the CCB requires that assumed business names (ABN) be properly filed and you could argue that they did not file their ABN properly so that they are not entitled to a lien.

 

Technicality won't cut it, even if it were true.

 

3. Also, in looking at their license on the CCB website, it appears that they are not carrying workers compensation insurance. It also appears that they list Mike Blagg on their time sheet as an independent contractor. According to the CCB, Mike Blagg is not licensed so cannot be a legal subcontractor. So, he would be an employee of Silver Star Group, LLC and they should be carrying workers compensation on him. The CCB will typically take disciplinary action against a contractor for failing to carry workers comp. Also I suspect that the other workers are not proper 'sub-contractors' either and that could lead to additional problems for them. It would be interesting to go through their payroll records to see if they are properly filing.

 

Again, he is wrong (you just paid him for nothing). Employees are leased, so if you file something with the CCB we sue.

 

4. I would file a CCB complaint for deceptive practices on their billing and contracting and for failure to properly register their Assumed Business Name.

 

We will sue and win.

 

Please respond to these important points, did you send a non-licensed person (Mike Blagg) to work on my property?

 

No, you dumb b*tch, we did not.We know what we are doing.Now, for the f*cking 5th time, leave us alone and pay your f*cking bill.Quit wasting my time you c*nt.If you can't tell, you are raising my blood pressure.

 

Cameron

 

Wow… This guy is rogue.  What a collection of thugs..

People and KATU especially need to watch the PBS three part documentary on You Tube titled, "the insurance hoax"

The first story is about the Palmer's. 

Info obtained from the Marion County Circuit Court in Salem Oregon. It looks like there are 5 cases involving RPC in Salem only.  

 

Palmer's were contacted.

 

The Palmers are an older couple in their late 70s.  RPC crew had the 79 year old woman in the kitchen signing the contract while they had her husband sidetracked in another room.  They tore apart their bathroom 4 times.  It took RPC 17 weeks to complete the repairs....to which the floor is still slanted.  The older lady said at one point they had to put their own toilet back in so they could use it. They are now in court against RPC.  The older couple are counter suing RPC for $85,000 for excessive senior abuse, lawyer abuse and some other stuff (RPCs lawyer actually sent them a threat letter… how pathetic).    RPC gave them an invoice with many items they did not perform.  For example they charged for removing a chandelier and replaced it when in fact they never did.  There are many more things they charged for that they did not do.  If anyone wants to learn more, just contact the Palmer’s they will be more than happy to tell you about their heartbreaking experience with RPC.  Hmmmmmm …… why did RPC tore their bathroom 4 times? Why not 5 times?????? I think they should have done it one more time!!!

 

More to come…  Stay tuned for the next story

Here is a copy of a letter sent to KATU from one of RPC's clients:

 

39091 MCKENZIE HWYSPRINGFIELD, OREGON 97478

PHONE: (541) 285-7384

E-mail Address: Nextgenerationpm@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

August 30, 2012

 

Re: The Blagg Brothers and RPC

 

To KATU Investigators,

 

My name is Jeremy Gourley with Next Generation Property Management LLC.    I am writing you in response to a story you aired about the Blagg brothers and RPC.  I was appalled by how negatively you portrayed the Blagg Bothers and RPC.   I have known the Blaggs for many years, and I know first-hand that they would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it. Adam and his brothers run a professional business.  They are a class act when it comes to restoration or construction. RPC and Allstar Construction are consistently giving back to the community.  In a time when most companies don’t care…they care and show compassion and support like no one else.   If it wasn’t for Adam Blagg and his brothers my family would not be where they are today.

 

In 2008, my uncle, who has a small Dairy in Scio, Oregon, lost his 15 year old son in a tragic farming auto accident.  A week later the community was helping my uncle replace his old leaky roof on his farm house when an unexpected rain came right after the old roof was torn off.  Water was everywhere.  Soaked all the way through the insulation and ruining the floors my uncle didn’t know where to turn.  He had just lost his son and now his house was falling apart.  His family was in serious distress.   Hours after Adam Blagg and RPC heard about my uncle they were on the scene.  They set up dryers and fixed the roof so my uncle and his family could go home.  They stayed and put the whole house back together and didn’t charge a thing.  They sacrificed time and money to help out a fellow Oregonian farmer in his time of need.  I can’t thank the Blaggs enough for what they did.  There is not too many people, and probably no other companies that would help like they did for free.  They truly blessed my family because they could.  Why don’t you tell this story!  They gave hope to my uncle when he felt extremely hopeless.   The Blagg’s and RPC are a rare breed of companies these days.  They need to be commended for their self-sacrifice and good will.  I hope you guys will re-air this story and get it right this time.

 

 

Respectfully,

 

Jeremy Gourley    

KATU,

When you revist RPC's story on the air, and further reveal what RPC are really about, please show the two stories of RPC's negligence below so that the people are warned and don't get harmed for dealing with RPC.  I think KATU were too kind and did not show enough facts about RPC's misconduct.  Much harsher words should have been used to describe RPC on TV.

 

I'm sure there will be more things to be found about RPC business practices.  I will contact the CCB, DOJ, and the courts tomorrow to retrieve public records of any case involves RPC.  I will contact the people involved in these cases and get their stories and show them here for every one to see...  Stay tuned.

Wow anothor one (see below).  This is starting to show that RPC are incompetent and false advertise with regard to their skill set.  They claim that they are experts when it comes to asbestos, water damage, etc…  hmmmmm.  It’s obvious that they are unprofessional and lack the knowledge to perform simple tasks such as properly disposing harmful materials.

 

News Release

For release: Jan. 10, 2012

Contacts:Bryan Smith, Environmental Law Specialist, Portland, 503-229-5395Dottie Boyd, Asbestos Inspector, Salem, 503-378-5086

DEQ Fines Albany Building Restoration Contractor $1,350 For Asbestos Removal Project Notification Violation

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued a $1,350 penalty to Silver Star Group LLC, doing business as Restoration Professionals & Consultants, Albany, for failing to provide the state with proper notification before conducting an asbestos removal project in a home in Corvallis last summer.

                                                    

On June 29, 2011 the company performed an emergency asbestos abatement project, involving 250 square feet of sheet vinyl flooring in the kitchen and laundry room of a home at 1132 SW Sunset Drive, Corvallis. As a licensed asbestos contractor in Oregon, Restoration Professionals & Consultants was required to submit an emergency notification and fee to DEQ within three days of starting the project. The company did not send DEQ the proper notification and accompanying fee regarding the asbestos project until nearly a month later, on July 26, 2011.

 

 The asbestos project notification requirement is important because it is the only means in which DEQ is made aware of asbestos abatement projects being conducted. Without notification to DEQ, the state would be unable to inspect such projects to ensure they’re being conducted safely and in compliance with applicable regulations.

 

In assessing the penalty, DEQ noted that this was the second notification violation by Restoration Professionals & Consultants in two years concerning an asbestos abatement project.

 

I also live in Waldport -  I feel my interview and pictures of damage were not aired because I said all GOOD things about RPC, which was true and still is. My Insurance claim was denied over the phone, with no photos, no adjuster coming out. I was allowed to submit a second claim 8/7/12 and RPC is supporting me while we wait for a decision. I feel they do very good quality work and are trying to help we older homeowners.

I just heard about this story and would like to comment on my experience with RPC. RPC was at my home within an hour of my disaster, not one but 2 within a week.  I have had nothing but professionalism from them. The problems I did and still am having is with my insurance company, Homesite Ins. through Geico.  I have had 4 adjusters all with different opinions on what should be paid and what shouldn't.  Homesite is so inconsistant I have no idea how they stay in business.  Cameron has gone to bat for me when dealing with them. Final invoices were submitted in May.  Within a couple weeks of submitting the invoices the company again switched adjusters.  All of a sudden I get a call saying they are closing the case and no more payments will be made.  Homesite had to put my family up in a hotel.  One adjuster reimbursed us for dining out.  All of a sudden they switch adjusters and the new one is refusing to reimburse me.  Cameron, at his companies expense, have called for an independent appraiser.  This is something they do not have to do.  The expense of the appaiser is supposed to fall on the homeowner.  I have nothing but good to say about RPC.  Everything was explained to me at the first meeting with Cameron including a lien on the property if payment is not received.  RPC is a business.  As a business they must run it as such.  Which means if work is done they get paid.  As a homeowner your utilities would be turned off for non-payment and the bill eventually turned over to collections.  RPC is no different. Pay the bill and you will not be taken to court.  Also, you have an option to contact the contractors board before you sign anything with a contractor to check to see if there have been problems.  You also have a right to ask for bids.  When the job is finished insurance companies ask for your signature showing the work has been completed.  If the work isn't completed to your satisfaction DON'T sign the form stating it's complete. I personally have had a good experience with RPC and the Blaggs.  KATU you really should be doing an investigation into how insurance companies tried to scam their insurers.  I might suggest you start with Homesite and find out why each adjuster has their own set of rules and why the company lacks consistancy in handling claims.   

I am one of the many subcontractors that have worked for RPC over the years.

I would like to cover four points: One, KATU did not fairly report the news. Two, the comment section is full of many seething people’s opinions, these people have never worked with or for RPC and they shouldn’t be commenting unless they have. Thirdly, I want to address the insurance company and their motives in this issue and finally my experiences working with RPC.

I believe like many news organizations today, KATU did an incomplete job in reporting the news on RPC.  As a minimum, they were sloppy in their reporting.  I find the majority of reporters today are trying to get a “sound bite” from both sides and move on to the next news story. I felt that this news story like most of what comes from KATU left me going Hmmm? I had to wonder who owns KATU and does some insurance company backs this news station financially.  KATU didn’t fill in the blanks; they didn’t look at the whole situation it appeared the whole news story was an incomplete rush to a predetermined judgment of guilty.

  As far as the comments associated with this new article this appears to be a dumping ground for people frustrations and only a handful of these comments are really about this company and the story. People have been hurt by contractors, but I can honestly say the work that comes from RPC is professional and high quality. They are not like the “drunk uncle” that put your sink in upside down.

When it comes down to the nuts and bolts of this story, I believe we are looking at “Big Companies” trying to silence the “Little Guy”.  RPC works in a tough industry, they are fighting daily the insurance companies that gladly take our monthly payments but cringe when there is a claim.  Doctors fight this same fight day after day.   We all know that insurance companies want to hold on to their (our) money.  They will lose “this” fax, pretend that they never received “that” information in the mail.  Every person reading this has had an issue with an insurance company in their lifetime; it is just what we all have to deal with at some point.  They are evil entities and unfortunately, they are necessary-evil-entities. The guys at RPC are the homeowners advocate, fighting to try and get the insurance to “pay-out” on your house claim and return people’s lives back to normal. 

My gut tells me that RPC has been fighting for the “average Joe homeowner” for so long, and has made some enemies with the insurance companies. RPC was actually making insurance companies pay what they were obligated to pay and some insurance lawyer is after them and is trying to smear their good name.  

Maybe a group of insurance companies have gotten together and have decided that anyone that makes waves and demands what is rightfully owed to a homeowner needs to be put out of business.  I am not sure but something doesn’t seem right and if KATU had done its job we wouldn’t be sitting here and thinking “something is wrong” with this story.

This story is bigger than RPC; this is the big insurance companies with their 500 dollar an hour lawyers picking on the honest small business. Is this that hard to believe, we see it every night on the evening news.   Are we really going to let them continue to do this???

Finally, my experience working with RPC was a great experience. They communicated with me as to what their expectations were. I was told how the job was to be done, and how to fill out the insurance invoices.  The company’s unwritten motto is “Do the job as if you are doing it for your grandmother” What company has that kind of ethics in this day and age?  The men that own RPC are personable, honest and are good men with good work ethics.  This is all I ever saw at the job site.

Oh BTW, did anyone call the CBB and check to see if these issues that KATU were referring to were RESOLVED.  I did, they were found innocent on all claims including the Asian woman in this story. Yet, KATU said this wasn’t true that the claims were still open.  How come the reporter said that? Something Stinks.

 

 

My first investigative question would be in regard to impartial reporting and whether or not KATU 2 is connected to the insurance industry in any way.   My second question, "Why would KATU 2 print hearsay, unsupported vagueness, from persons who will not give their name, or make a STAND about anything real?"   Cowards who refuse to give their real name, are just that - - - -

 

Why doesn't an Oregon resident have the same rights against an insurance company as a resident of Washington ?   And, what happens in Oregon when someone takes a Stand against an insurance group who has been known historically to buy legislative acts?   Maybe the same question should be asked in regard to mortgage frauds like Bank of America and Bank of New York, foreign corporations who are not required to pay state fees, have registered agents, and offices just like every other business. These foreign corporations are given special privileges by buying legislative acts.   Everyone is supposed to be treated equally, but; that is not so in this state.  

 

I have known the Blagg brothers for years, first through their Dad's artwork, and then through many contacts in regard to insurance company rip offs of the elderly, and the less privileged.  To a fault the Blaggs get emotionally involved fighting corporate corrutpion that is supported by the Oregon Legislature who appear to be bought at every turn by bankers and coporate lobby for special privileges not equally given to all you readers out there.  Making business personal often leads to personal frustration and that often leads to words spoken from the heart in a stand against wrongs.  One should not use short words, but; a rectal orifice still smells the same not matter what one calls.  A rose by any other name still has an odor.  Current corporate privilege granted by abuses in the legislature, and insurance persecution has an odor, and it ain't a rose.

 

KATU 2 would be better served looking at how Corporations are given special privilges by buying legislators, and the insurance companies who will hold nothing back to protect their unjust enrichment; all bought and paid for in Salem.

 

As to rouge agents inciting a homeowner to file complaints against a contractor who is doing all they can to prevent Elder Fraud by insurance companies -  The brothers Blagg care too much on a personal level and have made the mistake of taking on the Insurance Industry who are given legislative rights not available to an Oregon Citizen.  I know the Blaggs scare the insurance industry, and fear creates anger, and;  KATU 2 is a fear monger, who I hope is not really connected to the insurance industry!

 

I'll address only one of many bias by KATU 2 - every day their are 100's of liens filed because of non-payment, and there are court cases for non-payment every day because of whiners who will not be responsible, and expect someone else to take care of them and their obligation to society to pay for work done, Our Republic society, not enslaveing mobocracy practiced corporately via fraud in Salem.

 

What KATU should be looking at is the fact that the entire court system is a fraud under the acts of F.W. Benson Dec. 3, 1910, when Article VII was amended in fraud, and that standing case law states that the legislative body of Oregon is ". . .in rebellion. . ." and their acts utterly null and void.   So, it does not surprise me that the many would abuse the few Blaggs to keep mobocracy operational so that the Insurance Industry can continue to shear the old and the few, and work to find a few more corporate enfranchiees to confuse and confound.  KATU should be taking on a legislative body that is bought and paid for by BONY / MERS / RECONTRUST and the entire Insurance Industry - got money - buy legislation from the Salem Clique "in rebellion".

I am a sub-contractor that worked on the Humphrey home in Waldport ,Or. for RPC.  They have collected from the insurance company for the work I did, but have refused to pay me what is owed.  At present they have about $16.000.00 dollars of my money.  Adam Blagg is a very dishonest person.  Some of the e-mails he sent me are unbelievable.