Speakers Corner: Homeowners speak out after ‘nightmare’ home renovations

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This week, several homeowners from across the G.T.A. and southern Ontario, are speaking out about a general contractor they say took thousands of dollars from them but so far has failed to finish the work.

They asked CityNews to track down the contractor to get answers.

“Our money is gone. Our piece of mind is gone,” said Munish Malik from Richmond Hill.

He and his wife saved for two years to pay for several home improvement projects. In the fall of 2020, they were told about a man named Omid Abbasi from DreamLand Inc., a home renovation company. An employee at a local hardware store recommended him.

The Maliks agreed to meet with Abbasi.

“When he came to our home, he was very well dressed and well spoken and showed us photos of past work he did. He came across as legitimate,” Malik said.

Abbasi drew up a contract and promised to finish several home improvement projects by the end of last year. The Maliks paid $8,000 up front and $3,200 for materials.

“Out of that money, the only thing he did was put in new flooring but the work is bad and incomplete,” Malik said.

The Maliks say their kitchen countertop and sink was ripped out by Abbasi’s crew leaving the family of four without water for several days. It was eventually replaced but not by Abbasi’s crew. The Maliks say they were forced to hire a plumber and pay an additional $1,200 to the store where the countertop was purchased before the store’s crew installed it.

“Abbasi never paid the store for the materials I paid him upfront,” Malik said. “According to our contract, he was to put that in at no additional cost.”

The Maliks realize there are sometimes delays with renovation work but when they started to inquire about the unfinished projects, they say Abbasi refused to answer their repeated phone calls.

“I had to borrow a friend’s phone so he wouldn’t recognize the number, then he answered and said he would be back in a few days, that never happened,’ Malik said.

SEVERAL HOMEOWNERS SHARE SAME STORY

CityNews has confirmed similar stories with at least four other homeowners across the G.T.A. and southern Ontario who have dealt with Abbasi and DreamLand Inc.

“He got $12,000 from us,” said Terry Holliday of Niagara Falls.

Terry and her husband, Mike, moved from the G.T.A. to Niagara Falls and hired Abbasi to renovate their new home. Like the Maliks, they were also told about Abbasi from an employee at the same hardware store.

“He came in wearing what looked like a Gucci suit and was very professional,” Holliday said. “We first just wanted new flooring put in but he then said he could do a series of other projects so we agreed to give him a shot.”

They say Abbasi wanted $16,000 up front but the Hollidays agreed only to pay him a portion of that and the rest upon completion.

They say the work has still not been completed.

“He finished about 50 per cent of what he promised and even that has to be completely redone,” Holliday said.

Like the Maliks, Abbasi did not return their phone calls either.

“When we were able to get a hold of him, he’d make promises to come and see us in a few days. He’d never show up.”

“He has put us in a very bad spot. We had a very tight budget. Now we have to stretch and cut back everywhere else. I just don’t want him to do this to any more people,” Holliday said.

WORKERS SAY THEY ARE OWED BACK PAY

It’s not only homeowners speaking out. Several workers who say they were hired by Abbasi are seeking back pay for projects they did at several homes.

“I completed the jobs and he told me ‘oh I’ll get you the money next week’ and I never received any payment,” said Kenzel Mcnabb.

“He has lied to us repeatedly and now has blocked my number, I can’t get a hold of him,” Mcnabb said.

HOMEOWNERS HAVE CREATED A NETWORK

Many of the homeowners impacted have joined together to share stories on a WhatsApp group. They encouraged each other to file police reports and several have in at least four different regions in the G.T.A. and southern Ontario.

“We have also comforted each other because so many of us are financially strapped because of this,” Malik said.

It was through this network that the homeowners discovered the store employee who recommended Abbasi regrets her decision. She asked not to be named, but told CityNews Abbasi took $3,000 for work he never completed for her.

Abbasi’s DreamLand Inc. currently has an “F” rating on the Better Business Bureau website. The company has several bad reviews online as well. According to his LinkedIn page, Abbasi has created another company called Luxe Kitchen and Co.

Luxe is a common company name in renovation services but unlike those that appear legitimate, Abbasi’s new company has no logo or website that we could find online.

“I HAVE SEVERAL HAPPY CUSTOMERS”

Abbasi declined our request to meet and speak on camera but did answer our phone call. He told us some of the homeowners speaking out changed their requests for materials not agreed upon in the contracts which lead to additional costs and delays.

Those homeowners showed us the contracts, receipts and e-transfers countering his claims.

“I have receipts for everything too,” Abbasi said. He promised to provide proof of his claims but one week later, CityNews has not received it.

He told us those speaking out are the minority.

“I have several happy customers,” he said.

Abbasi later told us through text messages that the COVID lockdown has drastically delayed his work and he is committed to completing all projects. “Shops were closed and workers kept calling in sick,” he told us in text messages.

UPDATE: ABBASI MAKES NEW PROMISES

Shortly after CityNews reached out to him, Abbasi contacted both the Maliks and Hollidays giving them his word he would finish the jobs.

“After your phone call, he paid us a visit and sent someone in days later to do measurements,” Holliday said. “But that was last Sunday and we have not heard from him since. He’s made similar promises before but we remain hopeful.”

The Maliks were told their work would be completed by Friday of last week, but they say nobody showed up to do it.

At this point, they plan to move on.

“If CityNews did not get involved, he would never have responded,” Malik said. “It’s the same story with him, when someone contacts him, he’ll tell you the work will be done but it never gets done.”

“We have been ruined by this,” Malik added.

On top of filing police reports, the Maliks are now working with the Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Services. The agency has agreed to enter into mediation to help solve the dispute outside of court but the Maliks are waiting for Abbasi to respond to the agency first.

Mediation is a wise first plan of action according to Julian Binavince, an attorney with Levy-Zavat, who is not involved in any of these cases.

“If the contractor defends and you go to trial, it could be years before you have your trial,” Binavince said.

“The other option is we have a small claims court that limits cases like this to $35,000.  That’s also a great forum where a homeowner can get a result or a remedy at a relatively low cost.”

Some other advice from the professionals; always get at least three referrals before you hire a contractor. Don’t just talk with them on the phone but visit the home to see the work for yourself firsthand. While upfront deposits are standard to help protect the contractor to ensure payment,  Consumer Protection Ontario recommends you pay no more than 10 per cent of the total estimated cost of the project.

The Maliks say they learned their lesson the hard way. They’re now hoping their story helps others.

“I don’t want to see this happen to anyone else,” Malik said.

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