More complaints about bathroom contractor accused of cheating customers across the GTA

A bathroom reglazing company CityNews told you about back in August is facing more criticism from customers and appears to still be in business.

“They just painted our tub, took cash and never responded to our calls anymore after we found out the paint peeled off on the second day,” said Lilia Perevalov, who reached out to us after seeing our initial report.

Other people have come to CityNews with the same complaints.

The company, once called Shiny Bathtubs and Tile Refinishing, is accused of selling services to reglaze bathrooms. When done correctly, it’s a multi-step process where a special reglazing chemical is used on tubs or tiles to make them look new. It’s a cheaper option for many people compared to a complete bathroom overhaul.

“But they’re using paint, not the reglazing chemical they’re selling,” said Jesus Fajardo, who first reached out to CityNews about this contractor. He hired the company last summer and paid them $3,000.

“What I was left with was a mess,” he said. “Paint was dripping from the walls and onto the floor.”

As we initially reported, Fajardo and other customers have tried repeatedly to get refunds or have the company come back to their homes to fix the mistakes.

“I didn’t get any refund,” Fajardo said.  “Actually, my phone number was blocked by this business, so they don’t even take my calls anymore.”

Fajardo hired a lawyer who sent the company a letter demanding a refund. The company never responded to that.

“We tried to post negative reviews on their Facebook page but they’re deleted shortly after and then we were blocked from their page,” said Fajardo.

A social media user sounded off on this company using her own account back in March.

“Toronto & GTA stay away from this business they butchered my shower and charged me $550,” wrote Sonia Pacheco-Hernriques.

That post received more than 100 comments from other customers as well.

“Took me for $800 – worst job, promised to fix it and blocked me on Facebook,” said a man, who asked CityNews not to identify him.

We spoke with him on the phone. He said he hired the company last winter.

“The woman who responded spent about two hours in our bathroom, when she left, we saw the mess. There was paint everywhere.”

He says he reached back out to the woman, who told him she’d come back to fix it.

“That never happened,” he said. “She has since blocked my number.”

He and others have reported the business to Ontario Consumer Protection.

“But they did little, if anything to address this,” the man said.

Complicating things, the business name is not publicly registered with Ontario and has no business mailing address listed.

Also, shortly after our report aired, the company ditched its original name and changed it to Bathtubs Tiles & Refinishing. There is no official website or Google page. All marketing ads are posted to Facebook which directs customers to message them there or call a number listed in their ads.

CityNews has been trying for several weeks to get in contact with the owner but our multiple calls and texts were not answered.

We had hoped to ask them if they had a response to the complaints or were willing to offer refunds — our questions remain unanswered.

All customers claim the person who responded to their calls and came to their homes is a woman who they were told owns the business. They know her name but because the business is not legally registered with Ontario, we could not independently confirm her as being the owner through records.

“What she is doing is wrong,” Fajardo said. “All we can do is keep speaking out about this to help others make better decisions.”

Fajardo attempted to file a police report in Peel but a spokesperson told CityNews complaints about bad or shoddy work by contractors are not criminal matters. They encouraged customers to take their case to small claims court instead.

Fajardo is now working to gather other customers who share his experience in hopes to file a lawsuit collectively.

“I am working to gather as many people as I can,” he said. “This has to stop and knowing they are still operating, infuriates me.”

If you have an issue, story or question you’d like us to look into, reach out to us here.