Sterling Group DKI (Disaster Kleenup International) is a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week general construction, fire restoration and water damage repair company offering complete reconstruction services to residential, insurance, industrial and commercial clients in western Washington. Based in Tacoma, we serve the South King, Pierce read more...
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Did not complete job in almost 2 years. Most of work that was done was not finished or did not live up to normal standards. Employee turnover was very high as we had 4 different project coordinators. They charge for items they did not supply (sinks, etc.) and their subs actually stole materials from our garage. We are considering reporting them to authorities for insurance fraud.
Storm occurred December 8, 2015; today June 23,2016; nothing has been completed by this company. This has been without a doubt the worst experience of my life (78 years). From using my handcrafter furniture to stand upon rather than owning a ladder, cutting trusses at varying lengths, splitting trusses with multiple nails because they couldn't put the nails through them straight. Estimated charges included 84 items at $6.18 which cost 17 cents at the local hardware store. Their contract protects them but is definitely not in t he best interest of the customer. Recommendation made by my insurance company USAA.
This is the text I submitted to the Better Business Bureau in Thurston and Pierce in April 2016:
The company is located in Tacoma Washington. Sterling Group DKI. We had a fire that resulted in a total loss. On the recommendation of our insurance company, we hired Sterling Group. They did start the work in December 2015, and I went to see the progress in early January 2016, but nothing else had occurred. I was assured the repairs were underway. I returned in early February, nothing had been done. The house was still the same as it was in December. The did put in an electrical panel, without a permit. They did put in a fiberglass tub, over a rotted floor, the did put in some framing, which didn't pass the City's inspection and had to be torn out and redone. They billed us $33,000 for work and material that was either wrong, not delivered, had to be re-done, or was done so poorly that it would have been better if they never did anything. I am now doing the work since Sterling has placed a lien on the house. In short, they want money for work they didn't do or work they did perform that was so bad it had be completely removed and replaced.
The scam works like this: They start work to a point where they feel the homeowner can't take over or hire another contractor. Sterling then stops work and says they won't continue until they have received full payment for the "Work". However, they bill for items not delivered and over bill for those items they did deliver. An example is the fiberglass tub. These can be purchased for $379. However, Sterling billed me $1,600 for the tub, and another $579 for refurbishing the tub. How much "refurbishing" does a new tub need? None. The windows were being billed at $2,900, but these are available for $1,100. So, I suspect in most cases they "Blackmail" the homeowner into paying, doing shoddy work, and leaving a disaster in their wake. I looked into this company, after the work started of course, and found they had their bond pulled in May 2015 and found others that had serious complaints about their business practice. So, I am not the first to have a serious complaint and problem with this company. So, be warned. It will not end well if you hire Sterling Group DKI.
I was in need of water damage repair and The Hartford Insurance Company stated they could not recommend anyone for the repair work but that Crawford Contractor Connection has a vetting process for contractors which should make them very familiar with working through insurance repairs and offer extended warranties. I was put into contact with The Sterling Group DKI, Tacoma, WA. as an approved contractor in my area. Unfortunately, DKI's lack of communication, professionalism and ethical behavior was stunning. My expectation that they would perform the work they had agreed to for the amount of money they had agreed to was proven wrong in a hurry. The following is a summary of my experience:
1. The scope of repair was defined and written.
2. DKI provided a written bid to complete the defined work and offered verbal assurances that everything would be taken care of if I chose them to do the work.
3. Contracts were signed based upon that information.
4. Shortly after work began the DKI project manager demanded more money with no explanation, just repeating the statement “It is what it isâ€.
5. During this time I repeatedly pointed out that DKI had missed flooring insulation damage and countertop tile damage in the project scope. They refused to come out and address the matter.
6. When I did not pay more and insisted on an explanation the project manager then tried to change the scope of the contract.
7. Now I'm very concerned so I left a voicemail for the project manager stating that work should not continue until he answered three questions:
a. Clearly explain why more money was necessary.
b. Clearly explain why changing the scope of the contract was in my best interest.
c. Clearly explain why DKI refused to address my concerns regarding the insulation and countertop tile.
8. After that, DKI ceased all work at my house and there was no response or communication of any kind from them.
9. I then wrote a letter to DKI manager Randy Crumpacker outlining my concerns.
10. The response I received was from Lora Osborne which in essence stated that the contract was meaningless, that I should pay them full rate for what work had been done and that the rest of the job was my problem.
11. My response was that I deal with contracts on a regular basis and that they are legally binding agreements.
Not once did anyone come by and discuss any issues such as why the bid may have been wrong or that something unexpected developed or what can we do to get things back on track. This sure felt like a shakedown, say anything to get the bid, demand more money after the job was started and when the money did not materialize they just walked away.
When viewed in context, the fact that they are only seeking payment for completed work simply reinforces their total disregard for contractual obligations. I am certain this is not acceptable behavior and have filed a complaint with Crawford Contractor Connection and the BBB. I've been a plant manager for over 16 years and my experience suggests that behavior this bad does not typically just happen, it generally develops over time.
Sterling Group DKI has a TrustRank of 1.2. The average TrustRank for other businesses providing similar services in Tacoma and the surrounding areas is 2.6. For detailed information on how TrustRank is calculated, click here.
The following elements are used to calculate TrustRank:
Customer Reviews | Last 12 Months | All Time |
---|---|---|
Total Received | 0 | 4 |
Approved | 0 | 4 |
Unverified | 0 | 0 |
Suspicious | 0 | 0 |
Overall Rating | 1.3/5 |
Complaints Received | Last 12 Months | Last 3 Years |
---|---|---|
Suppliers & Creditors | 0 | 0 |
Employees & Sub-Contractors | 0 | 0 |
Transparency | |
---|---|
Posted License Information | Available upon request |
Posted Liability Insurance | Not yet provided |
Posted Workers Compensation | Not yet provided |
Company Website | Yes |
Social Media Profiles | Not yet provided |
Endorsed by Peers | Not yet endorsed |
In Business Since | 2002 |
Member of TrustedPros Since | 2011 |
TrustedPros does not validate certain information provided by contractors and vendors in conjunction with the creation or maintenance of their profile and we cannot endorse or guarantee the performance of any contractor. TrustRanks are provided for informational purposes only. We urge you to use the TrustRank in conjunction with the tips provided in our Hiring Guide to maximize the probability of hiring the best professional for you project.
Alarm Systems, Awnings, Basement Remodeling, Bathtub Refinishing, Carpentry, Carpet Cleaning, Caulking, Ceiling, Concrete Work, Duct Cleaning, Electrical, Fencing, Foundation Repairs, Garage Doors, General Contracting, Handyman Services, Home Inspection, House Cleaning, Kitchen Remodeling, Masonry, Mold Removal, Painting, Paving, Plumbing, Power Washing, Property Maintenance, Roofing, Sewer Services, Siding, Stonework, Swimming Pools, Waterproofing, Welding, Window Cleaning, Window Treatment, Windows and Doors, Wrought Iron
Sterling Group DKI (Disaster Kleenup International) is a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week general construction, fire restoration and water damage repair company offering complete reconstruction services to residential, insurance, industrial and commercial clients in western Washington. Based in Tacoma, we serve the South King, Pierce, Thurston, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Aberdeen, Grays Harbor and Pacific counties.
Sterling is the first call when it comes to the most current restoration technologies. Sterling has become industry leaders by employing and investing in state of the art restoration equipment. Regular education and training for the company technicians and management is mandatory.
Sterling has the ability to scale rapidly through strategic partnerships to handle any size of loss no matter how vast the extent of the damage.
Fire Damage Services include:
Board Up
Smoke, Fire, Water and Mold Damage Reconstruction
Deconstruction (Green Certified)
Tarp and Shrink Wrap Water Proofing
Temporary Heat and Electric
Environment Stabilization
Smoke and Soot Cleaning
Odor Removal
Dust Cleaning, Deodorization, and Sealing
Full Content Assessment, Cleaning and Storage
Soda and Ice Blasting
Structural Evaluation and Cost Analysis
Complete Reconstruction
Ozone treatments
Fast Track Construction and complete
Reconstruction
Rehabilitation and ADA Improvements
Multi-Family and Hotel Renovations
Site Containment/Temporary Shoring
Intrusive Investigation/Selective Demolition, Deconstruction (green certified)
Emergency Power and Heat
Complete Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing
Interior Build Out and Finishes
Demolition and Hauling
High speed drying and dehumidification
Ultrasonic contents cleaning
Digital inventory and pack-out
Off site secure storage of contents
Water Damage Services:
Small and Large Scale Water Extraction
Complete Structural Drying
Advanced Dehumidification
Large Loss Desiccant Dehumidification
Specialized Wood Floor Drying Equipment
Electronics and Contents Stabilization
Infection Control (Hospitals/Health Care Facilities)
Daily Moisture Mapping
Thermal Imaging
Complete Reconstruction
Main contact(s): | Steve Hartmann |
Alternate Phone Numbers: | 360-533-3333 |
Listed with TrustedPros since: | 2011 |
Residential work: | Yes |
Commercial work: | Yes |
Warranty | No |
Accepts credit cards: | No |
Year established: | 2002 |
Offers financing: | Yes |
24 Hour emergency service: | Yes |
Legal structure: | Incorporated |
Licensing information: | Licensing information available upon request |
Insurance information: | Contact Sterling Group DKI to request insurance details. |
Check local laws pertaining to license requirements and verify license and insurance details provided by the contractor prior to hiring.