Renovators turn tables on unhappy customers, seek more money after firing

Ashley Vaters and Steven Dawe couldn't believe what they were seeing when a UPS package arrived Jan. 4: the contractors who'd failed the couple were now taking them to court.

Mark Garland and Roger Leblanc are accused of shady practices, shoddy work now taking one client to court

Tori Weldon · CBC News · Posted: Feb 11, 2019 4:10 PM EST | Last Updated: February 11, 2019

Steven Dawe moved to Moncton with his young family two years ago when he left the military. He used his disability award to renovate his home to make room for a new baby but says he's now out $22,000 and completing the renovations himself. (Tori Weldon/CBC)

Ashley Vaters and Steven Dawe couldn't believe the notice that arrived in a UPS package Jan. 4: the contractors who'd failed the couple were now taking them to court.

Vaters's former renovators, Mark Garland and Roger LeBlanc, had filed a claim against her for $7,500.

"I thought it was a complete and utter joke," said Dawe.

She and Vaters hoped they were done with Garland and LeBlanc, the contractors they allege made off with about $20,000 in deposits, payments and supplies and left the couple with few of the renovations finished. And even that work was done poorly, Dawes said.

But a claim against Vaters, filed in small claims court by Garland and LeBlanc, is asking for $7,500, because of, in part, "wrongful dismissals of a signed contract for a renovation project."

"We were told by the police that the customer did not want us back on the job or their property, reason given to the police was because we were not done yet," the claim says.

I have to pay the $100 to defend myself anyway. I may as well try to get something back.- Steven Dawe

Vaters and Dawe have a different take on what happened. They have filed a response in small claims court, disputing the contractors' claim, and are making a counter claim for $11,370.97.

They weren't planning to file a claim against Garland and Leblanc.

"It seemed like it would be too much effort for what I would get back, but now I don't really have a choice," Dawe said. "I have to go defend myself.

"I have to pay the $100 to defend myself anyway. I may as well try to get something back."

Unfinished work

Dawe and Vaters said the contractors didn't finishing building the fence the couple paid for. (Stephen Dawe)

Dawe and Vaters were hoping to see their former renovators in court because of criminal charges.

The couple hired Garland and LeBlanc to do $38,600 in renovations last October.

They wanted a back deck and a six-foot fence in the backyard. Inside, they wanted the main floor reconfigured to add a laundry room and extend the bathroom. Upstairs they wanted the floor plan rearranged to make way for a fourth bedroom, a place for their unborn baby, due in March.

But by Nov. 30, the couple said, they had become disillusioned with their contractors over unfinished work, a difficult demeanour and spotty attendance. They said the final straw came when they realized they were paying for building supplies that were not in their house.

Went to RCMP

Dawe went to Elmwood Home Hardware and had all of his receipts printed off. He said a close inspection showed he'd paid for supplies, sometimes more than once, that had either been returned, with money going to another bank account, or were unaccounted for.

He called Codiac RCMP and asked a constable to call Garland and tell him to not come back, but Dawe said it wasn't because the pair were taking too long but because he suspected them of stealing supplies.

Dawe's name is not mentioned in the court papers, which are filed against Ashley Vaters. Hers was the only name on the two renovation contracts signed Oct. 20 and Nov. 1.

Vaters said her counterclaim is asking for the amount she and Dawe paid for supplies the couple did not receive.

She said she doesn't know where Garland and LeBlanc came up with their figure.

"He has no basis for his $7,500 claim."

Other customers win claims

Dawe said what little work was done in his home was done poorly. The final straw came when he realized he was paying for building supplies that were not in the home. (Steven Dawe)

Including deposits, the couple paid a total of $34,544.01, which would leave only $4,055 to be paid out between the two contracts anyway.

Roger Leblanc could not be reached to discuss his claim. Charles Garland said he wouldn't comment on the matter on advice from his lawyer.

Two former customers have already won small claims against Garland. He has told the CBC he is aware he owes the money, but does not intend to pay.

The CBC has spoken to another former client who also alleges Garland and LeBlanc took $47,000 for unfinished and shoddy work.

Customer Leanna Leger said she also called the police about the contractors.

Building bedroom themselves

Vaters said that because she's pregnant and "I'm ready to pop," the court clerk said the matter could be scheduled for later.

Despite paying out tens of thousands of dollars, they didn't get an additional bedroom they'd requested, so the couple are hard at work moving walls to build it themselves.

And, Vaters said, with the help of do-it-yourself videos on YouTube, they're doing a pretty good job.