Albert the Chimney Sweep in Valparaiso, IN Closed now

Reviews about Albert the Chimney Sweep

• ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

  March 18, 2020, by Mishi Kinakwa
  Albert Bailitz was hired to repair or replace 2 chimneys if necessary. He took my $6,000.00 deposit in mid-October and did not complete the job as of 12/30/14. I lost all contact with Albert both via e-mail or phone. He does not respond to voice mail either. I am forced to retain an attorney. I asked Albert Bailitz to look at my 2 chimneys and provide an estimate for repairs. He quoted me a price for replacement of both chimneys and drew up a contract. There was a $6000.00 down payment which I paid. Before he commenced work the insurance required that I get another opinion. Another chimney sweep contractor came and said the chimneys did not need to be replaced. I asked Albert about my findings and he said he didn't even inspect the chimneys and thought I just wanted to replace them for the heck of it. I corrected his misapprehension and asked him to draw up a new contract based on the actual damage based on an inspection. He agreed and actually broke one of the flues while inspecting thus requiring it to be replaced. The inspection proved that the chimneys did not need to be replaced at all (aside from the fact that he damaged one). He said he would give me the new contract to reflect the modified scope of work and I never heard from him again. He has my $6000.00, he did not repair anything (and actually broke a perfectly good flue), and has dropped all contact with me. I have retained an attorney to recover my money. The Chimney Safety Institute of America is sending Albert a certified "cease and desist" letter for holding himself out as a certified chimney sweep whereas he is no longer certified as of this year. He presented himself to me via his business card and the "Certification #2402" notation on his e-mails as a certified chimney sweep. I called to check. He is not. I asked Albert to look at my 2 chimneys and provide an estimate for repairs. He quoted me a price for replacement of both chimneys and drew up a contract. There was a $6000.00 down payment which I paid. Before he commenced work I decided to get another opinion. Another chimney sweep contractor came out late after my check cleared and said the chimneys did not need to be replaced. I asked Albert about my findings and he said he didn't even inspect the chimneys for damage and thought I just wanted to replace them for the heck of it. I corrected his misapprehension and asked him to draw up a new contract based on the actual damage based on an inspection. He agreed and his son Joe actually broke one of the flues while inspecting thus requiring it to be replaced. The inspection proved that the chimneys did not need to be replaced at all (aside from the fact that he damaged one). He said he would give me the new contract to reflect the modified scope of work and I never heard from him again. He has my $6000.00, he did not repair anything (and actually broke a perfectly good flue), I have no contract and he has dropped all contact with me. I am forced to retain an attorney to recover my money. For the second flue, Albert said that a wall pass-through must be reinstalled correctly which required a new T which !surprise! the manufacturer no longer makes which means that I have to replace the whole second flue too taking me back to square one of replacing all flues as he originally wanted. But when I called the manufacturer [Hart and Cooley Co] it turned out that an inexpensive old-to-new pipe transition kit exists. When I presented my findings to Albert, he admitted that this was true and that he didn't know about the new transition kit. For someone with decades of experience to forget or not know details like that is very suspicious. The Chimney Safety Institute of America is sending Albert a certified "cease and desist" letter for holding himself out as a certified chimney sweep whereas he is no longer certified as of this year. He presented himself to me via his business card and the "Certification #2402" notation on his e-mails as a certified chimney sweep. I called to check. He is not!
• ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

  July 07, 2019, by Fred Ronald King Jr
  Albert and his crew are not only professional and thorough but pleasant and courteous. A true gem in NW Indiana, I'm confident in their abilities and recommend them to anyone.