First Response

After a burst pipe in January they were contracted by my insurance company to dry out the moisture. Since the insurance adjuster was not physically here, they told me to sign the contract on their behalf. The work was done adequately, but beware of this company’s shake-​down tactics on bill collection. First, when my insurance company contacted them to ask for a bill, First Response denied they had done the work. Then they sent an invoice to the ins company for a ludicrously large amount without details. They did not respond to requests from the ins co for the details over 2 months. Then I was served with a Mechanics Lien for the whole amount of their bill plus legal fees– and I had never received any bills at all (they had gone to the ins co). Of course, I refused to submit to this, and told them so. They finally responded to the insurance company, submitted detailed invoices, and accepted a reasonable payment. All of this could have been avoided if First Response had done that the first time. Awful bookkeeping/​management, and also rapacious behavior toward an elderly woman, living alone– they just went for it. I wonder how many other people without business know-​how and experience have fallen for these tactics.