I wanted to post this to help people out so they don't get scammed. I posted a few weeks ago about a bathroom leak in my master bath and needing some quotes on the work getting done. I went to Google and found several that had really good reviews. Too good of reviews for a contractor.

One of the owners of Premier Bathroom Remodel Austin named Ben to take a look and gave me a quote. He seems to really know his stuff and I confirmed with brother in law in NYC who is an architect to discuss the recommendations and he agreed he knew what he was talking about.

I called another company called Tile Pros Austin and oddly enough a guy named Ben picked up the phone and we chatted about the project. I didn't think much of it at the time but his voice sound very familiar to the first guy so much I asked if had the right number. Their quotes were very similar which isn't crazy to think about.

I have been chatting back an forth with clearly the same Ben who appears to be altering his voice a bit depending on which line he is on. When you look at their respective websites they have the same blog posts dated the same day. When you click on the profile of those who have reviewed the business it is obvious these are not real reviews as no other reviews show up from other local business they have visited to in Austin. Someone is paying someone in Pakistan or Easter Europe to post these reviews to get through the filters at Google. And all the reviews are from the past 4 months even though the business has been in business for longer according to Google.

If you are looking to have some remodeling work please avoid a Jewish guy named Ben from Brooklyn who moved a few years ago to start this business. When i spoke to him the last time I said "you are sure aren't the other Ben I have been speaking to?" He said he knows the other Ben here in town and they go to temple together and he is a good guy. What a coincidence.

I try to avoid all Bens.

I agree. I try to avoid myself but it isn't easy. I met a guy a few years ago who came into my clinic from NYC by way of LA. Very much an Italian guy from Brooklyn with a strong accent.

We get to chatting and turns out he is in the business of lending money. He talks about being new to Austin and wants to know if I need money to borrow for my business. I politely decline.

As soon as he left my office I look him up and he was in prison 9 years and had to pay back millions in restitution for the penny stock scheme that featured in Wolf of Wall Street.

I have no idea how he is allowed to run a business lending money to people knowing his history. Or how no one takes 5 minutes to look him up and want nothing to with him.

That's when I realized that Austin was really taking off when these types started showing up in town opening up businesses.

aggiederelict said:

---

I forgot to ask. Can anyone recommend a reputable contractor to remedy my master bath here in the Austin area?

---

I've heard good things about Nobens Construction out of Austin.

At least you found out about the Bens before you met the third one.....

Ben Dover

AggieOO said:

---

I try to avoid all Bens.

---

Especially if their truck is sporting a shiny new truck box from Craigslist.