Duane Cole

HAWAIIAN POOLS OF PINELLAS I have seen alot of things, but never have I dealt with a company like Hawaiian Pools of Pinellas. Let me tell you my experience, and about the pool installation as it stands as of today. My wife and I met with the Rep. from HFPP back in early March. We also met with about 5 others as well. So on March 30th, 2006, we signed a contract for HFPP to install a pool. In the signing of the contract, we were promised some things, including 8 therapy jets, free hayward navigator cleaner, fountain for in the pool, and the agreement that we may take the paver decking part of the contract out at any time. We were also promised that we would have a pool by May 15th of this year. As it turned out after 2 months of nothing, calls not being returned, and no one talking to us, I took it upon myself to start bugging them about the process. So I went to the office, and demanded to find out what was going on with the pool. They still hadnt even gotten a permit yet. The Rep. had been fired. So at the same time, I wanted to take the pavers out of the contract. So, they sent another person out to redo the contract. As it turns out, the origional paver cost was given to us as $6140, and the coping as $1700. The new Rep. told us that he cannot give us that, or take that much out of the contract. So he gave us a total of $6800. In that figure, he also took out the footer for $680. In the conversation he also informed us that we are only getting 4 therapy jets! And we should not be getting the cleaner and fountain in the cost. But he agreed to them. Mid June, our fiberglass pool was installed. The day of the dig, the foreman on the job was running around my house on a Bobcat loading dirt and doing wheelies, and slamming the back of the cat on the concrete driveway, and broke the driveway to the tune of a splinter break running 5 different ways. I also asked to keep at least 20 yards of dirt at the house for future use. I was only left about 8, and now the back yard is too low. They hauled the rest away. This brings me to the pool set. I was asked where I wanted the pool set. So I told them I wanted the top of the coping edge (at the pool) to be level with the threshold on the french doors. And the pavers to be no less than an inch and a half below the doorway. (At the door). Perfectly clear about this! When they set the pool they set the beam (top of fiberglass), even with the doorway. Now when I go and add 2 3/8" pavers at the pools edge, and slope the 6 foot to the house, I will be walking downhill 5 inches in 6 foot. UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!!!! This company is not registered with the better business bureau by the way. And have several complaints against them that are public record. The day of the pool set they also require you to pay what will be 80% of the contract, adding the deposit. In my case, this total was about 20K. After I gave them all this money, they did not show back up for a week and a half. The foreman told me the day of the set, that they should be done the following week, then the concrete would be done, and we were finished. As it stands now, the pool has turned green once already, and they came out and shocked it. No pump, the pool light is floating in the pool, there is debris all over the place. And by the way they also tore up the neighbors irrigation system. Still not sure what to do about the elevation, Im even considering thin pavers. If your considering a pool, take this word of advise. PICTURES< PICTURES!!!!!! And dont let to much happen without being there to watch. READ the contract. They think they are slick by putting in little things like they are not responsible for driveways, sidewalks, and other damage. But that does not give them a liscense for negligent, careless, and abusive practices in the installation process. Another thing, Never pay the contract in full until you are completely satisfied with the process and all damage or cost to you have been taken care of. They will want you to pay the day of the concrete pour, or they wont pour. Well, the jobs not done either. My ADVISE!!!!!!USE SOMEONE ELSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Duane Cole