246 West Curtin Street Bellefonte, PA 16823 (814) 355-9788 I hired Steve Ripka’s Excavating service in good faith to lower a driveway around an old barn and to excavate the old foundation once the barn was dismantled. 1. He accepted the job, but did not tell me that both of his dump trucks were in the garage and would not pass inspection. That is deception and acting in bad faith. 2. I specifically told him to not disturb the back yard as I was holding a wedding reception for my daughter there in three weeks. 3. He excavated rock and dirt to the equivalent of 7 or 8 tri-axle truck loads (what was required to remove the material eventually) and piled it in my yard and property while still not having a dump truck to remove the material. 4. He destroyed a large portion of my back yard with all the material stored there for days and when he did removed it, he cut away a significant portion of my yard despite the specific instruction by me not to do so. He informed he knew what he was doing as it needed to have a grade. I again told him I did not want a grade, only the driveway lowered, not the yard. He refused to listen. 5. Despite telling him not to park his vehicles on my neighbor’s property he did and I had to tell him several different times to remove his vehicles. He had no respect for my neighbors. See additional posting Michael Young

6. I gave him specific instruction to not back fill all areas of the foundation as I wanted those areas to remain open. He disregarded my instruction and back filled those areas. When I complained he told me I need drainage away from the foundation and I said that was not my concern at this time. I said remove the back filled area in question and he refused. 7. He charged me for hours he did not work; charged for two pieces of equipment when only one was running and charged labor for an a person who watched Steve work. 8. When I questioned him at various times, in his defense he said check with people I have done work for, but did not provide names. I checked with people in the construction business as well as having two people call me for a total of 5 contacts and all had negative things to save about Steve and his work. 9. Despite my problems with his work I acted in good faith by paying him his bill in full. I also provided him a deposit to start the work, again in good faith. I said I would write letter of my concerns about his work and charges and send it to him. I have done so and requested a partial refund of $1547.00 where I think he overcharged. The amount could have easily been larger but I gave him the benefit of the doubt, which he would not have done. Again, I am acting in good faith. I have heard nothing from him to date. That does not surprise me. I plan on pursuing further action. Michael P. Young