Richie the Painter *Update - sort of

Anyone use him and have issues? He was here for 4 days last week and told us he would be back to finish the job and now he's not returning our calls and left our bedroom half finished. There is spackle showing that needs be to sanded and painted over, spots that haven't been painted at all, lines at the ceiling that are wavy and paint on the trim. DH is fuming.

Update: Richie called DH at some point over night on Sunday into Monday (late bc DH's phone was off) and said he would be here tonight (Tuesday) but never gave a time or anything like that. We have tried calling him 4x since to confirm and find out what time since we don't get home until 7 and there is about another day's worth of work to be done but again we've heard nothing. Let's see if he shows! 7:30 and still nothing!

Here are some pics so you can see some of what he left us with... is it the worst thing in the world? No, but we paid for a job to be complete and this is what we got. Our fault for believing he was going to finish the job on day four and not asking for money back when he didn't to make sure he would be back.

This was supposed to be sanded and painted over


High hats coming out of the wall and they have paint on them.


There are corners that he completely missed and didn't paint at all.


The line at the ceiling is wavy.


Another spot he completely just passed over.

Message edited 11/22/2011 7:32:34 PM.

Re: Richie the Painter

I'd be annoyed as well.

I hate jumping to conclusions and assuming the worst in someone, but ....is it possible some sort of tragedy fell upon him?

Did you already pay him?

Re: Richie the Painter

Yes, DH paid him the last day he was here when he first arrived thinking he was going to finish up so I was kind of surprised when DH told me had had to come back another day.

I do hope he's ok but I can't help but be annoyed.

Re: Richie the Painter

Message edited 11/20/2011 9:50:27 PM.

Re: Richie the Painter

I been googling..there is a Richie Rich Painting ad on craigslist that was flagged and removed. Was that him? I would then assume others had issues with him, as well. The number was (631) 348-7250 and his cell was listed as (516) 446-8087.

Message edited 11/20/2011 10:19:22 PM.

Re: Richie the Painter

I have to double check with DH but it was a 516 number. I got the rec from someone on LIF after I found out Willie couldn't do the work until after Christmas.

Re: Richie the Painter

I long ago was this? I gave my mom his number to do some handyman work. He gave her a price. She spoke to my dad and she called him to hire him. I want to say that was on a Thursday or Friday and I think he was going to start the following week. He never showed up the day he was suppose to. My mother didn't pay him though.

I want to say this was about a week or two ago. I also got the number from LIF.

Re: Richie the Painter

He started the job on Friday the 11th and was last here on Monday the 14th. DH spoke to him on Wednesday and he said he was going to call us the next day to confirm and we never heard from him. We've been calling him but no luck.

Re: Richie the Painter

I used him for some handyman work and he was great. I'm so sorry you are having an issue.

Let us know what happens.

Re: Richie the Painter

Re: Richie the Painter *Update - sort of

Bump for a quasi update and photos.

Re: Richie the Painter *Update - sort of

I'll never understand why contractors can't just commit to the work they can physically do and thats it!

Karma is a beotch! I hope you get your money or work finished.

Re: Richie the Painter *Update - sort of

how unreliable.

it's a shame Willie is so booked up. He's so worth it, but I understand the need to get things done.

Re: Richie the Painter *Update - sort of

I would have been better off waiting for Willie! Now this won't be done unless we do it ourselves! UGHHHH

Re: Richie the Painter *Update - sort of

Re: Richie the Painter *Update - sort of

Posted by LadyBugN2Buggies

Posted by gdubs

I would have been better off waiting for Willie! Now this won't be done unless we do it ourselves! UGHHHH

sometimes Willie gets a break in his schedule @ random, due to current clients having to rearrange the days he comes. I had called him in Oct but he was booked until the new year but said he'd call if he got a break in his schedule. He ended up calling me last week or so ago, and squeezed me in.


There may be hope - but act quickly, because I think he leaves to go back to Ireland for holiday.

I'm sorry this happened to you, though!

Re: Richie the Painter *Update - sort of

That looks like a DIY project, unbelievable

Re: Richie the Painter *Update - sort of

It's tough when you already paid him everything. I had the same issue with my electrician after paying him the full amount on the last day, he didnt bother returning our calls when we tried to reach him about a few issues.

I would report Richie to the BBB, write a bad review on him on every online review site you know - try google.com, yelp, citysearch, and even angielist even if he's not listed yet, etc.