Citizens of the Laurentians are complaining about their private snow removal contract.
TVA Nouvelles went to Sainte-Sophie to ask Yanik Riopel from landscaping company BGE questions.
Over the past year, the company has been the subject of several complaints about failure to provide services to customers, including snow removal, earthworks and fencing.
According to TVA Nouvelles, around ten customers say they were defrauded by the entrepreneur and his wife of amounts ranging from a few hundred to $5,000.
“I gave Yanik Riopelle $5,000, but the damage caused was even greater,” says Pierre Chabot, a customer. He had commissioned BGE Landschaftsbau to do lawn and concrete slab work.
“The formwork was poorly made, everything has sunk in, the concrete slab is a maximum of one to two centimeters thick. My fence is completely covered with concrete, the corner of my house is destroyed and my chimney in my garden is destroyed,” he explains.
Several customers have complained on social networks and are revolting against Yanik Riopelle. Some also claim to have filed a complaint with the Sûreté du Québec.
People are not meek and customers do not hesitate to talk about alleged fraud.
Meanwhile, Yanik Riopel did not blame the complaints on the subcontractors to whom he allegedly entrusted the work.
“The subcontractors closed and I gave up [l’argent] her. They're closed so I can't get the money from them. […] It is difficult to get money from subcontractors when they are not there,” he told TVA Nouvelles.
He assures that he doesn't owe hundreds of dollars.
“At the bottom of the contract it says, “No refunds.” […] “If something happens, he will call the police, he will call the investigator,” he tells our journalist before slamming the door in his face.