Contractors file liens against Trump DC Hotel claiming they were stiffed out of $5M

[Jacque67 7,328]

Three contractors have filed liens against President-elect Donald Trump’s showcase Washington, D.C., hotel, claiming they are owed $5 million in labor costs, according to records.

The so-called mechanic’s liens were filed against the 263-room, five-star Trump International Hotel in November and December with the District of Columbia, according to records obtained by Bloomberg and The Washington Post. Trump has boasted that he completed the $212 million renovation ahead of time and under budget.

A statement from the Trump Organization to the Post did not specifically address the merits of the filings, only that “nominal liens at the conclusion of construction is not uncommon as part of the close out process.”

Trump, who campaigned as a champion of the American worker, was criticized during his presidential race for his long history of refusing to pay or only partially paying blue-collar workers and small-business contractors. He claimed that he was justified because some of the work was subpar — though he occasionally rehired the same contractors for later projects. He also told The Wall Street Journal that even if work was “OK, sometimes I cut them.” Trump companies also dodged payments to hundreds of workers and vendors by filing for bankruptcy protection six times since 1991.

Some of his contractors have said they were forced out of business because of unpaid Trump bills.

In the Trump International Hotel liens, Washington plumbing and heating firm Joseph J. Magnolia Inc. says it’s owed $2.98 million, and Maryland company AES Electrical Inc. has filed a $2.075 million lien. A&D Construction of Virginia says Trump International has failed to pay $79,700 for installing base and crown moldings, according to records.

[Jacque67 7,328]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/contractor-liens-trump-dc-hotel_us_586eda12e4b043ad97e2b7fe

 

but trump dined there last night with the Kushner's , Reed Cornish, and Farage ...who paid the bill???

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Big deal. What's $5 million. They should be honored to be stiffed by the Commander in Thief. 

[jg121783 3,921]

I see the article mentions he allegedly didn't pay certain companies who later did more work for him. If they were so unhappy with what they were paid why did they do business with him again? This article is probably leaving part of the story out. Considering the source that is not surprising. 

[eieio 1,594]

18 minutes ago, jg121783 said:

I see the article mentions he allegedly didn't pay certain companies who later did more work for him. If they were so unhappy with what they were paid why did they do business with him again? This article is probably leaving part of the story out. Considering the source that is not surprising. 

The Huffington post

 

The Huff is competing for the title of Fake News Leader.

 

Did you read where one of their writers competed in a marathon and cheated to take second? Yea…she took a shortcut, got on a bike and took second. Even accepted the award. 

[jg121783 3,921]

They run nonsense stories like this hoping their gullible readers won't put two and two together and figure out these contractors couldn't have been too upset if they came back and did business with Trump again. Most of their readers are pretty delusional so it works for them.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

1 hour ago, jg121783 said:

I see the article mentions he allegedly didn't pay certain companies who later did more work for him. If they were so unhappy with what they were paid why did they do business with him again? This article is probably leaving part of the story out. Considering the source that is not surprising. 

If you were familiar with the construction business you would find that this really isn't unusual. For some strange reason contractors will go back and do more work for someone who owes them money. I think they do it with the hope of getting paid the back balance and for the new work. 

[Jacque67 7,328]

Mercer's fools!!!

[jg121783 3,921]

4 hours ago, spookyturtle said:

If you were familiar with the construction business you would find that this really isn't unusual. For some strange reason contractors will go back and do more work for someone who owes them money. I think they do it with the hope of getting paid the back balance and for the new work. 

Actually I know people in the construction business and none of them would do another job for someone who didn't pay them. That is just foolish.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

1 hour ago, jg121783 said:

Actually I know people in the construction business and none of them would do another job for someone who didn't pay them. That is just foolish.

While it may be foolish, it is much more common than you think. 

[Dakine10 5,452]

18 hours ago, jg121783 said:

I see the article mentions he allegedly didn't pay certain companies who later did more work for him. If they were so unhappy with what they were paid why did they do business with him again? This article is probably leaving part of the story out. Considering the source that is not surprising. 

  It says the work was completed Dec 2016. What other work would have been done between then and now? The other source you haven't considered is Trump himself. He has a long history of allegedly stiffing construction companies and contractors. IK, it's going to be excuse time for Trump supporters again, but you'll have to do better than what you posted. 

[bcking 3,157]

19 hours ago, jg121783 said:

I see the article mentions he allegedly didn't pay certain companies who later did more work for him. If they were so unhappy with what they were paid why did they do business with him again? This article is probably leaving part of the story out. Considering the source that is not surprising. 

It also mentions that Trump would "rehire" people who he felt did "subpar" work, so it kind of works both ways. Why would you hire someone that did a bad job the first time? Oh ya, because you figure you can stiff them again.

 

I would tend to side with the small business contractors. They need work to survive. Perhaps they were in a position where despite not getting paid fully for the first job, they needed work so were really to try again in hopes they will be treated fairly the second time. If your choices are between taking that job, or having no work you would probably take the job.

Edited February 27, 2017 by bcking

[CaliCat 3,957]

2 hours ago, bcking said:

It also mentions that Trump would "rehire" people who he felt did "subpar" work, so it kind of works both ways. Why would you hire someone that did a bad job the first time? Oh ya, because you figure you can stiff them again.

 

I would tend to side with the small business contractors. They need work to survive. Perhaps they were in a position where despite not getting paid fully for the first job, they needed work so were really to try again in hopes they will be treated fairly the second time. If your choices are between taking that job, or having no work you would probably take the job.

 

From the guy who won't release his tax returns to his own employers, that is not really surprising.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

16 hours ago, spookyturtle said:

While it may be foolish, it is much more common than you think. 

Seen it in my work more than once -- the contractor is promised that he'll be paid for both jobs, if he'll just work again. Usually the person hiring has gobs of money, and the earlier problem with payment was an oversight, or disconnect with accounts payable, or just a temporary cash flow problem, or... or... If you're a little guy, and the guy you're working for is well known or well connected, it can seem like a good bet to make. 

[spookyturtle 9,466]

11 minutes ago, elmcitymaven said:

Seen it in my work more than once -- the contractor is promised that he'll be paid for both jobs, if he'll just work again. Usually the person hiring has gobs of money, and the earlier problem with payment was an oversight, or disconnect with accounts payable, or just a temporary cash flow problem, or... or... If you're a little guy, and the guy you're working for is well known or well connected, it can seem like a good bet to make. 

And it happens with small contractors and large ones. For a few hundred or a few million $. There are many reasons why this takes place.