American Construction Group

As a member of the military, I believe in duty, integrity, and transparency. It is with a heavy heart that I share my experience with American Construction Group/American Pools and Fountains located in Hudson, OH which I hired for the construction of an in-ground pool.

I strongly advocate for a comprehensive research in public records before engaging with American Construction Group/American Pools and Fountains. My recent experience emphasizes the critical importance of conducting thorough research concerning the owner Bill Foster/William Foster III (owner) and the office manager Erica Perez (Shaffer).

Transparency is paramount, and delving into public records can uncover essential insights. Considering my own encounters, which has included missed deadlines and subpar service, reinforces the necessity for comprehensive research.

To make informed choices, I implore you to scrutinize public records such as the Summit and Portage County Clerk of Courts as well as as well as other surrounding Counties before proceeding with American Construction Group/American Pools and Fountains. I urge you to contact the Better Business Bureau as well.

My dealings with Bill Foster/William Foster III and the Office Manager Erica Perez (Shaffer) have been marked by a disturbing lack of discipline and professionalism. Their inability to provide services has been disappointing despite large amounts of money being paid to them.

In considering pool services, it is my earnest recommendation to exercise extreme caution and refrain from any involvement in this company. I STRONGLY advise seeking alternative options to avoid the distress and dissatisfaction my family and I have endured.

BUYER BEWARE!!! If this review is seen by any potential customers, I urge… no I beg you not to use this company. They are crooks!!! Trust me when I write that I am not the only previous customer who has had major issues.
My contract was signed in March 2021 and I was told a completion date of summer 2021. The summer went by and not a single communication… no calls, no emails, nothing. Suddenly, I get a knock on my door in November 2021 from two random strangers asking how they are going to get through my recently constructed fence. My response… “who the **** are you?”. Never once was I notified of them coming to start work or I would have been more prepared as far as the fence. Of course, I knew there would be yard damage and repairs. This was obviously expected, but never did I expect them to dig in my front yard where my leech lines are. There was never an explanation for this stupidity, not surprisingly.
Digging in the backyard was done and apparently so was their work. I did not see another worker until July 2022 and then, from there, September 2022. When I said at the beginning of this comment that communication was bad… I mean absolutely non-existent. Over the past year and a half, constant emails, calls and texts had been sent with no response or it was just constant lies. We had so-called “project mangers” that lasted a week at most. Then we had Erica, hahahaha Erica who acts as she is so overwhelmed and can’t handle anything… well no sh**, your company is a joke and all you do is lie. If for once we would have received a true statement from Erica maybe things would have been understood, or at the least we would have felt respected. She would use excuse after excuse and somehow try and make us feel bad, but I was not a customer who fell for the BS, nor do I think any of the other customers believe her garbage.
The best part of it all is that I got bills for overage in materials yet these materials (dirt,rock,sand) were being scooped up by their crews and brought, legitimately, up the street to another project. There is absolutely no explanation on how or why I’m paying for materials that are being used for a different project.
I can write this review and feel absolutely comfortable saying Bob Foster is running your typical “contractor fraud” and his little side kick Erica Perez is the mouthpiece. I cannot wait to see this company and especially everyone associated with it go down. It’s disgusting, unethical, and criminal what they get away with.

American Construction Group Performed a significant amount of work at the Sauer Residence. it rained the entire spring and the project started approximately 45 days late and it rained through the entire project causing significant delays. The scope of work doubled as we performed significant corrective excavation filling in a pond and re routing downspouts , excavating for a pole barn, excavating water lines , excavating electrical for pool and pole barn. Excavation of sewer lines. We installed over 500 tons of gravel and worked in monsoon rains and storms as the back yard was flooded weekly.
Mr Sauer was understanding and reasonable as he has been to this very day. I would prefer to stay on point and not address Mrs Sauer as it is our priority to satisfy all clients within reasonable conditions. Everyone who lived in this region would understand as there was literally 5 to 8 days of no rain from February to mid June. Mrs Sauer did not have a budget for decorative concrete and we offered to increase the level of services provided. We installed significant items outside the standard spec. Mrs Sauer’s company installed granite and Formica tops at our facility as part of a barter for work and the current work is not done and is not done to our satisfaction but not once did she care about her commitments. Her husband has always been the point of contact and could not be more of a gentleman. Everyone of our team members was appreciated and still is by Mr Sauer. Mrs Sauer does not realize the complexity of rain, mud and 30,000 lb machines. We set the entire job up for others success as the weather started to break in mid to late June and allowed us to finish the job. The entire swimming pool would fill up with dirt and mud overnight from monsoon storms rain and ground water. The entire site was a complete quagmire.
The electrician was used to pull all permits as Mr Sauer had several projects going on. He pulled all mechanical permits. The permits and the electrical and plumbing contractors were always to do the pool electrical from day one. The contractor was given a link to the directions on how to turn on and operate the equipt]mentor he installed and wired. The Sauer’s have a 3500 electrical line item in the contract in which we did all the bonding, underground electrical excavation and conduits and main electrical runs as well as as all low voltage lighting. There is allowances in place for all items. The electrician has given them a bill for his work. There is to be a audit of hours to be used against allowance so she was not given any bill from our firm besides the moneyed owed to our firm for items like concrete , slide, mechanical audit, added handrail, drainage, and pole barn concrete and excavation. There is still substantial monies owed to ACG and we have warranty services performed regularly and have been in communication with Mr Sauer. I was shocked to read Mrs Sauer’s review. In respects to the Sauer’s they are nice people as we all worked hard to please them and it was in the most difficult of environments experienced in 38 years.
We hope the Sauer’s will remove this terrible review and handle there financial obligations to our firm, repair work they performed at our offices in Hudson , ohio and finish the projects they started at our facility as well as they committed to this in early spring as well. There business is inside a controlled environment and we were not treated with the same level of care as Mrs Sauer’s has referenced to there business. Once again it difficult to work outside and manage all expectations in a environment we can’t control. We appreciate the work the Sauer’s have given us and wish Mrs Sauer’s a better year ahead..

I wish I had read the review from Kathy O prior to going into contract with Mr. Foster at American Construction Group. We are in the process of building a pool, pole barn, finishing our basement. We have excellent service from our framers, electricians, plumbers, landscapers, roofers, flooring, painters and drywallers. However we have had nothing but lies and problems with this Company. After giving Mr. Foster $30,000 in February to be one of the first pools he was going to start in April they started like gang busters. On April 24th, my pool was dug, the steel sides were installed and all of the prep work was done to allow the concrete guys to come in concrete the bottom of the pool. From April 24th on, we have experienced nothing but lies and broken promises. As of May 26, Mr. Foster had collected close to 85% of his money and we're still waiting on him to complete.

On July 9, we finally were getting our liner. A 2 1/2 month wait. When I asked about the pump being hooked up, I was told it was my responsibility to have my electrician install the equipment. I reminded them I was being charged $3500 for electric and plumbing. I was then told "we don't have an electrician in Columbus'. I had to hire an electrician to install my pool pump, pool heater, low voltage lighting, etc. All that should have been completed by the pool company. My electrician did what he could as he'd never wired a these items before. He was hired to provide an electric panel for the equipment to be installed, not to install the equipment. But had he not I would have had a pool full of water and no way to filter it.

Then when the water came and the entire pool was filled, we turned on the pump and nothing but mud came through all of the lines. Evidently you're suppose to blow out the dirt and debri from the lines prior to putting water in the pool.

Since, July 9, we still have no commitment on when someone will properly install the pool equipment. I've never been trained on the proper care and maintenance of the pool. I purchased a remote to control my pump, heater, lighting, and pool cover. That of course has never been installed. I've asked repeatedly asked about this and each time I'm given "I'll have to get back with you. This has been going on for three weeks. I have a pool, but have no idea how to operate my pool. I'm now getting white algea.

We've paid Mr. Foster in excess of $150,000 and was promised a pool in 4-6 weeks. "We're only working on two pools in columbus. Once we start we won't stop until the job is done. Once Memorial day came and went I was promised "Plan your 4th or July Party Paula" We're now heading into August and I still don't have a properly functioning pool.

I've encountered Mr. Foster on five occasions and each time he has his hand out. He lives and pays his bills on my money while I wait and fume. He refuses to return calls. He is the most unethical company I have ever worked with.

As an example at our first meeting Mr. Foster presented a quote for a 900 ft concrete driveway for $45,000. This was way too steep for us and therefore we declined. Mr. Foster then offered us "because we were such great people" a deal to provide a gravel driveway for only Time and Material. Come to find out a gravel driveway with only time and material came to over $50,000. Now if you Google cost of driveways, you'll find nationally gravel is approximately 1/2 the cost of concrete. Not in Mr. Foster's world, but everywhere else.

When he handed us the bill he offered to throw in stamped concrete. What he failed to understand is we were already over our budget by about $30,000 and just wanted him to provide us with a fair price for the driveway. It took us weeks to haggle with him over this.

On June 9, my attorney contacted Mr. Foster and he assured us he would be off our jobsite in 21 days. Well today is exactly 50 days and we are still waiting.

If I could give Mr. Foster and Amercian Construction Group a negative number for their review, the number couldn't be low enough.

My husband and I own a commercial cabinet company. We deal with contracts and contractors on a daily basis. In my opinion, Mr. Foster should be