Scammer
Banned
Brenda Jensen said Langtry Co. has ignored her complaints about the poor job they did on her stone driveway
Several Ottawa families are flagging concerns with an Ottawa-area landscape and construction company they said cheated them and is now ignoring them.
Langtry Landscape and Construction Company, based in the Manotick area of south Ottawa, has a long trail of complaints about abandoned projects and shoddy work. It is also facing several lawsuits filed in small claims court from angry customers and former employees.
Brenda Jensen hired the company last summer to build an interlocking stone driveway. Today, the driveway built by owner Ryan Langtry's company features gaps where no stones were put down as well as unevenly laid rock.
"I feel ripped off," Jensen said.
"He doesn't care about the people and he doesn't care about his workmanship … he collected his money and he was out of here."
Jensen said she and her husband had to re-do the front steps because they were dangerous. The couple's repeated attempts to contact Langtry were ignored, Jensen said.
Lawsuits lodged against Langtry
Ole Gjerstad sued Langtry Co. in 2008, winning a $4,500 judgment in small claims court. Gjerstad said Langtry has ignored the court action so far, and he hasn't collected a cent of what he is owed.
Gjerstad hired the company to build a suite in his basement home, but said after a few days work Langtry's employees stopped showing up.
"He showed up long enough to be able to cash in his $7,000, having done about $1,500 of work," Gjerstad said.
"It's the first time I've been swindled, deliberately ripped off, and I've learned my lesson," he said.
One former Langtry employee is suing the company, alleging he worked the summer of 2009 to raise money for college tuition only to have his cheques bounce in the fall.
Another employee is also suing over a bounced cheque.
Ex-Langtry Co. employee speaks out
Joe Hall worked as a foreman for the Langtry Co. for two stints, first in 2009 and again in 2010. He said he disagreed with Langtry, but the job was so lucrative he kept quiet. Now he's chosen to speak out against the company, even phoning to apologize to some past customers.
"I rip people off," Hall said of his work with Langtry.
"I've stolen from people, I've hurt people."
Brenda Jensen said she suspected workers stole gasoline from her garage while they were working on her driveway. She said Langtry laughed off the allegation when she confronted him with it.
Langtry then asked her for a recommendation, Jensen said.
"Why would I keep my mouth shut and let someone else go through what we went through? I'm telling everyone ... don't hire Langtry," she said.
Ontario lists a Langtry Lawncare, registered to the same address as Langtry Co., on its Consumer Beware List. Langtry Company also has an "F" rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Langtry did not respond to phone calls, or answer the door at his business.
