Subcontractors claim City Carpet in Cambridge, Ont. owes them thousands

CTV’s Jeff Pickel hears claims from a group of flooring installers who say they are owed thousands of dollars for unpaid work.

A group of flooring installers say a company in Cambridge, Ont. owes them thousands of dollars for unpaid work.

Half-a-dozen subcontractors met up outside City Carpet on Hespeler Road on Wednesday, but the doors were locked.

The group has been getting vocal about their plight, including putting posts on social media.

“The reason we post on Facebook – just so no more contractors will fall to this,” Harout Sepetjjan from Purevision Contracting, said. Sepetjian said he is owed $14,000 from the last two years alone.

“Every time he has some other excuse. You know, he is sick or his business is slowing down, or clients are not paying on time. So just wait.”

Although no one was available at the store on Thursday, CTV News did receive a statement from the business.

“At this time, there is an ongoing dispute involving an independent contractor regarding payment and concerns related to workmanship,” the statement read, in part. “This matter is currently being addressed through the appropriate legal channels, and as such, we are limited in what we can comment on publicly.”

The company also said staff have face threats of violence and will no longer be working at the store for the time being.

“We do not tolerate substandard work or inappropriate conduct on homeowners’ job sites, and we take all such matters seriously,” City Carpet’s statement said.

City Carpet has been around since 1997, however one of the original owners, Noubar Saghdjian, died in 2024. The subcontractors said Saghdjian had a strong reputation and had formed long-standing relationships with them. But after his passing, they claim, things started to change.

Basam Yosif from Cambridge Woodwork and Renovation said those troubles are now impacting his day-to-day life as he claims he is owed $4,000.

“I don’t have enough money for [my] mortgage,” he told CTV News.

Yosif sold his van and family car because he didn’t have money for insurance.

Another contractor, Antonia Barbosa from ABN Tiling, said he is owed $5,000.

“Right now, work is not too busy now and I need the money,” he said. “It’s my money and I did the invoices, I paid the government already, the GST, everything.”

Vahe Sanjarian, owner of Sanjarian Inc., also claims the company owes him $48,000.

“[Carpet City] owes $48,000,” Sepetjian said. “How can you just ignore somebody that you owe $48,000 [to]? [Sanjarian has] been paying for his employees, for his expenses. It’s just not right.”

The installers said they are prepared to go to court.

“We know that we might not have the money from him, but the only thing – we don’t want any other installer or contractors to fall to this,” Sepetjian said.