Grieving families say monument company never completed jobs

GARFIELD (WABC) -- A man who didn't deliver on promises to grieving families is at it again.

7 On Your Side first went after this company last month when it failed to install a gravestone.

The last time 7 On Your Side tried to talk to the owner of Imbruglia Monuments in Garfield, New Jersey, he hid behind the door.

"What happened?" Nina Pineda asked.

"I had no excuse. I just dropped the ball," said Anthony Imbruglia, the owner of Imbruglia Monuments.

This time the headstone maker offered no excuses.

"Why am I back here?" Pineda asked.

7 On Your Side is back because last month we told you about a family's year's long wait for a father's gravestone to be delivered. Just a day after our visit, they got his gravestone.

Now, two other families saw our story, and both have the same depressing dilemma.

"It's hard because nobody, he doesn't deserve this and nobody does, we just want closure for the family," said Lisa Bergstrom, an Imbruglia customer.

Years ago her parents paid Anthony Imbruglia for a joint headstone.

They paid for the stone, the foundation, and the engraving.

But last year, when Stanley Mikolajczyk, a World War II veteran passed, she says she couldn't get it delivered.

"For my mother not to see her husband's headstone, it's terrible," Bergstrom said.

4 years ago, Joe Pych paid Imbruglia to have his Aunt Mary's date of death etched on to her stone.

"Here's a man that took my money and didn't do his job, for all this time, for 4 years," Pych said.

So long ago, when 7 On Your Side asked Imbruglia, he had no idea what we were talking about.

"What about Joe Pych?" Pineda asked.

"Who?" Imbruglia said.

"He's another person you owe money too," Pineda said, "This is pretty high on the hurtful list of what you can do to people."

Then he took off, but returned with a full refund for Joe. Joe paid another engraver to finish his aunt's tribute.

"I thought it would take time, weeks, months, and here it is within the hour, great results," Pych said.

And on the Fourth of July the rotten board was replaced.

"If it wasn't for you Nina, we still wouldn't have had this put up," Lisa said.

The Mikolajczyk monument was finished and fit for someone who served our country. Lisa snapped photos and videotaped her mom, seeing the job finally done.

Mr. Imbruglia told 7 On Your Side his business' financial problems are the reason for him letting his customers down. He said he plans to close his business at the end of this year.

She hopes her mom gets well enough to visit the gravesite in person soon.

Mr. Imbruglia told 7 On Your Side that money problems caused the delays. Remember, it's important not to pay in full and hold a final payment until the product is delivered.