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Home Improvement Scam

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Home Improvement Scam Reports & Reviews (41)

- Saint Augustine, FL, USA • Dec 03, 2024
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Patrick Murphy of the company Viscount Home Improvement and PMC Home Improvement was hired for mold inspection for my 2nd floor multi-family home through Thumbtack website. He said mold was present but could remediate. I paid $2000. They said it was non-toxic mold and resolved. The service provided made the mold worst so I asked him to return to see, fix and identify the cause of the mold. When he returned he said the non-toxic mold turned into black mold. I learned later that he must’ve used a water based solution to spray on the mold which would make it worst. He told all the tenants to leave immediately because unsafe black mold was in the home. I believe he did that to show the extreme so it would scare me to pay more for the service although he also likely made it worst so I would call him back and he could ask for more money. He checked the roof and said it was termites and not serious but could fix. Then said he would come the next day to check. He sent a video of checking the roof for mold. Instead of looking at the roof he pulled off several large parts and damaged it without permission and then demanded $2500 for the roof mold inspection. I believe he wanted to stick me with a big repair so I would have to pay him to fix as I can’t have my house with no roof. When I spoke to him about charging $2500 without telling me advance and damaging my roof he became angry. When I refused, he asked for at least $1,000. I paid $800. When I returned home my full roof was damaged and the tenant had water entering due to the removed roof. He continued to harass me for more money and threatened to file a class action lawsuit with my tenants, put a lien on my home. I now have to get a mold inspector to do the correct job and also repair my roof due to the damage he caused.

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- Gainesville, VA, USA • Nov 07, 2024
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Scammer is a Hispanic male with a sleeve tattoo on his right arm. Scammer claims to sell 3 different garage door springs with the cheapest and lowest of quality among the springs being from China (comes with 1 year warranty), and a premium garage door spring from American Diamond (comes with a 5 year warranty). The scammer got agitated and combative when confronted because a google search could not find said springs. When asked to show where the springs are from the scammer claims that the springs can only be found at their warehouse. Scammer claims that they don't have physical receipts because their company changed policy so it only does electronic (email) receipts. Scammer gave a number that is never picked up when called

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- Springfield, MA, USA • Oct 29, 2024
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Located on Nextdoor app in Springfield MA, a scammer with a fake business trying to lure people into sending them money with promises of finding them local contractors to do work for them. You send money and they don't come through with the help or work they said they would. Person's name is Jose Dias who has done this type of thing in the past to consumers.

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- Manassas, VA, USA • Oct 24, 2024
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10/17/2024 - I posted on Nextdoor that I needed a water heater replaced. Michael Ganoe messaged me on Nextdoor to text him. We texted and he agreed tro come the next moprning to replace the water heater for $1450. 10/18/2024 at 8:36am - Michael Ganoe came to replace our leaking/non-working water heater and asked for $1500 for the materials. We paid him $1500 cash and signed papers that he took with him without us noticing. He left to go buy the water heater and he never came back or returned the money. He does not answer my calls or messages. He has done this to other people as discussed on Nextdoor. ***** ****** paid him $650 then he ghosted her as well.

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- Clarks Summit, PA, USA • Sep 24, 2024
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Mark Wilcox was recommended to me by a friend, (also scammed), to do some household upgrades. I paid him $2225 upfront. I had to go to Philadelphia to take my son for a medical procedure at U of P in Philadelphia and so I was in a hurry and did not follow my usual procedure with a new contractor. When I returned home, there was an open paint can with the brush and roller on the floor in my upper hall. He had done a terrible job, painted over a door hanger, left spots unpainted, etc. I told him I would pay him $900 and had him sign a payback contract for $1350 (which has a witness signature). He gave me a hard luck story and I gave him from March 6 to April 30 to pay me back. He never paid me. I tracked him down twice, took his license plate number, and left notes but I never saw him again. I spoke to the sheriff of Montrose, Lance Benedict, and he told me Mark Wilcox had scammed the Catholic church for $6000 and was in jail at the Susquehanna County Correctional Facility. That is the only address he has, he will be there for another week. Initially, I spoke with the DA's office, the police, and my local magistrate. None of the latter could help due to his lack of address. He has scammed many and while I doubt I will get my money back I do not wish for anyone else to be swindled by him.

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- Abington, PA, USA • Jul 22, 2024
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paid 4 down deposit on front side walk 1250.00 got a receipt cant gethim to come back

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- Ossining, NY, USA • Jul 11, 2024
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Hello

The scammer claimed they cleaned Chinmneys and I should clean my every 5 years. The person was trying to get my detailed information. The person knew my name and that is when I realized it was a scam after I hung up. I think they were trying to get my voice recognition and " YES" Once I hung up I realized this could have been a scam. Once I tried to call the number back to find out the business name I received the business is no longer in service message. The number was not 914 234 2583

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• Jun 27, 2024
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RKA Construction and Masonry, owned by Robert Karr (sic?) middle aged gent from Poland, passes himself off as an expert in everything. He is only expert in scamming home owners. And it turns out we are not his only victims. He pretended to renovate a pool walkway, destroying the new pool liner in the process, kept asking for more money and wrote weekly emails that he was about to deliver the pavers for the walkway. He ran off with the money. The drainage system he did put in, was laughable and had to be redone from scratch. Cost of his destruction -- $15,000. Cost of lost rental income for an airbnb due to cancellations, as pool was down -- $32,000. Cost of the work he never did -- $24,000.

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- El Paso, TX, USA • Jun 07, 2024
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Raúl René Cázares (CRICKET) came by the house on 05/03/24. He indicated he had extra stain and could make our driveway look beautiful. He also said he was a friend of my husband’s. We agreed on 500.00. He started the job, but left shortly thereafter. He did leave a young boy working for him that was going to complete the job. I walked out and saw there were many “blobs” throughout the driveway. The boy tried to clean up some of them, but there are still quite a few remaining. There were long patchy areas that he had skipped. We were having a party the following day and a porta potty had been delivered. He worked around the porta potty and said he’d be back early Monday morning (05/06/24) to fix the messy/incomplete job. As he was a friend of my husband, I paid him as he promised he’d be back first thing Monday morning. He never returned. The boy waited outside on the cement patio for 3 hours for him to return. He slept the entire time. I have called him and texted him repeatedly, to no avail.

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- Hopewell Junction, NY, USA • Mar 28, 2024
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The mentioned person in the complaint collected and amount of $27100 for a basement remodeling. The contractor after collecting the funds began to make excuses for not showing up to work and promising that he was going to send workers, but those workers never arrived. He promised to buy and drop off all material for the job and never did. He began work on October 2023, and it's the end of March nothing has been done for the past three months. Now, he hides and don't ever show up to job site. he is nowhere to be found. he disappeared with the money and the materials. RKA construction and masonry under Robert Kawowski, defrauded me of $27100.

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• Jun 27, 2024
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DITTO . pool renovation. $24,000 lost. in rhinebeck ny. june 2024.

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- Washington, DC, USA • Mar 17, 2024
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Owner claims to build cabinets, sent several photos of some cabinets that he built, but never started on my design. But ripped me off for a deposit of $3000 with a fake written estimate on the company letterhead. However, it has been reported to several government "consumer protection" agencies, that are actively investigating the fraudulent charges, and the return of my money.

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- Blanchard, OK, USA • Mar 14, 2024
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Hired BMC Construction (**** ******* to construct a rv cover. We signed a contract & he required 1/2 of the price ($5700) for materials. Wrote him a check for $2850 on 8-16-2023. He never started the project, and he never provided me proof that materials were ordered but told me several times they were. I called & texted many times to get work done or repay me the deposit. Neither happened, although he assured me several times that he would refund my deposit. Each time he would provide an excuse of why he couldn’t repay. This happened 3 or 4 times.i finally ran out of patience & have filed a lawsuit against him. Court date is March 22, 2024. Since filing, I have been contacted by another person who says he was scammed for $5000, & he knows of another person who was scammed for $10,000.

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- Orlando, FL, USA • Feb 18, 2024
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Scammer Name is Adalburto Santiago, he is using this company Name New Innovation Construction LLC invoice and his Kissimmee address as business. He is completely fraud. He came and took advance did bathroom job he was supposed to finished in 3 days took him 6 weeks and kitchen he have took money and never came to do it. Left some cabinets without any measurements or how it will fit have no idea about it. Had promised to give money back after that I have been waiting 8 months and now his phone is disconnected or switched off not picking up. He have took money from our friend as well and haven’t provide any service. He is carrying contractor ID but no people or company to work with. He goes in morning to find people by lows and get anyone to do work at your house. If he is carrying any contractor license it should be terminated because he is not a contractor and people should be aware of people like this. I have found invoice that he buy his cabinets and he have bought on some different company name and when I called that cabinet company, they don’t know anything about this guy who claims to work with them. I don’t have his social security no. But I have see he have cashed my cheque and I do have his Florida Driver license and I can put his no. And photo and I am providing you this information along with this complaint. His Florida driver license no. Is S532-000-55-266-0 and his Residence address on that license is 1601 West Oakridge Rd Apt#B

Orlando, FL-32809

Birth date is 07/26/1955

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- Media, PA, USA • Feb 08, 2024
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I was looking for a reputable locally owned business. I called 'Taylor and Sons' from Brookhaven who was open on the weekend. He came on Sunday and charged me $1500 for what I now know is a $650 job without a quote before starting the work. The job finished on Sunday and garage door broke again Tuesday. When I called back I realized no one was giving business names. So I asked the first person and I was told it was 24/7 garage services. I called the technician who tole me the business was on the invoice which was garage door services. Then I called the dispatcher which told me the company was Pennsylvania garage doors. The only place online you can find the number was a company called Taylor and Sons. That company does not exist anymore.

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- Lawrenceville, GA, USA • Feb 01, 2024
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Claimed home warranty maybe expiring or has already expired.

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- Alexandria, VA, USA
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Was in the market for a contractor to do some commercial renovations when David Bernal popped up on Facebook market place as Steven mayers selling his services. I called and was told that Steven was a partner. David and I spoke about what was needed and he came out to look at the property and wrote up a contract the next day. I signed the contract and have a deposit to start work. Little by little he would charge for materials and other services and never return to do the job.

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- Cabin John, MD, USA
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A person dropped off a flier off for Roof Assistance Hotline that claims to charge $6000 for a new roof. The company seems to be a scam of some sort based upon their marketing amd website. They have fake google reviews. They also had a referral letter from Mario (who the targeted peraon knew and did contact). He did give a referral when the targeted person asked about this company by name

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- Pompano Beach, FL, USA
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I get these about once every couple of months. They basically tell me they want repairs or home improvements on a home that is not theirs and they tried their scams this was one of them starting with him texting back and forth I actually went to the house and the lady that lived there said they just bought the house a year ago and they're not selling they have no idea what I'm talking about

This was texting.

I am Donald, got your contact on google as an home remodeling services in Lauderhill, FL. I recently acquired a new home, and your services that fall under your expertise. They include: -Interior Painting - Paving Installation - Door Installation If you offer any of these services, it would be greatly appreciated if you could kindly provide me with your email address so that I will send information to you, including necessary details for a give me an estimate.

What's the address

6440 NW 54th Ct, Mauderhill, FL 33319

There's no Donald as a property owner. Are you a homeowner?

I'm working on some documents

Okay when you when you're the homeowner let me know

change of ownership

Im at the gate can you buzz me in

what gate?

Im at the house

You won't be able to gain access i told you

I'm talking to the homeowner they say they don't know you or selling the house

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- Chickasha, OK, USA
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I met Dakota ******** at ********* ****** while I was inquiring to an employee about my rental property I was looking to hire a contractor for. Mr. ******** overheard our conversation and offered his personal business services. Mr. ******** emailed me his company information and we discussed what all needed to be done, agreed on a price, met up again in person and did a walk through of the property, and signed a contract for services. Mr ******** requested payment through cash app but I did not have that account, he refused a check stating he had a divorce suit and could not access his account and had to buy supplies to complete the job. He requested cash to pay his workers and to buy supplies up front. Two days later he requested more money and asked for the supplies to be bought so he could start the job. We denied extra money but we went ahead and purchased the supplies needed. He never picked up the supplies from OKC that I purchased, so I had to go pick them up . Three of his workers hung three pieces of sheetrock and we haven't seen him since. We have tried contacting Mr. ******** to get services rendered or money returned but he refuses to communicate and claims he is down on his luck.

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- El Paso, TX, USA
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HE WAS SUPPOSE TO PAINT OUR HOME AND SO DOME REPAIRS AROUND MY HOME, HE WENT AND PAINT THE OUTSIDE AND LEFT A MESS AND LATER ON SAID HE HAD TO FIRE HIS EMPLOYESS AND HE WOULD REFUND THE MONEY TO US. I HAD TO MAKE A POLICE REPORT HE HAS NOT ANSWERED OUR CALLS OR TEXT AND DID NOT DO THE JOB. HE TOOK 1700 FROM ME IN CASH AND SAID HE DID NOT HAVE ANY RECEIPTS AT THE TIME.

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