how to get assistance from home building fraud?
how to get assistance from home building fraud?
BidClerk.com (a consumer/professional construction job match site) matched me up with a scam/fraud artist that I had posted to build a small home around 700 sq. ft. They gave my home number to several contractors one of who was persistant. To shorten the story, I live on the GA side of the GA/AL state line. This fraudulent builder came to my house in GA and said he could build me this home for 50,000.00 which according to the plans, was reasonable, we signed contract, he presented license with company and references. I called Marvin’s Home improvement ctr who was reference and was to supply materials, they gave glowing reference as well as other ref. also I ran background, criminal and civil, both turned up negative for cases. I checked with his county of residence, still no court record. I hired him and within several weeks, he had made labor/material draws equaling 90% of contracted price for home. I phoned and emailed BIDCLERK several times when I became suspicious but they would never produce any information about him as he was an account holder. Although, they freely gave him my info. Turns out, he got locked up 3 weeks into the contract, he only completed 20% of project and had 90% of my money, 48,000.00 and I was out of a home and money. Turns out, he had NO license, NO Business, NO employees and alot of experience in this activity as he was already on probation for this with the state licensure board of AL. On probation for drugs, forgery and other charges, He had several Probation officers and was still free to do this to me. BidClerk.com will not take any responsibility even though they said my job was mislabled and is how he got my information. I did everything anyone could do in checking him out and even a business gave him reference and then turned against him later and withdrew from my project. He had no insurance either. I labeled all my checks to him what they were for but he didn’t have a bank account and cashed these large checks at my bank and used the cash for everything but materials. After he was locked up the last time, he just that day got 5,000 of my money and took it into court behind my back and they locked him up permanently that day. he had my check cashed and took 5,000.00 into Jail. 10 days later, I was filing claims with the State of AL and with authorities for fraud when the shell of the house burned to the ground in the middle of the night. He thought I’m sure would relieve him of responsibility since he didn’t think I could prove how much of home was completed. I had hired a home inspector he never met who took pictures just days before the fire which documented the house was only 20% and had major foundation problems.
In the end, I have no house, lost all my money, had to sell the land just to move from the nice apt into a low class apt building where I have been broken into 5 times by other tenants who were arrested and evicted. Every tenant in this building has stolen from me. It is not safe and is over 100 years old. I live on fixed income as I am disabled and this guy knew this as I was going to the Cancer center when he was doing this to me. He didn’t care at all and planned and frauded me with intent as he knew no one was around to stop him and I often did not feel well. I took him at his word. I have all documents. Even his fake license. They have locked him up. Could not prove arson although they know he had it done with my money, and I can’t sue him because he has his assets hid in families name. Cannot get, done spoke with 3 lawyers and it would cost thousands just to get it into court and I wouldn’t get anything in the end. Does anyone know of any resource, any entity or help I could possibly receive in community/state/government subsidized financially as I do not have any money now, live in a dump with criminals just like him, and have no hope of getting out of this mess. He just walked into my life, in weeks, destroyed it and legally walked off without so much as an apology. Seems BidClerk.com should carry responsibility but got flimsy half assed apology/excuse letter and that was that. Marvin’s Home Improvement Center also should be liable but again, they offered to testify for me but what good is that if I can’t take into court. If anyone knows of anyone who can help I would be eternally and bleed gratitude to you. I would die with the prayer for you in my mouth if you know of any way to help me out of this mess. Not well, I get sicker every day because I am so depressed and live in this environment. Had to sell most of everything I own just to survive. I was told to write to TV Home improvement shows but can’t find any and there’s nothing left to build on or fix. I have all documents and legal papers relating to this disaster and Blueprints and police and state reports. If anyone knows of anything or has suggestion, I would be so thankful to you.
Simply asking for knowledge of available resources for victims of Home Building Fraud. This case has been investigated by all state officials, State Attorney Generals office and Home Builders Licensure Board,
As was put to me, “this wasn’t his 1st rodeo” and criminals like this know more on how to cover themselves than honest people know on uncovering them.
I did all a consumer could have reasonably done with respect of checking. BidClerk.com took responsiblility in saying my job was “mislabled”, again, not my fault or to my knowledge. I question those who blame the victims as opposed to the criminals. Could make one wonder about their ethics if they believe any degree of trust in another human is “a mistake”. Reflection of their own moral compass.
Tags: assistance, building, Fraud, from, home
Under Forum
4 Comments for how to get assistance from home building fraud?
1. Realtoratheart | November 13th, 2010 at 7:42 am
You need to contact your state department of commerce and attorney generals office and the BBB and file a complaint. I would also file a complaint about this Bidclerk.com. You could also file a personal judgment lien against him, that shouldn’t cost too much in attorney fee’s.
2. Janet P | November 13th, 2010 at 7:53 am
I only skimmed this, too much useless information.
The website will not be liable, it was up to you to verify licensing. You should not have been able to get a building permit without licensing either. The building department usually checks.
Anyway, you contact your stats contractors board for help, they have a legal department that will help you.
As far as government handouts, you can check with the welfare department, not sure what kind of welfare you might qualify for.
3. rm | November 13th, 2010 at 7:58 am
When you use a website like this you agree to their terms of service and it’s up to you to do your own background checks to verify proper licensing, etc. And if I read correctly it sounds like you did check this person out and even received a glowing reference from a reputable supplier. You completed criminal and other background checks which came up clear. But what you didn’t do is check both states, you failed to to verify a registered business in this person’s name (this had to be the most obvious clue), and you failed to check the license information presented by the fraudulent builder and verify that it was a valid, real business license. It also sounds like you did not check at least three referrals of other home owners that worked with this builder directly. Instead, you relied on a supplier that has a vested interest in selling the supplies needed to build your home and assumed that because this person is a subscriber to a builder referral service that somehow it’s not your responsibility to read the writing on the wall. Alarms should of been sounding from every direction at this point. What’s also troubling to me is that all these clues were missed and you gave almost $50,000 to someone who at that point had only done 20% of the work.
That said, it’s clear to me your situation has nothing to do with Bidclerk or the supplier and in fact you failed to vet your chosen builder and failed to demand your project be completed and paid for in phases. You paid a known criminal with no working business license, no registered business, and no consumer referrals (he did even have website of his own?) almost $50,000 upfront and you got burned. My advice is to find an attorney that will take your case pro-bono or look for help at the legal aid society. Someone will take your case but you’d be best to invest your time, energy and resources in pursuing him rather than blaming other people for your mistakes.
4. Jay | November 13th, 2010 at 8:29 am
Dude, first, you got screwed on your answers just like your job. First, Home Repair Fraud/Home Building Fraud or any type of Fraud is a real and serious crime. Anyone can fall victim and none of us know everything (in spite of “rm” the last answer). Sounds like you did what you knew to do and I’m sure you didn’t just play russian roulette with your money. Secondly, heard other complaints about BidClerk.com lures onto their websites. Since you have went through all the proper channels, (State/Local law enforcement and State Board of Licensure, you should also go to the FTC (federal Trade commission) who takes fraud very serious. It is costly to pursue small claims with such an amount as large and doesn’t sound like he has any assets to collect. Some states have a special Fund (Not government hand out) ha, that can help a little. Don’t let these uneducated and desensitized nut jobs that answered this question add insult to injury. At some point and to some degree, almost everyone at some point will be taken for a ride and won’t see it coming. I don’t think you’re blaming anyone, just asking for resources to recover from a crook which again, most states have funds for just this sort of thing, also, there are federal and state victim assistance funds for just such scams. People should know this as much fraudulent home building/lending/repair scams that are rising up. Don’t get discouraged, you’ve lost enough and to the ones who take the effort in answering a question, make sure you know what your talking about and at least give a half-ass. Never know when you’re the next victim. Think it can’t happen to you?, Perfect attitude to make it happen. Good Luck and don’t give up. Make this guy pay so he will think twice about the next one.
Your not the first and not the last, the criminal should take accountability, NOT you. Forget the last answer, “rm” what a jerk!
Leave a Comment for how to get assistance from home building fraud?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed