HomeLatest NewsFeatured HomebuildersHome Buyer ResourcesBinding ArbitrationResource LinksSubmit ComplaintsView ComplaintsTake Action 101!Report Mortgage FraudMortgage Fraud NewsForeclosure NewsConstruction DefectsHome DefectsPhoto GalleryFoundation ProblemsHomeowner Website LinksHOA Reform
Main Menu
Home
Latest News
Featured Homebuilders
Home Buyer Resources
Binding Arbitration
Resource Links
Submit Complaints
View Complaints
Take Action 101!
Report Mortgage Fraud
Mortgage Fraud News
Foreclosure News
Construction Defects
Home Defects
Photo Gallery
Foundation Problems
Homeowner Website Links
HOA Reform
Featured Topics
Builder Death Spiral
Report Mortgage Fraud
Foreclosure Special Report
Mold & New Home Guide
Special News Reports
Centex & Habitability
How Fast Can They Build Them?
TRCC Editorial
Texas TRCC Scandal
Texas Watch - Tell Lawmakers
TRCC Recommendations
Sandra Bullock
People's Lawyer
Prevent Nightmare Homes
Choice Homes
Smart Money
Weekly Update Message
HOBB Archives
About HOBB
Contact Us
Fair Use Notice
Legislative Work
Your House

 HOBB News Alerts
and Updates

Click Here to Subscribe

Support HOBB - Become a Sustaining Member
Who's Online
ABC Special Report
Investigation: New Home Heartbreak
Trump - NAHB Homebuilders Shoddy Construction and Forced Arbitration

Organizing your community to bring public attention to builder’s bad deeds and seeking assistance from local, state and federal elected officials has proven to be more effective and much quicker for thousands of families. You do have choices and alternatives.  Janet Ahmad

NCPIRG Home Repair Victim
Wednesday, 05 April 2006
Don't Be A Victim: Home repair contractors
A report out says the law makes it easy for building contractors to take advantage of home owners. North Carolina's public interest research group (NCPIRG) is pushing for stricter requirements for contractors across the state.
WCNC NEWS 6
Don't Be A Victim: Home repair contractors
By DAN STARKS / 6NEWS
E-mail Dan:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
Even though she got a referrel, Rosa Burris said the person she hired to fix her home didn't do a good job.

A report out says the law makes it easy for building contractors to take advantage of home owners. North Carolina's public interest research group is pushing for stricter requirements for contractors across the state.

One reason why? - Johnny and Rosa Burris.

6NEWS Personal Safety Specialist Dan Starks has their story and a warning.

Rosa Burris has lived in her home for 20 years. In 2002 she and her husband noticed a crack on the outside of the house.

"I said I think we better have someone come out here and get this covered," Rosa Burris said.

After a neighbor referred Ron Pierce Construction they paid him $8,000 to fix the crack.

"I think they worked on it about a week. They dug all around the house and said that would eliminate it from cracking anymore,” Rosa Burris said.

But in less than a year the Burris’ noticed more cracks. Pierce responded to their first call. "He came out and said oh, it’s just the house settling. Well, in a couple of months it started cracking more," Rosa Burris said.

But the Burris’ say they haven't been able to reach him since.

“Now he won't respond to the phone calls. I've even sent him an email on his website. He didn't respond, we haven't heard from him," Rosa Burris said.

6NEWS tracked down Pierce. Investigators found him working with a newly formed construction company in Charlotte. He wouldn't agree talk to on camera, but told 6NEWS by phone he believes he did the work he was paid to do and denies having caused the cracks.

He couldn't recall giving the Burris' a five year warranty on his work, but they gave 6NEWS a copy of their guarantee. Rosa and her husband aren't the only ones complaining about Pierce.

“It is completely incompetent from every homeowner I've spoken with who has had experiences with him. His work has resulted in further damages to the home," said Rob Thompson with the North Carolina Public Interest Research Group.

The PIRG report names two other cases where customers claim they are out thousands because of his work. Since 2002, the Better Business Bureau has gotten five complaints against Pierce Construction. North Carolina's board for general contractors also suspended his license in 2004. But that doesn't stop him from doing more work.

That's because North Carolina only requires contractors to have a license if the project is more than $30,000. So legally, Pierce can still be hired.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous that he can have his license revoked for gross incompetence and gross negligence and still legally take on costly construction jobs," Thompson said.

And that's a warning for everyone. Even if homeowners get a referral, they need to do their own research. The law can't always guarantee people will get the results they expect.

Here are some other tips for homeowners: Check with the Better Business Bureau and the Attorney General's office about any complaints.


•Get everything in writing
•Be persistent
•Hire your own inspector and engineer to examine any problems

Have you had problems with a contractor? Email the PRIG at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
< Prev   Next >
Search HOBB.org

Reckless Endangerment
BY: GRETCHEN MORGENSON
and JOSHUA ROSNER

Outsized Ambition, Greed and
Corruption Led to
Economic Armageddon


Amazon
Barnes & Noble

NPR Special Report
Part I Listen Now
Perry Home - No Warranty 
Part II Listen Now
Texas Favors Builders

Washington Post
The housing bubble, in four chapters
BusinessWeek Special Reports
Bonfire of the Builders
Homebuilders helped fuel the housing crisis
Housing: That Sinking Feeling

Consumer Affairs Builder Complaints

IS YOUR STATE NEXT?
As Goes Texas So Goes the Nation
Knowledge and Financial Responsibility are still Optional for Texas Home Builders

OUTSTANDING FOX4 REPORT
TRCC from Bad to Worse
Case of the Crooked House

TRCC AN ARRESTING EXPERIENCE
The Pat and Bob Egert Building & TRCC Experience 

Build it right the first time
An interview with Janet Ahmad

Bad Binding Arbitration Experience?
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or call 1-210-402-6800

Texas Homebuyers
Fight for Rights

TRCC Abolish or Fix
or Pass Home Lemon Law
or
Homebuyers Bill of Rights

top of page

© 2024 HomeOwners for Better Building
Joomla! is Free Software released under the GNU/GPL License.