Chorus of complaints against builder grows The list of complaints against a Kaufman homebuilder profiled in a recent News 8 investigation grows, but the individuals making those complaints aren't getting help from state regulators or law enforcement officials. When News 8 talked to homebuilder Robert Tidwell earlier this month, we had no idea how many people were mad at him. See WFAA Video: Byron Harris reports - See related story: The Partington's - Video: Byron Harris reports
Chorus of complaints against builder grows Wednesday, May 25, 2005 By BYRON HARRIS / WFAA-TV News8
The list of complaints against a Kaufman homebuilder profiled in a recent News 8 investigation grows, but the individuals making those complaints aren't getting help from state regulators or law enforcement officials. When News 8 talked to homebuilder Robert Tidwell earlier this month, we had no idea how many people were mad at him. Janet Cook was so angry she had signs printed that read, "I chose Texas Custom Homes ... don't make my mistake." That was three years ago; since then Tidwell's adopted two other corporate identities. Cook said Tidwell owes her $71,000. "He keeps telling people what they want to hear," she said. Subcontractors Jimmy King and Bobby Rodden said Tidwell owes them close to $10,000. "He always finds another sucker that's a believer," King said. Darci and Jason Lowery said Tidwell took them on two houses, one he was supposed to buy and one he was supposed to build. All told, the Lowerys said they've lost $127,000. "It's very frustrating, disheartening," Darci said. "(I feel) betrayed ... taken advantage of." Jason still has a $3,000 check Tidwell wrote them - a check his bank finds humorous. Said Jason, "We've actually had them laugh at us and ask us, 'Did that guy really write you that check for that amount?'" Tidwell claims he declared bankruptcy, but News 8 has learned the bankruptcy never was completed - meaning Tidwell still has a list of creditors claiming he owes them nearly $1,000,000. "Somebody's got to stop him," Darci said. More than one Kaufman County resident has approached District Attorney Ed Walton about taking action against, or at least investigating, Tidwell over the past several months. But Walton has taken no action. He did not return News 8's phone calls asking for an interview. Although Tidwell talked to News 8 earlier, he declined to discuss this new information. The Lowerys see him nearly every day, in the driveway next door. After they hired him to build their house, he built another where he now lives, but it is in his sister-in-law's name. That home is finished; the Lowerys have been waiting for theirs to be completed for months. E-mail:
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