Cresco Couple Loses $45,000 After Home Improvement Contractor Bails on Project
Looking at price tags is not a pleasant experience these days. You would think that you would get used to fast food meals and children’s T-shirts costing double digits, but if you are older than 30, you can remember a time when ordinary items like these were more affordable, and the post-pandemic prices of consumer goods still don’t seem normal to you. Price stickers bearing painfully high prices are not the worst-case scenario, though. Even if a twelve pack of soda cans costs ten dollars, at least you know that when you swipe your card; the only way it can get more expensive after you buy it is if you use a credit card and the purchase accumulates interest, or if you use buy now pay later (BNPL) and run afoul of late fees. More painful than that is when you pay for a project, event, or business where even the most carefully drafted budget is subject to change; this is why most small businesses close after less than five years of operation and why planning your wedding is a dress rehearsal for handling financial conflict in your marriage. Home improvement projects are notorious for going over budget, especially do it yourself renovations. You might think that you can sidestep this problem by hiring a professional contractor, but it does not always work out. If you hired a home contractor who collected partial payment but left the project unfinished, contact a Philadelphia home contractor fraud lawyer.
Monroe County Man Faces Criminal Charges for Home Improvement Fraud
A couple hired Garry Dobson in June 2022 to build an addition to their house in Cresco. It was a major project, and Dobson quoted them $90,000; the budget included the cost of materials as well as payment for the subcontractors that he would need to hire. The couple agreed to the budget and paid him $45,000, equivalent to 50 percent of the budget for the project, as a first installment. Months went by, and Dobson did not begin work on the project; instead, he spent the money on personal purchases. He did not buy any materials or sign agreements with any subcontractors.
In September, the couple asked Dobson to return the money they had paid, but he refused; that was when they contacted the police. Dobson was charged with home improvement fraud, but he posted his $50,000 bail and was released from jail soon after his arrest. As of May 2024, his criminal case is still pending. News sources did not indicate whether other customers of his complained to police about him before or during the investigation into the Cresco project.
Contact CONSUMERLAWPA.com About Getting Justice After Home Improvement Fraud
A Philadelphia consumer law attorney can help you if a home improvement contractor defrauded you by taking a deposit but not beginning work on the home renovation project. Contact CONSUMERLAWPA.com to set up a free, confidential consultation.
Source:
wnep.com/article/news/local/monroe-county/monroe-county-contractor-charged-with-home-improvement-fraud-pennsylvania/523-b105513f-d2e3-4457-bc8d-11adac26e0d5
