We bought a brand new Palm Harbor home in 2000.in August we found out that our home had toxic mold. No wonder everyone in the hosue had been sick. We moved out of our 2400sq ft home and into a 26 ft travel trailer.
This all started because the house was not installed properly. After months of complaining they finally sent someone out to check our home and that is when we found out that our home was missing 53 lag bolts in our roof. There were also numerous holes in our roof that had been left by the set up crew. During the time the crew had our ridge cap off we received several inches of rain and it all went into the ceiling area of our home because the ridge cap (top ridge of the roof) was off.
In August we noticed that the wall paper was bubbling and that there was green mold under the trim. We called palm harbor again and they finally sent someone out. There idea of repairs was to pull the shingles back put caulking in the holes put the old shingles back on and that was it. The wall board and 1 piece of insulation was replacecd. They sprayed the mold and then planned to wipe it off and paint over it. This was not satisfactory with us and we complained. Our complaints fell on deaf ears.
We had the mold tested by 2 different companies and they both came back as high levels 3 different types of toxic mold.
We could not sue Palm Harbor due to being forced to sign an arbitration agreement after we bought our home.
It took almost 2 years to go to arbitration and they fought us the whole way. Their lawyers stated that we moved out of our home because we wanted Palm Harbor's money. When in truth we had worked with Palm Harbor for over a year trying to get our home fixed and the mold was just the last straw.
The expert witness that they used had testified for them in 6 other mold cases. So we were not the first and we will not be the last.
We lived in the travel trailer for 14 months and then built a 16 X 20 shed to live in. We did everthing that we could do to get our house fixed.
The store manager, Brian Rogers ignored us because the company that set up our home, Palm Lakes is owned and operated by his dad, Don Rodges. His brother also works for Palm Lakes.
After going to arbitration and watching the arbitrator fall asleep at least 4 times and Palm Harbors attorney's sleep and pick their noses we knew that we had been set up. The arbitrator called their attorney's by their first names which told us that they knew each other. The arbitrator made the statement that he would have his decision by Friday and the arbitration was on Wednesday. Our evidence binder was over 4 inches thick. He had made up his mind before he had seen or heard all of the facts.
I have tried to tell our story of 2 years and have left many problems with Palm Harbor out, but what I want everyone to know is that they and the American Arbirtration Association not only ripped us off but they destroyed our lives in the process.
The American Arbirtration Association decided that we should recieive $19,000 for a $83,000 home and no compensation for their GROSS Neglianc and nothing for the suffering that we were put through at the hands of Palm Harbor. They got away with lying, cheating and they did not honor their warranty.
Please do not buy Palm Harbor and DO NOT sign a letter of arbirtration.
Because the money is not enough to even begin to fix our home much less do the mold remedeation, we will have to continue to live in our 16 x 20 shed with our 6 year old son who along with us has lost every thing.
Just remember
Brain Rodgers
Don Rodgers
Kyesha Diver and the rest of the Palm Harbor employees you will have to atone for your sins of lying cheating and stealing from our family.
Kim
Montgomery, Texas
U.S.A.
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