In February we contracted with Paul Shepherd of Manufactured Home Foundation & Repair Specialists to move a double wide mobile home from north central TX to north east TX. He was to tear it down, move it, the wheelchair ramp/deck, and the storage shed. He was going to pour a concrete pad for the home, with tie-downs set into the concrete. All this for a mere $13,000.
In March, I gave him a "down payment" of $3000, so that he could "make sure that the truck drivers were hired". It should have been a red flag that he could not just go to a bank to cash my check, but went to a retail check cashing outlet where he had difficulties because I'd written him a check off of our stock account, not the regular bank. He brought it back to me, and like an idiot, I traded it for cash.
Toward the end of May, with the June 12 move date looming, we tried repeatedly to contact him to confirm that all was well and would proceed as planned. He did not answer his phone, and his voice mail box quickly filled up. On June 1st, I thought I'd try to confront him personally, and went to the address listed on the contract. There I found a private home that was for sale. One of his former neighbors informed me that he was, in fact, in jail for multiple DWI. He got out, and before I could try to find him, he got caught drunk at the wheel again, and as of this writing (October 09), he's still languishing in the care of the county. At least I know where to send the paperwork.
I'm in the process of taking him to court for the return of my $3000, but frankly, from what I am now discovering, it'll probably be a futile gesture. Seems that there are MANY judgments against him and his (now deceased) brother for fraud and theft.
IF he ever gets out, I sincerely hope that anyone thinking of hiring him finds this and other complaints logged against this man and runs for the hills.
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