Investors Beware: Fraud - Atlanta area General Contractor

Investors Beware: Fraud - Atlanta area General Contractor

David StewartPro Member
Investor · Smyrna, GA · Member since 2014 · 22 posts · 8 votes

Investors beware: I have been trying to get an Atlanta area contractor to finish a project that was only half completed.  I paid him for way too much of the job, and have subsequently found out that he didn't pay his subs.  The subcontractors have been contacting me about the fact that they will be filing liens on the flip.  I had not used him in the past.

This person also tried to obtain money via a claim of completion on an insurance roofing job.  (Not my job).  He had in fact not started the work, so it was easily rejected.  The fact that he tried it was mind blowing.

I have put in a bbb.org complaint and will undoubtedly be proceeding soon to legal action.  Any other suggestions for handling the situation are welcome, though I don't really want to be inundated with "do a better job picking contractors" suggestions.  I am kicking myself enough already and will undoubtedly lose a substantial amount on this project.

Bill Norris - AB Renovations

Don't say I didn't warn you, folks.  He has said he is based in Norcross but has been working west of the metro on my project.

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Investor · Alpharetta, GA · Member since 2015 · 241 posts · 185 votes
9y

The best way to stop this guy from doing more damage to others is to name names. The investor community is small enough that his jobs will dry up and he will go away - if not land in jail. 

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  • Investor/Realtor · Hoover, AL · Member since 2010 · 1k+ posts · 459 votes
    9y

    @David Stewart...Sorry about that situation..Tough lesson, but it happens...Keep it moving..GL 

  • Real Estate Investor · Miami, FL · Member since 2013 · 474 posts · 214 votes
    9y

    Thanks for the warning and also want to say I fully empathize. Same thing happened to us a few years ago on our first flip. We got careless cause this was our 8th rehab with the same guy and he'd gained our trust so we were giving him all our work. Did not realize that for quite some time he had started using money from our next projects to fund the completion of previous ones. Lost in the range of 40k, plus time and opportunity cost. Thankfully we broke even and weren't involved with any partners on that thing. Good luck to you!!

  • Investor · Alpharetta, GA · Member since 2015 · 241 posts · 185 votes
    9y

    The best way to stop this guy from doing more damage to others is to name names. The investor community is small enough that his jobs will dry up and he will go away - if not land in jail. 

  • Atlanta, GA · Member since 2016 · 57 posts · 16 votes
    9y

    @Richard Balsam Amen

  • David StewartPro Member
    OP
    Investor · Smyrna, GA · Member since 2014 · 22 posts · 8 votes
    9y

    Just to underline: name is named near bottom of the first post to help community avoid same problem: Bill Norris, AB Renovations.

  • Contractor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2012 · 176 posts · 103 votes
    9y

    @David Stewart, that sucks.  In regards to the liens, unless you were notified by the subs that they were working on the project via a Notice to Owner, they don't have lien rights (assuming you filed a Notice of Commencement).  Unfortunately that doesn't stop them from filing a lien, and you still have to show up to defend it, but without the Notice to Owner, they can't enforce a lien.

    I hope your experience with the BBB is better than mine.  I filed a complaint on an unethical cabinet supplier in the past and all the BBB did was send my complaint to him and ask "what do you say?", then send his response of lies to me asking "is this resolved?".  Then send my response back to him.."what do you say?"...."Is this resolved?".  Until I finally gave up.  It was a complete waste of time and made me realize the BBB was worthless.

    Good luck.

  • Investor · Alpharetta, GA · Member since 2015 · 241 posts · 185 votes
    9y

    @David Stewart - Thanks for the update to his name. I will do my part to spread his name around as someone to avoid. Sorry to hear of the problems you're having with this guy. Karma can be tough - it's just a matter of time for this guy.

  • Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2016 · 13 posts · 10 votes
    9y

    Thanks for the heads up

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