SAN ANTONIO – When Mike McBride signed the contract for a new solarium in May 2015, he thought the job would take about six to eight weeks.
Instead it took months for only part of the job to get done, for 70 percent of the price.
"Basically I got four holes dug for $28,000," McBride said.
McBride is one of six people who have filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau against Texas Elegant Sunrooms & Patios. The Better Business Bureau says the complainants allege they lost close to $130,000 combined.
McBride said he gave John Coley and his company $16,000 up front. He wrote another check for $12,000 when the holes were dug in November. But that's as far as the work got.
When McBride looked for more work to be done, McBride said "(Coley's) assistant indicated to us that they were filing bankrupt and that there was no money."
The Better Business Bureau says customers were told Coley had health issues, then that the company was going under and filing for bankruptcy. KSAT 12 could not find any recent bankruptcy filings for Coley or his company.
McBride's contract stipulated he pay 40 percent of the cost upon order and 30 percent upon the start of the work.
Cynthia Brune's said the same thing. In her case, that was more than $8,600. Brune says her covered patio got as far as having her old deck torn up and a new slab poured, which is now cracking.
"It's almost like they didn't even do it if I'm going to have to replace it," she said.
Coley and Tammy Gonazalez, who the Better Business Bureau says is Coley's business partner, were arrested earlier this month on theft charges based on claims by other dissatisfied customers.
Attempts to reach Coley by phone and at home were unsuccessful.
The Better Business Bureau released these tips for consumers:
Call for references: Ask all contractors to provide local references and find out if those customers were satisfied with the work performed. If possible, visit a completed project to inspect the quality of the workmanship. Look at more than what the contractor supplies. Ask the previous customers if the job was completed to their specifications and if it was completed on schedule.
Review your contract thoroughly: Be wary of high upfront fees. Make sure it includes all the materials needed to complete the job, an itemized list of all costs involved, any subcontracted labor and a warranty for all work performed. Beware of high upfront fees. Contractors may require a down payment before work begins, but it should not be a significant portion of the total cost. Instead, make payments that align with the progress of the work completed.
Verify insurance coverage: Find out if the company is insured against claims covering worker's compensation, property damage and personal liability in case of accidents. Verify coverage directly with the business' insurance company if possible to make sure you are protected.
Get everything in writing: Ask the contractor for a written agreement that clearly includes all of the project details. The contract should consist of: contact information, payment schedule, estimated completion date, materials being used and their cost, warranties and any specific promises. Never sign a blank contract or any contract without reading it thoroughly. Keep a copy of the contract after the job is completed in case there is an issue.