Action 9: Woman says she paid deposit for roof she didn't receive

A woman said she paid a big deposit for a new roof that she never received.

Tracy Plyer said her son's roof has been leaking since last April, when she hired a contractor to install new shingles. But after paying him a deposit upfront for materials, she said he never did any work.

“The only thing we've gotten out of the $2,800 is the tarp,” Plyer said.

The contractor is Al Reynolds of Angie R Construction in Fort Mill. He’s someone Plyer said she used to put on a roof before and did a good job.

“(I) trusted him fully,” she said.

Plyer said she exchanged text messages for weeks with Reynolds as he kept promising to do the roof.

“Now it’s to the point he won’t contact me at all,” she said.

Action 9 called Reynolds numerous times about Plyer’s money, but he never called us back.

Action 9 also went to Reynolds’ house in Fort Mill looking for him, but couldn't get past the locked gate with a “No trespassing” sign and a sign saying, “Warning.”

Action 9 talked to BBB President Tom Bartholomy to find out what you can do so this never happens to you.

He said don't pay a deposit until materials are delivered to your house, and then pay the balance when the work is completed to your satisfaction.

If the contractor still demands a big deposit, here's what Bartholomy would say to you:  “You're not their bank, you're their customer. You're not there to finance their business.”

Plyer now wishes she'd said that to Reynolds before handing over $2,800 and getting nothing in return.

WSOC