Alan Tony Ely

Austin –

Victim Location 60546

Total money lost $2,000

Type of a scam Home Improvement

A man came to my door and said that he had been doing some work in the area and had some "left over" material that could be used to repair the cracks in my sidewalk and porch area. He was driving a newer looking blue truck with the name Pro-Construction or Pro-Contractors on the side doors. He told me that he could give me a better deal because I was a senior and that he could do it for $49.00. I did need the work done so I said yes. Only once he started the work he said that it would be $49/lb. of material used. I had no idea how he was going to calculate the weight of the product used so of course did not have any idea what the final cost was going to be. The product was put on with a hand brush and mixed with water in a small container. He did take the time to "show me" that some areas would require two coats to do a proper job. When all was said and done I was given a bill for $2,000 for the application. There was no construction work – just "painting" over the existing walkway and porch area. The invoice appears to be an advertising flier for the company whose name was on the truck but the top part was torn off and the phone number scratched out and replaced by his cell phone number. On the back side he wrote that I paid $2,000 in full and that all work is guaranteed for 8 years. He also said that he would return in a week to bring me the proper paperwork to back the guarantee and also do any touchups "free of charge." Because I agreed to the work I paid him with a check made out to the name on the truck. He asked that I make out another check to him directly – even gave me his driver’s license to spell the name correctly. He was very anxious to get cash and said he could give me another "discount" if I could come up with cash rather than a check. He even went so far as to have the woman who was in the truck with him to see if there was a currency exchange in the area that was still open (Sunday afternoon) and whether or not I would be home to verify the check when the currency exchange called. I was not. He did manage to get it cashed the following day without any verification call. The work was done of April 8, 2018 and I have not seen or heard from him since. Once the product dried, the color is uneven and there are noticeable drip marks on the landing and I am not at all pleased with what I paid for.

Bottom line, I know I’ve been scammed in a big way and have learned a hard lesson. As a single senior $2000 is a great deal of money to have been ‘taken" from me and I hope something can be done to stop these practices in the future.

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