Lonnie Herrington Jr. Roofing & General Contracting review: signed a contract and took a deposit to build a fence and never did the job 2

I contacted Lonnie in late July of 2018 about building a fence. After he came and measured my yard we agreed on a price and time line. As I have neighbors with dogs on 3 sides of my yard it was discussed that after I rip my old chain link fence down, Lonnie and crew would have 3 days to build me the new wooden fence.

I agreed to pay a deposit of $3500 to cover material cost since the project was to have such a quick turn around time. Balance for labor was to be paid upon completion.

When Lonnie tried cashing my check, the bank told him there would be a 1 week hold on the money. He contacted me and asked for an e-transfer instead. I obliged, but could only give him $3000, the maximum daily e-transfer amount.

The next day, Thursday, he came out, dug all the post holes and bought and delivered the 4x4 posts. Later that night, after he had left the job site he texted me asking to transfer him the extra $500. I agreed. He asked if I could make it $1000 so he could pay his crew before the weekend, with the promise that he would hustle and have the fence done on Monday. I agreed again and transferred him $1000 on Friday morning.

No show on Friday. Many texts throughout the day. First, excuses for being a bit late, then promises to be there in less than an hour. Four hours later, saying he's on the way.

No show on Saturday.

Showed up on Sunday evening, around 7pm with enough concrete to set half of the posts. Watching him spill "quick crete" all over my driveway I helped unload. He then asked to borrow my level and rushing against daylight set half the posts in concrete in about 2.5 hours. Very amateur job, posts cemented in the ground at varying depths without measuring the amount sticking out. As he was leaving I asked if the fence would be done tomorrow. He said it would.

That Sunday evening was the last physical contact I had with Lonnie Herrington. He never showed up on Monday.

Weeks went by, Lonnie MIA, not answering calls or text messages. When I finally got a hold of him, I asked for $3000 back. My deposit minus the $1000 I calculated I owed him for labor and delivered material. He told me if that's what I want, that's fine.

That conversation was over a month ago. I never got a dime back. There was no attempt on Lonnie's end to return my money. Just empty promises.

Lonnie Herrington is a scammer. I rushed into this project without googling him first. I see now that he has done the same thing to at least one other customer. DO NOT HIRE "Lonnie Herrington Jr. Roofing & General Contracting"