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The Truth of Where I’ve Been | My Contractor Scamming Story
It was a seemingly normal day when I decided to undertake a much-needed home improvement project. Excited about the prospect of renovating my living space, I began my search for a reputable contractor to turn my dreams into reality. Little did I know that this search would lead me into the dark realms of contractor scams, deception, and a lingering sense of betrayal.
After numerous phone calls and online research, I finally settled on a contractor who seemed professional, knowledgeable, and had an impressive portfolio of successful projects. Their website displayed impressive testimonials, pictures of stunning renovations, and an array of services that appeared to suit my needs perfectly. Without hesitation, I eagerly hired them to start work on my home.
However, as time passed, alarming signs began to emerge that the contractor was not what they seemed. Initially, there were minor delays in starting the project, with excuses ranging from inclement weather to unexpected family emergencies. Despite my growing concerns, I gave them the benefit of the doubt, assuming that these were genuine obstacles beyond their control.
As weeks turned into months, the issues escalated. Communication became increasingly sporadic, as instead of returning my calls promptly, they would only respond after multiple attempts. Unanswered questions and vague explanations further fueled my growing suspicion. On rare occasions when the contractor did show up, it seemed like they were rushing through the work, cutting corners, and using subpar materials.
The turning point came when I discovered that the contractor had not obtained the necessary permits for the project. This revelation struck me like a punch in the gut, shattering any remaining trust I had. It became evident that I had fallen victim to a contractor scam, and I wasn’t alone. Online research revealed a trail of complaints from others who had also been deceived by this contractor’s false promises and lack of professionalism.
Realizing the magnitude of the situation, I sought legal advice and reported the contractor to the relevant authorities. Unfortunately, they seemed to have disappeared into thin air, leaving behind a trail of unfinished work, broken promises, and a significant financial loss. The emotional toll was equally devastating, as I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of betrayal and betrayal from someone I had entrusted with my home, my personal space.
My story is not unique; contractor scams have become increasingly prevalent in recent years. In an industry where trust is paramount, these unscrupulous individuals take advantage of homeowners’ dreams and vulnerability, leaving them disillusioned and financially burdened.
To protect oneself from such scams, it is essential to do thorough research before hiring a contractor. Check for licenses, read online reviews, and ask for references from past clients. Trust your instincts and be cautious if a deal seems too good to be true. Obtaining multiple quotes can also provide a better understanding of fair pricing.
Filing a complaint with your local consumer protection agency and reporting the scammer to the police can help prevent others from falling victim to the same deception. By sharing our stories and raising awareness about contractor scams, we can contribute to a safer, more reliable industry.
As for me, I’ve learned a hard lesson about placing trust in others without conducting proper due diligence. While the scars of this experience remain, I am determined to rebuild my home and my trust, vowing never to let anyone take advantage of my dreams again.
Can we start a go fund me?
I am so glad to hear that you've got a good contractor now! Also you're a way better person than me, I'd be naming and shaming the scam contractors at every chance I got
I am so angry for you. I can’t imagine the stress and frustration. I hope those contractors get their fucking karma. I’m going to rewatch all your videos for more views. Sending positive vibes. ❤
I am so sorry you’re going through this love! Hugs….~Lisa~
We ALL have chaos in our lives and we have to learn how to navigate & manage it so it doesn't swallow us whole & steal our happiness. This too shall pass.
My mom had 2 contractors, 15ish years apart, scam her on house renovations. First one disappeared and left her 8 months pregnant w me, in a house with no roof or back half of the upstairs, and she had to get the project finished to have rooms to put me and my big brother in.
Second time was redoing the kitchen when I was 14, contractor got like 80% done and just disappeared. Not as bad as yours! But it was still incredibly stressful for her, she's a nurse and did not have the money to find another contractor and start over. Managed to get it done, and found out in the process that the first guy cut a bunch of corners and things aren't holding up :/
It's been 20 years since the kitchen, and now she's trying to redo her deck, and we're petrified about the contractor disappearing on this job too
My name is Sarah Barber, I'm on my dad's phone as mine is broken. I am so sorry about your contractor experience. It's really brave of you to share and will no doubt help many people. Scam artists are professional con men. They are really good at getting you to trust them. I am glad you no longer feel you were to blame. You were not!!! They say all the right stuff and constantly refine their methods of cheating and lying. You are not being fake by getting on with your life and advertising stuff. You are getting on with what you do, you only feel bad because you are so honest and real. I hope sharing this helps you with your health matters. Be really gentle with yourself and keep being you. Slowly your energy will come back, it may take time but keep being kind to yourself and it will happen. I know a few people who have been scammed including myself and the shame is such a destructive and negative emotion. I am glad you have been able to share your story which will help you move past that. All these negative experiences will ultimately make you a much stronger person in time. Mistakes are how we learn. I sincerely wish you the best and look forward to seeing more of your content. I've only just discovered you. You are very talented. All the best Sarah. X
I hope you are filing a lawsuit against the people who scammed you. Even if you don't get your money back, Having them cited so they are unable to buy anything large without you getting paid first is important.
Did you not sign a contract? This is why you always sign a contract!! Literally no matter what always sign a contract!
Im sorry you were scammed and taken advantage of
Morgan Adam's went through a comparable thing with shady/scam contractors. Recently a lot of progress has happened with the home she bought. If you think it might encourage you and help you feel less alone, I highly recommend checking her content out.
Love your content so much and I'm hopeful the story arc of this getting resolved will be a wonderful journey for you that you will get to share parts of.
Hi! I’d love to donate to a go fund me or something if you have it!
I am so so so so glad that you have found new amazing contractors! I wish I lived closer. I just wanna grab coffee and let you chat and give you space to just be. Don’t have much experience, but would totally be down to help where I could.
Hey Emily, first of all, I’m so sorry this happened to you! But it seems like you are in good spirits now and it’s only onwards and upwards from here ❤ I can totally relate with your feelings regarding avoiding social media. In January this year I lost my sister unexpectedly due to tragic circumstances and I too had to completely avoid social media. Seeing all my friends share their happy moments with their families was just a constant reminder of how broken mine was and I really couldn’t deal with it. To add salt to the wound I also had a contractor rip me off when I had paid them to do work on my house (which is also a higgilty piggilty mess in terms of building code) they took my money and essentially ghosted me and I was left pretty distraught. I’ve now saved up a bit of money and had a trustworthy contractor fix up what they did. One foot in front of the other girl. I love watching your content and I hope you’re healing. Thanks for the honesty, in a world full of toxic positivity, it is very refreshing. Much love xo
I’m sorry this happened to you, but so glad you found someone you can trust. Sending you so much ❤️
Im from an area that experiences hurricanes, and it is insane how many people get scammed trying to repair their homes after they flood. Im saying this to say that you are not alone, you are not crazy. I’m so sorry that this happened to you, and I hope these new contractors are as good as they seem, and hopefully even better 🙂
A big point in your video is that we can't really know anyone just from what they post on social media. However, I still feel like you're a pretty nice person. And I KNOW that you're an incredible designer. You definitely didn't deserve any of this horrible sh*t happening to you and I wish you the absolute best moving forward. I can't wait for you to get through all of this and for you to get to live comfortably in your dream home just as you want it to be.
so sorry this happened to you.
I love your channel.
PLEASE READ: if you are scammed, you can contact your bank and report the charge as fraud and get your money back! People, please get your money back when these scumbags scam you.