Look out for home improvement schemes

Better Business Bureau

CHARLOTTE — Spring is the high season for home improvement scams.

The home-improvement industry is consistently in the top five types of businesses that receive the most consumer complaints each year.

Complaints to the Better Business Bureau about home -improvement contractors include high-pressure sales tactics, confusion over contract terms, poor workmanship, incomplete job performance and over-charging.

The BBB urges consumers to be wary of contractors who promise services at cut-rate prices. They may show up at your door or put fliers in your mailbox.

"All it takes is a business card, a cell phone, photocopied flyers and a hammer for someone to run their own contracting business," said BBB President Tom Bartholomy. "However, there are thousands of reputable contractors in our area who will deliver quality work, on time and within budget."

You can check out a company with the BBB and get a free Reliability Report on a business by visiting www.bbb.org or by calling 1-877-317-7236 toll-free in the Carolinas or at 704-927-8611.

The Better Business Bureau has the following advice for homeowners who hire home improvement contractors:

- Consumer research: Check with the BBB to see if the contractor has unanswered or unresolved complaints on file.

- Criminal history: You need to know who is in your home. Check the contractor out on the N.C. criminal history database online.

- Identity verification: Ask to see the contractor's driver's license to see if the name on his business cards is the same name on his license. Contractors who have a history of scams use aliases.

- Cost comparisons: Get bids based on the same building specifications, materials, labor and time needed to complete the project.

- Licensing: Check to see if the specific industry requires contractors to be licensed and make sure the contractor that you hire has the proper licensing.

- Insurance: Verify the contractor's liability insurance to protect you against damage.

- Bonding: Be sure all workers are bonded to protect you against theft and damage.

- References: Ask for references and check them out.

- Written contract: Do not permit work to start without a signed written contract that includes start and completion dates, exact costs and specific work to be done. Read the fine print.

- Payment: Pay by check or credit card. If you are asked to pay for the entire job up-front, this should raise a red flag. Final payment should not be due until the job is done.

Complaints filed

Some of the home improvement contractors in the Southern Piedmont area who have had the most complaints filed against them with the BBB include:

- James Travis Honeycutt (BBB grade F): Honeycutt is a painter who has used six different addresses in Charlotte and five different business names including Honeycutt Painting, HRP, Inc. and HPI Painting, Roofing and Guttering. Honeycutt has had 74 complaints filed against him with the BBB dating back to 2000. Complainants allege poor workmanship, failure to perform repairs and lack of follow up.

- George Scott Compton (BBB grade F): Compton runs a home improvement and remodeling business specializing in fencing. He has used five different business names including Instant Install Solutions and Get it Installed. Compton has had 44 complaints filed against him with the BBB dating back to 2003. 

- James Harden Spangler (BBB grade F): Spangler is a home repair contractor who has used 14 different business names including Mr. Fix-It, Handy Can and Handy Andy. He has also used seven different aliases, 13 different addresses and 12 different phone numbers. Spangler has had 39 complaints filed against him with the BBB dating back to 2001. Several of these homeowners also filed criminal charges against him, and as a result, he has an extensive criminal history with the N.C. Division of Corrections with multiple felony convictions related to cheating people out of money. Spangler is currently incarcerated.

- Terence Randolph Briel (BBB grade F) – Briel has done business under 15 different business names including Outdoor At Its Best, Camille's Landscape, Briel Build & Design and 12 others. He has also used 12 different business addresses in Union and Mecklenburg counties, 11 different phone numbers and six different email addresses. Homeowners have contracted with Briel to provide a variety of home improvement jobs including sunroom, deck, porch, patio and fence construction and landscaping design. In the past 36 months, 37 consumers in nine counties in the Carolinas have filed complaints with the BBB against Briel. Several of these homeowners also filed criminal charges against him, and as a result, he has multiple felony convictions. Briel is currently on probation from Cabarrus and Union counties.

- Lawrence Sam Weir, Jr. (BBB grade F): Using addresses in Shelby and Kings Mountain, Weir is a home improvement contractor who has used four business names: Weir Builders, Crete Magic, Sun Masters and Weir Grafix. According to complaints filed with the BBB, Weir has defrauded 17 homeowners in five counties out of more than $100,000. Several of these homeowners also filed criminal charges against Weir, and as a result, he has multiple felony convictions for obtaining property under false pretenses. Weir is on probation from Gaston, Lincoln and Mecklenburg counties.