Complaint Review: Arnold Brown; @ Arnold Brown Conctruction Embry Carter; dba W.C. Roofing

My name is Monica Hankins. I am a nurse and mother of 6 children ages 18 years-6 months of age(4 biological, 1 adopted, 1 foster child). My husband and I are licensed to and provide care to special needs children within our home.

 We bought a home in March, 2011. It needed some repairs so we got several estimates for the repairs from different companies. The most reasonable was a company Arnold Brown construction, also known as W.C. Roofing recommended by my then neighbor. She said he always did a good job for her, and he even repaired the foundation of her home. Mr. Arnold Brown and Mr. Embry Carter provided credentials, references, and  even suggested companies that would give me a construction loan for the cost of the house and the repairs.

Mr. Arnold Brown and Mr. Embry Carter initially provided me an estimate of around $15,000.00 with $500.00 to cover any extra cost which would be covered by the construction loan. Mr. Arnold Brown and Mr. Embry Carter knew the terms of my loan and that my interest rate would be around 20%, but would drop to 5% after the repairs were finished and I refinanced. As it came close to the time for us to move in  Mr. Arnold Brown and Mr. Embry Carter presented us with another estimate for over $34,000.00.

Our house was in shambles not even close to being finished and what work they had done was horrible as evidence by it raining in the house thru the roof they were supposed to have fixed destroying sheet rock installed and our garage eventually collapsing.  Mr. Arnold Brown and Mr. Embry Carter, myself and my husband did a walk thru identified problems and things that weren't complete  or done poorly they said they would fix them, but they didn't. 

Although the work was never completed and we paid him over $18,000.00.

Mr. Arnold Brown took the estimate of work to be completed to the Harris County clerk and filed a Mechanic's lien on our home. Thus resulting in preventing us from being able to refinance, the high interest construction loan. I called the Harris County Clerks office and they said that "They don't investigate the lien they just "file" them and I would have to get an attorney.  I hired an attorney which costed over $5,000.00 thus far. We've sent demand letters for him to either finish the work or remove the lien, filed motions, had depositions and so forth but the wheels of justice turn slow, and the court keeps reseting the court date and my interest and attorney fees are mounting.

 Through investigation and sworn court depositions it was later found that Mr. Arnold Brown and Mr. Embry Carter, are or we're never licensed contractors, as they said, and documents provided to me stating such were fraudulent. They never obtained required City Permits to perform work that they placed on mechanic's lien.

 Because there are two sides to every story I am prepared to provide photographs, a copy of the lien (which is incomplete, (blank where he was supposed to notify me)) that Arnold Brown filed, and an inspection report by a certified F.H.A. inspector after repairs were made.

 It is absolutely un believable that Arnold Brown was able do this to us. Worse off, one of his subcontractors working for him advised me that he threatens to do this to others often, and sometimes actually does this to others and they just go ahead and pay him. It's simply not fair he should be prosecuted and not allowed to do this to anyone else.

I’m composing this for three reasons 

1.To expose Mr. Arnold Brown and Mr. Embry Carter, for what they have done to me.

2.To request assistance and support from anyone that is able to help. Maybe someone may know someone who can help me get the lien removed.

3.Changes should be made to the way so called “Contractors” can file mechanic’s liens.

 I’ve reported them to the Better Business Bureau, wrote leters to the Harris county clerk, and city attorney and there is pending litigation, in Harris County district court that will hopefully be resolved soon, but the wheels of justice turn slow and as of May 31, 2013 the lien is still on record.

I know my story is  like so many other homeowners that get swindled by crooked contractors,  but in this case the contractor has knowingly and  illeagally used the lien insturment as a form of intemidation to make us pay for services not rendered.    As a last result I am pleading for assistance getting this invalid lien removed permanently.