Complaint Review: Clayton Homes of Florence - Florence S C

This is a mixed bag of a response. My condolences and a suggestion are my first offering for the three of you who complained about Clayton: the Manufactured Housing Board (or "State Administrative Agency") is your first recourse, but as you may know by now, they typically just forward your complaint to the manufacturer/dealer, who then assert they've taken care of it, and then your case is closed unless you continue to protest. And the board won't give you much of a hearing on anything other than safety-related issues. There are some other resources for you to get ideas from. Try this links page which has a number of consumer/manufactured home owner groups on it: "http://bellsouthpwp.net/j/_/j_b/housing%20links.htm" Of particular interest might be the links to TAISMHO or HADD. There are also some excellent Consumers Union articles, but it may be too late for the latter to help you. Second, I'd very much like to hear from other Clayton customers in South Carolina (or North Carolina) who have had problems. There are two reasons for this. First, I am also a Clayton customer who went through a protracted nightmare with my "dream" home, and I'm considering legal recourse against this company. There is strength in numbers -- and corroboration as far as the legal system is involved. I have video, pictures, and documents galore, and I would like to work with others of similar mind. Second, Clayton Homes inspired me to write a book which is due to be published this spring by McFarland Publishing -- and I would be interested in any other intriguing narratives about Clayton (or any other manufactured home brand) for either late addition to this first printing or for a second edition of this consumer oriented handbook. Basically, it tells you what the manufacturer and dealer DON'T want you to know. So please, if you are interested for either of the above reasons, please go to my book's website and e-mail me ASAP. My book goes to press in about four weeks, and my window for filing a lawsuit also closes fairly soon. You can reach me or read about my own Clayton ordeal at: http://bellsouthpwp.net/j/_/j_b/index.htm Whether or not you decide to contact me (and I know the odds of you even seeing this are remote!), I do wish you some reversal of fortune in regard to Clayton. Too many people have been promised a "Dream Home" (by many manufacturers)only to find themselves in a nightmare which will haunt them for the duration of a thirty year mortgage. Best wishes.

I too was almost a victom of Clayton homes. My husband and I decided to visit a local lot and found a home that was exactly what we needed. We were told that the home cost $79,000 but due to some minor problems caused by vandals the price was reduced by $10,000 with delivery and setup included. We thought this was a great deal and put a small deposit down to hold the home. We talked with the salesperson about any additional expenses such as septic and electric and agreed on how much everything should cost, and had it all in writing. We asked again if the price included delivery and setup they said yes. The day we were going to sign we talked with the owner of the lot and he said that the price did not include delivery set up and that it would be an additional $15,000 when we told him what the salesperson said he basically called us a liar and said there was no way they could sell us the home for that price because he would be loosing money. The salesperson admited that he made a mistake but he still would not listen and was furious with us for not signing the papers. Watch out everyone, they try to trick you at the last minute thinking that since you have already made plans on buying you will pay anything. Don't sign, walk out.

In June 2002 we bought a double wide from Clayton Of Anderson, SC. Our home was set up improperly and after state inspection, 10 non-compliance violations were sited. The house was not anchored properly underneath and the roof was not sealed or tied down. These items were worked on and eventually fixed. We were also told when we looked at the home and wanted different coloring siding that we could only have the house on the lot as it was discontinued. Later we discovered from regional manager that was not the case. Our delivery and set up costs were padded to cover what they later said was a loss to them because the home was offered to us at the wrong price (too low). After living in the home for a short while we began to discover poorly made cabinets, windows that would not open, bulges in carpet and kitchen floor due to nails popping up from floor not being sanded before veneer laid, plumbing leak in master bath, sliding glass doors to back deck not caulked at bottom and water leaked in when first rained, wall sockets loose or popping out, ceiling panels warped, gaps in joining wall panels, trim put only on one side, drywall not sealed underneath kitchen or bathroom cabinets (we had spiders), air leaks and gaps in window framing, roof sagging, air/heat pump not installed properly, door trim cockeyed and popping off, and the worst so far - the plumbing in the showers is installed upside down so cold is hot and hot is cold, etc. etc. Clayton claims to have the "better made" home "free of factory defects". This is written on their on web site. We too have talked to David Booth, president at the time, regional and local mgrs. factory reps etc. Top level people are reluctant to deal with us. At this point we are still trying to get problems resolved but every repair that is made only comprises the homes structure as it does not seem to last. We are very unhappy with the quality of our home and as it continues to detiorate the resale value of this home is reduced. At the point of sale we bought a NEW home promised to be a DREAM home free of factory defects and due to poor workmanship, bad set up, factory defects and bad maintenance crew we now have what has turned out to be a nightmare and a lemon. The rebuttal you recived from the salesman is typical of someone using attack back at you as a defense mechanism to protect "underlying guilt" of improper practices whether on his behalf or in defense of others in his field. The point is we both were promised a good product, paid for a good product and should be expected to receive a good product. We have a paper trail and pictures and documents that could fill a file cabinet to back our complaints, including Clayton's own work orders on this home. The suggestion by this person that you are (stupid) or a certain caliber of person looking for something for nothing is insulting. I suggest that person needs to do some research on the other side of the fence as there are many more like you and I out there but most do not know where to go for help or are intimidated by the corporation Clayton. We are continuing our battle and will not be satisfied until they make their mistakes right one way or another. BBB, Consumer Affairs, SC Manufactured Housing Board, Defective Product Liability web sites and possibly the media are resources that can help. I hope you have found some satisfaction with your problems with them and I welcome others to come to this board and express their complaints against Clayton Homes.

They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report:

Their email: [email protected]
Their name: Bubba
Their phone number: 706-540-1589
Their relationship to the company: Supporter

Rebuttal:
I have sold manufactured homes for five years. I have sold Hortons, Fleetwoods, Claytons, Pioneers, Sunshines, Generals, Grand Manors, Cavaliers and Champions.

These people are typical of the "get something for nothing" segment of our customer base.

They should stop going to dealers after they have signed their contracts. Do they really expect to get a home for the same price as 5 years ago?

Did they really expect a company to order them a home without a deposit or financing it first?

These people are probably on disability, while at the same time working jobs.

Their illiterate ramblings are typical of a small, but vocal segment of the manufactured homebuyer.
::::::::::::::

EDitor's Comment to the above REBUTTAL::::::::
The person who wrote this REBUTTAL, above, sounds like your typical car salesman. He has most likely Ripped off vast numbers of consumers over the years, thereby amassing himself a small fortune on the backs of their misfortune. His ridiculous insults to the victimized consumers who filed the original Rip-off Report shows his true mentality and disrespect for others.

The author of the above REBUTTAL is typical of salesmen, who fraudulently change the consumers contract, charge them for items they will never get, will sell them an inferior product, will screw them on financing or anything else they can trick them into, like sell them one thing and deliver a different less expensive product just like the victims above.

The author of the above REBUTTAL obviously lacks the mental discipline required to meet the least demanding rigors of logic, as demonstrated by the responses and undoubtedly will most likely suffer the same fate in one way or another. What goes around comes around, Bubba.