On Feb. 5th My 84 year old mother and myself agreed to hire Synot Construction dba Total Home Remedies to renovate our kitchen. The total contract amount is $32,221.69. My mother Lily Yvonne Peterson gave Chris Morris a check number 4118 for $16,110.84 made out to Synot Contracting Inc. and the receipt from Total Home Remedies shows the deposit amount. We were told by Chris Morris that he check would go into an escrow account.
The following Friday I took the day off of work to meet with Leo from The Home Design Center to finalize the choice of cabinets and granite.
In coincidence with the kitchen project we needed someone to put some tile on the pool bathroom. Chris was hired to do this as well. The tile was supposed to be applied on 2/17. I texted Chris to make sure the worker was on time and was told that he could not come as he was sick. He was still sick on Friday. On Monday 2/22 received a message from Chris that worker was still sick. On 2/24 Chris still could not make it out to install the tile, so he deducted $200.00 from his Quote. 2/25 Chris & Jeff showed up to install the tile. I had to make 2 trips to Home Depot because they decided to change the type of supplies that I had purchased on their behalf. I let Chris know that I was not completely satisfied with the work as they did not use a glass cutter to cut the tile and there were jagged edges and there needed to be a 2nd coat of grout applied. I asked that Jeff not come back to install tile as he explained to me that he was a roofer by trade. We agreed that Chris could finish the bathroom while he was tiling the kitchen.
On 2/27 I asked Chris for a schedule for the kitchen reno. He responded that he would have dates for me On Wednesday. Never heard back. On 3/1 I asked for budget information and schedule again. No response on schedule. On 3/7 I asked for the schedule again. On 3/8 Chris responded that he would send it later that day.3/9 Chris left me a message that he had a tooth pulled could not respond to me. He said that Leo just started the cabinets and they would be 3 weeks out. 3/15 I called Chris to find out about cabinets and he thought that they might be delayed. On 3/22 Leo from The Home Design Center texted me to find out what was going on. I let him know that I was excited to get the project going. He then called me to let me know that he had not yet received a PO or a deposit from Chris.
On 3/23 My husband Wayne Tupuola contacted Chris to set up a meeting on 3/23 at 5:30 to finalize the schedule and to see what was going on. Chris agreed to it. 12:54 on 3/23 Chris texted that he would have to postpone the meeting that something came up on the job he was at. Wayne responded that we had adjusted out schedule to understand why the project was so far behind and expressed his concerns that Chris was unable to keep a schedule and that it would be in his best interest to make our meeting as originally scheduled. Chris & Wayne then had a conversation and Wayne called out Chris and asked if he was scamming us. They mutually agreed to no longer work together and Chris would give us a full refund. Chris left me a message saying he did not like to be bullied and would send me a refund. He also texted me that the refund check to my mother would go out the following Monday (3/28). The company is local so I should have seen a check by Wednesday 3/30. I let Chris know that I had not received the money. On 3/31 Chris stated that the check just got processed because company got money back from vendors. On 4/1 still no check. Wayne once again stated that this sounded like a scam. Chris responded that he was too busy to get this information to us. I let him know that he should take the time and get it done now or he would be spending more time on it in court. He then asked that we no longer contact him and gave us the address of 4641 Chicadee Drive, OrlandoFL 32812. He would not give me a name or phone number. When I googled the address it is a Mobil home like place in a residential area. It is associated with 3 companies – Synot Contracting, Total Home Remedies and Wash Away Roof Cleaning.
Today is 4/5/16 still no check. Wayne Tupuola contacted Tony Jackson from Synot Construction in Jacksonville, FL whom Chris Morris because Chris Morris said that he was using Tony’s GC License with permission. Tony represented that he is in no way associated with Chris Morris any more. Wayne also contacted Tony Goff at Total Home Remedies who stated that he did not allow Chris to use his company name, which is on the invoice that Chris gave me.
MM1
Saint Cloud,#2Consumer Comment
Mon, April 11, 2016
I have had a similar excperience with Synot contracting but mine is even worse. I was told he is now filing for Bankruptcy. He completed none of the work that was promised and so far I have not seen the 12k that we wrote him a check for. Completely dishonest and we heard every excuse in the book, sickness, team member died, etc. it went on like this for months. We were promised our money back but never saw anything. I have the email and documentation to prove all of this. Stay away from Chris Morris and this company.
I would love to speak to the person that has experienced this because I also have quite a story to tell here. Mine started in August of last year for a room addition that never was completed or even really started. I also contacted the man in Jacksonville Florida and he told me the same thing and was very upset that they were misrepresenting themselves.
This is fraud but Im not sure what next steps besides contacting the authorities.