LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Las Vegas Valley homeowners handed over tens of thousands of dollars for improvements to their homes, only to get frustration and disappointment in return. FOX5′s Kim Passoth continues to follow the work of the Nevada State Contractors Board to make things right.
Businesses in a complex just south of the Strip say homeowners are constantly coming there looking for Patio Covers for Less to get their money back only to find locked doors.
“Patio Covers for Less has more than 100 allegations against it,” reported Randy Escamilla with the Nevada State Contractors Board.
Homeowner after homeowner, 27 in total who say they were swindled out of their money, showed up to a hearing before the Nevada State Contractors Board Wednesday.
“There has been substantial harm our investigation has found… the judge ruled in this case that there was sufficient evidence to issue and affirm the emergency order for the administrative suspension of the license of Patio Covers for Less,” Escamilla explained.
Jerry Bootzin says he signed a contract in September 2023 after Patio Covers for Less successfully completed a job for a neighbor. “We called the company; the same individual came out and completed the contract,” Bootzin recounted. For months, he says the company strung him along saying the county stalled the project.
“I finally called the county and asked them has there been anything on the permit and they said, ‘no one has contacted us for a permit,’” Bootzin revealed. Bootzin then went to their office to demand his $3,700 back.
“The office was empty, there was no office anymore,” Bootzin shared.
“I hired Patio Covers for Less…and they came out to my house around the beginning of March and I put half the deposit down and I have never seen them since,” Robert Enrile told FOX5 after the hearing. Asking for 50 percent up front is a big red flag according to the Nevada State Contractors Board.
“Never pay more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the cost of the project, that is the law,” Escamilla stated.
Enrile hopes to recoup his money. The Nevada State Contractors Board Residential Recovery Fund helps make things right for homeowners who have been wronged paying them back up to $40,000.
“I know this is going to be a long time consuming process,” Enrile contended.
If the Contractors Board finds fraud occurred, they will refer the case to District Attorney for possible criminal charges.
Two other companies also had an official hearing to uphold the administrative suspension of their contractor’s license. Ten homeowners filed complaints against Vintage Pools and eleven homeowners are involved with a case against solar company Get Solarize.
If you’ve been scammed by a contractor, learn more here about how to reach out to the Nevada State Contractor’s Board.
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