Local non-profit agency falls victim to roofing contractor scam

Local non-profit agency falls victim to roofing contractor scam

By DON DARE
6 On Your Side Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- A Knoxville non-profit agency lost thousands of dollars to a scam run by a local roofer.

6 On Your Side climbed onto the roof of an old motel in East Knoxville, a two-story building now used to house employees of Primary Focus.

The agency is a non-profit character education group that visits schools.

The building's roof is long and in need of repair. To fix it, Primary Focus hired a company named Affordable Roofing, which billed itself as a flat roof specialist.

"Basically what they did is they showed up one day, brought these shovels here and started shoveling off the gravel," said Ryan Rebold, Primary Focus' director.

Three new shovels remain on the roof, but there's no evidence any work was done by Affordable Roofing workers.

Primary Focus paid the company $3,000 in advance for the roof repair.

"Four days went by, we called them and asked, "Where are you at?'" said Rebold. "He said, 'We're still waiting for this machine.'"

Rebold showed 6 On Your Side a certificate of liability insurance he was given by Affordable Roofing.

He says at first he had no reason to question the credentials of Affordable Roofing.

Rebold says company owner Nick Stokes pointed out a Christian symbol that was prominently featured in his contract.

But one of the addresses shown on the contract turned out to be an empty field next to a church in East Knoxville.

Another address is a house, but Stokes doesn't live there.

The truth about Affordable Roofing became clear a few days after the shovels had been left behind on the roof.

6 On Your Side contacted the insurance company named in the certificate of liability. We were told there is no record of Affordable Roofing.

Complaints about Affordable Roofing go back to 10 months at the Better Business Bureau.

The first one was a job in Luttrell.

"[Stokes] came to do the work, they paid him," Better Business Bureau President Jerry Tipton said about the Luttrell job. "First rain, it wasn't finished. Since that time, [the homeowner]'s been unable to contact him."

That's not the only complaint the Better Business Bureau has on file against Affordable Roofing.

"We had one in July from a gentleman who says he's been inundated with faxes," said Tipton.

Tipton says the man has been unable to get the unsolicited faxes sent to his place of business to stop and hasn't been unable to contact Stokes.

Affordable Roofing faxed an unsolicited advertisement to Primary Focus in late August.

But Federal Communication Commission rules says it is unlawful to send unsolicited advertisements to any fax machine, both business and residences.

"If this person who is sending the fax does not stop immediately, it can be an error, but if they do not quit, contact the FCC. It is a federal crime," Tipton explained.

6 On Your Side tried to contact Affordable Roofing, but the voicemail box was full.

"At one point we were able to leave a message, but now that's all we get," said Rebold.

There are many reputable roofing companies listed in the Yellow Pages. They will likely be members of the Better Business Bureau, so you should look for the BBB symbol. You'll also want to make sure the company is licensed, bonded and insured.

When hiring a roofing contractor, get the roofer's insurance carrier and policy number, and follow up on it.

Make sure the workers are properly certified, either by the National Roofing Contractors Association, the Remodeling Industry Association, or any local organizations.

Also, ask friends or neighbors that have recently had a new roof installed to find out who they have used.

And check with the Better Business Bureau.

Because there was little evidence Affordable Roofing did any work at all for Primary Focus, except to leave three shovels behind, Knoxville police detectives may consider criminal charges against the roofing company.