Roofing scam alleged
A roofing company with a Brownsville region branch office stands accused of scamming homeowners by misrepresenting their services, according to a press release Thursday from the Texas attorney general’s office.
Holden Roofing Inc. and its president, Brett Holden, are accused of duping homeowners into signing contracts for repairs by falsely representing the company as roof consultants or as "intermediaries to negotiate insurance claims for roof damage," the press release said.
The company lists its Brownsville region office at an address in Harlingen.
"According to state investigators, HRI’s sales representatives targeted communities that experienced severe weather events such as hail storms or hurricanes," the release said. "The defendant’s sales representatives visit individual homeowners — including senior citizens — and market ‘consulting’ services that facilitate roof repair or replacement."
Instead of agreeing to a free consultation, homeowners were actually signing a contract for repairs done by the company, the press release said. If the homeowners failed to follow through, the contract stipulated a large penalty, the press release said.
"In an apparent effort to ‘capture’ homeowners, HRI imposes a charge totaling 20 percent of the total roof replacement cost if homeowners engage another roofing contractor to perform the repair work," the release said.
If homeowners didn’t pay, the company would then allegedly threaten to bring a lawsuit, the release said.
The attorney general’s lawsuit against the company also alleges that HRI failed to properly inform homeowners of their three-day right to cancel, as required by the Texas Home Solicitation Act, which applies when business is solicited in person at an individual’s residence.
The lawsuit against HRI was filed in San Patricio County District Court Thursday.
The company’s principal office is in Rosenberg, near Houston, with other branch offices in Corpus Christi, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and Tyler.
The lawsuit against HRI is seeking up to $20,000 per violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and restitution for homeowners who were improperly forced to pay penalties.
The Office of the Attorney General’s toll-free complaint line to report improper or unlawful business practices is (800) 252-8011 or a complaint may be filed online at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.
