Complaint Review: David Fries - Knoxville Tennessee

August 1, 2020, David was hired to do some major work on our home after a flood. He asked for some money to get started, so we wrote him a check. He texted us regularly telling me what he ordered, and when it would be delivered. He assured us we would be back in our home by Thanksgiving at the latest. He did show up a lot, and did some minor demolition, asking questions to ask the insurance for more mone for things they missed.

After several weeks, no work had been done. He asked for more money, to start on the subfloor, and build some cabinet framing. He never did the framing or flooring. At one point, he did show up with a few guys and did some drywall. The next day, one of his crew showed up to mud the walls and fix the ceiling. 

Several times when I went to the house, his guy would be sitting in our driveway or in front of the house, but no work was being done. We have cameras throughout the house, and can see what is going on inside. After the drywall, he disappeared again, and was not answering calls or texts. At one point, I couldn't text him, as though I was blocked. I reached out to the insurance guy and he also tried. He eventually texted me back claiming that it was my phone, and I just needed to turn it off and back on. It seemed to fix the situation, but looking back, I'm sure I was blocked. Shortly after that, he asked for more money, which we gave him. 

He then said he wouldn't be done by thanksgiving, but for sure we would be home for Christmas. No further work was done. We were not home by Christmas, and he stated by the end of the year, so we had our lease expire, planning on moving home. Unfortunately, nothing more was done. He claimed that his father in law passed away before Christmas and they needed to be out of the state for the funeral. Meanwhile, we are again living in a hotel, rapidly running out of housing money per the insurance. Soon we will be paying out of pocket. 

He met with the insurance guy, gave him a 60 day plan to be completed, and then asked us for more money. At this point, we had sent him roughly $45,000. I declined to send him more money. I told him I didn't understand the need for more money. If the money we sent was tied up in supplies, then he could use the supplies to complete the job, or at least get started. If the money wasn't tied up in supplies, then he could use that money to start working on the job. He stated that his wife was sick and depressed, and that his utilities were due to be shut off that day, and his house payment was due, and that he needed that money to be able to get back to work on the house.

At this point, I knew he wasn't planning on finishing, and I declined to send him money unless he could send us itemized receipts of what the money we already paid him was spent on, or at least a work order or receipt for money we've paid him. He has not responded in a week at this point. 

I spoke with our insurance adjuster, and we believe it's best to request a refund (I'm sure we will never see that money) and hire a new contractor. I sent him a text message, and cc to my husband and the adjuster, so they were all in on the message, asking him to either tell me when he will be out to work on the house, or to issue a full refund minus what he is owed for doing the drywall. He has not yet responded, and I don't expect him to. At this point, I have contacted the police department and was advised to file a police report, which I will be doing later in the week. 

We have been looking online for his license, and cannot find one. He came from NJ, and we cannot find a license for him there since at least 2011. He claimed that he was licensed, and insured, and when I inquired about bonding, he stated that if he used his bonded status, it would cost us more in the long run, and he was trying to help us out.

I should have run at that point, but we were desperate, and he was the only contractor who wasn't booked out several months, and we had never dealt with anything like this before and didn't really know any better. I firmly believe the insurance companies should handle hiring of the contractors to avoid situations like this. However we were told we had to hire them. 

I would not recommend working with him at all, or if you must, insist on seeing his license, insurance and his bonding before hiring him. Above all else, do NOT give him any money up front unless absolutely necessary, and only give him a check. He gave us a song and dance about his business bank account and insisted on us using cashapp to send him money after the initial two checks we wrote. He claimed that he couldn't close his business account in NJ, unless there was no activity for 30 days, and he couldn't open a business account here in TN until the other account was closed.

This sounded reasonable, but he refused to use paypal, which has protections for both parties, and insisted on cashapp. This made me extremely uncomfortable, but against my better judgement, we did as he asked. Please do not make my mistake. Just stay far away from him. He seems like a great guy, and claims to be a Christian man. He is really good at the smooth talk, and sounds like he knows what he is doing. He is very good at gaslighting, and before you know it, you're in deeper than you planned.