CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- On Hezekiah Place in east Charlotte, neighbors say American Shingle salesman knocked on several doors, informing homeowners that there had been a storm in the neighborhood that may have damaged their roofs.
Ray and Janice Floyd signed up for a new one. So did Max Hoyle. Both homeowners say their insurance company sent an adjuster who verified the claim.
Floyd signed over a check from his insurance company for more than $5,000 for a new roof. After weeks of delays, he is still waiting for American Shingle.
Hoyle also experienced delays, but had his roof replaced. Then, he got a letter from the contractor.
"The people that actually did the work--they didn't get paid," he said. "They sent a letter complaining about that. "
Exterior Contract Services from Fort Mill, South Carolina had done the work of installing the roof after being hired for the job by American Shingle. To date, the company's owner tells me they have not been paid tens of thousands of dollars.
"The contractor did a great job," Hoyle said, shrugging.
ECS's owner told NewsChannel 36 other local contractors have had similar problems.
The North Carolina Attorney General's office is now looking into American Shingle, an Atlanta-based roofing company. The Better Business Bureau has logged more than 300 complaints from homeowners in several different states.
Last week, the BBB says, all of American Shingle's offices emptied out. A message on the voicemail says the company planned to reform by August 16, but that message hadn't changed as of August 18.
American Shingle's CEO told WMAZ in Macon, Georgia that the company's loan dried up and it got into financial trouble. That station reports he said he plans to try to repay customers back, but suppliers and contractors will need to be paid first.
