BBB warns consumers about Mission Attic Pros
Consumers complain about Jerry Dixon’s service, workmanship and company name changes
San Antonio, Texas - Mar. 29, 2012 — The San Antonio address listed for Mission Attic Pros is empty and mail sent there is returned; the website was taken down; and calls to the company’s listed phone number go immediately to voicemail.
However, Mission Attic Pros owner Jerry Dixon will still return messages asking for an estimate, and is presumably still taking any contracting jobs offered. The problem for Hope Hernandez is that after paying him more than $5,000, she still does not have the new windows he promised to install and the door he replaced for her son’s house in San Antonio won’t open.
“You can’t go in or out that door,” she said. “I don’t care who you are; you can’t go in there. It was not put in right.”
Now, without a storefront, website or anyone answering his phone, Dixon has become even more difficult to contact.
To make matters even more difficult, Dixon operates under numerous different business names. Hernandez hired Dixon under the name Mission Remodelers. She paid him under the name Mission Energy Improvements. The invoice she received said Mission Attic Pros.
Better Business Bureau records show Dixon as the owner of AAA Mission Remodelers and Mission Attic Pros. Under the two names, Dixon has received 30 complaints against him, most alleging poor service and difficulty contacting Dixon once consumers paid their money.
Filings with the Texas Secretary of State and Bexar County Clerk reveal still more business names. At various times, he as registered as Mission Contracting, Mission Construction, AAA Mission Remodelers and Mission Remodelers. BBB could find no filings for the names Mission Attic Pros or Mission Energy Improvements.
BBB tried to contact Dixon, but calls went unanswered and mail was returned. When a BBB investigator called posing as a customer, he returned the message the next day.
When asked for a quote on a 1,200 square foot house, he touted a special he was running for 99 cents a square foot. Coupled with a rebate from CPS Energy, the total cost to the consumer would be only 74 cents per square foot.
That rebate drew Jim Rollins to call Mission Attic Pros. He said Dixon billed his company as “the rebate specialists.” After waiting three weeks for a crew to come out to blow insulation into his attic and paying half the cost up front, Rollins said he tried to contact Dixon about the paperwork for the rebate.
“After the job was complete, I paid the other half and they said that someone would be by to help fill out the paperwork,” Rollins said. “An individual can’t fill out the paperwork themselves; it has to come from the vendor.”
Rollins said no one ever showed up. He left several phone messages for Dixon and finally drove by the address advertised by the company. The building was empty.
“I wasn’t relying on (the rebate money), but it is frustrating when you put your faith in somebody and they don’t come through,” Rollins said. “He seemed like a nice person, and I trusted my judgment up front more than I should probably.”
Hernandez, who is still waiting for the windows she paid for, said her plight is even more frustrating since she is currently living in Minnesota. Her son is living in the San Antonio home the windows were purchased for.
“I’m so far away. I cry,” she said. “I can’t sleep at night knowing he took that much money from me.”
But, she said, she was not going to sit idly by and let him disappear with her money. She’s returning to San Antonio in April and is going to tell everyone about Dixon and Mission Attic Pros.
“The only reason I’m going after him is heaven knows how many other people he’s done this to,” she said. “He got away with $5,000.”
For those looking to hire a contractor, BBB offers the following tips:
· Use BBB.org to find trustworthy businesses. Start your search with BBB Member Pages to find BBB accredited contractors in your area. If you are referred to a business through friends, family or an advertisement, verify the business is in good standing at bbb.org before contacting them.
· Compare costs. Get at least three bids from prospective contractors based on the same specifications, materials, labor and time needed to complete the project. BBB’s Request-a-Quote service is free to use and will allow BBB Accredited Businesses to send you quotes via email. Understand variations in price may be associated with higher quality of materials.
· Call for references. Ask all contractors to provide local references and find out if those customers were satisfied with the work performed. If possible, visit a completed project to inspect the quality of the workmanship.
· Check licensing. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation requires a license for plumbers, HVAC technicians and electricians, however, other contractors may require registration or licensing to do work in specific counties or cities.
· Beware of high upfront fees. Contractors may require a down payment before work begins, but it should not be a significant portion of the total cost. Instead, make payments that align with the progress of the work completed. Make sure you are satisfied with the work before making a final payment.
· Review your contract thoroughly. Make sure it includes all the materials needed to complete the job, an itemized list of all costs involved, any subcontracted labor and a warranty for all work performed.
· Verify insurance coverage. Find out if the company is insured against claims covering worker’s compensation, property damage and personal liability in case of accidents. Verify coverage directly with the business’ insurance company if possible.
To check the reliability of a company and find trustworthy businesses, visit bbb.org.
About Better Business Bureau:
BBB's mission is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust. BBB accomplishes this mission by creating a community of trustworthy businesses, setting standards for marketplace trust, encouraging and supporting best practices, celebrating marketplace role models and denouncing substandard marketplace behavior.
Businesses that earn BBB Accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization's high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB is the preeminent resource to turn to for objective, unbiased information on businesses and charities.
Contact BBB serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin at (512) 445-4748.
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