Hello,
I live in Mississippi and there is something very shady and unfortunate going on. A friend of mine who was also my pastor has passed. He had many businesses that provided home improvement and landscaping services. Before he passed, he quoted a price of $300 to me to repair a wooden fence at my residence. I paid him $150 through cashapp and I noted “fence” and the next day I paid $150 and noted “for the fence balance.” He was in the hospital at the time but still handling business affairs from his bed. He’d sent his father and some other crew members to do the work. I never saw them and was not home while they were doing the repairs. He asked me to send photos of the work when I arrived. I did. I asked him if they were returning to finish because they left new boards stacked by my air conditioning unit and the other side of my fence had warped boards still hanging. He didn’t sound too sure so I told him not to worry himself and that I’d have my sons to do it so I took care of the rest of the $300. Keep in mind, his company is registered with the state but he nor his father or the company is a licensed contractor. Unfortunately, he passed a few days after this good deed. He’d been wanting to help me repair it for months. I have text messages to verify that. They repaired it around March 21-22,2022. He passed on March 25th. Well today 5/3/2022, I received USPS informed delivery in my email showing an envelop from his father, who he gave the business to. His father has changed the name of the business to a similar name, which is not even legally registered in the state of Mississippi. When I made it home, I checked the mail; the envelope was addressed to me and underneath my name it had my friend’s name and - “tenant” which was ODD to me. I’m his friend but not his tenant or anyone’s tenant for that matter which leads me to believe some shady intent is to come. I opened the envelope and it was an invoice with the new company name, his father's name and his aunt’s name and contact info listed as a facilitator. With not specific details it says “fence built” dated for 3/19/22 and says I owe $800 and that it’s due upon receipt. I never spoke with him ever or her about this work. I’ve never heard of their new company until now. I never contracted this work with them and I paid my friend/pastor for the work before he passed. I don’t know what agreement they had between them but I know what we agreed on between us. I’m still grieving his death and his family has already been ruthless with church members and now this which seems unethical! I sense that he/she is attempting to set things up to place a lien on my home! And it would be fraudulent because I do not owe him a thing. As a matter of fact, the fence wasn’t finished and material is still on the ground. I’d even sent pictures and asked my friend if they were coming back to finish. What can I do?...Read More