CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - All Jeffrey May wanted was new siding for his Bumpass home and new windows too. He said hiring local contractor David Isom set him back more than he’d ever imagined.
May feels like he was taken advantage of right after the sudden death of his brother. He says he ultimately paid more than $10,000 for work he says Isom never completed.
"There I was in a house with my wife and my newborn baby," he said. "Imagine sitting in the house looking out and seeing a tarp all across your home, your wife is hysterical and someone just gotten thousand $500 off of ya."
May said all of this happened even after he checked references and noted that Isom had a good rating with the Better Business Bureau at the time of his research. He says he only got empty promises from Isom and knew he was facing an uphill battle when materials for the job were never delivered to his home.
May also says he grew concerned when he overheard some of Isom’s workers talking about how they didn’t get paid.
In the end, he says he spent thousands more to buy materials and to employ other workers to do the job. May also pursued civil and criminal charges against Isom.
He says he intends to try and recoup his money through a recovery fund that’s overseen by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulations.
Mary Vaughan confirms that DPOR revoked Isom’s license last week. She says before the revocation Isom turned his license in back in August.
Anyone who feels like they’re a victim and they entered a contract with Isom during the time that he held a license might be eligible to get money back, up to $20,000.
Vaughan says a person must first take civil action and win a judgment against Isom. If they are unable to collect that money from him, then they can contact DPOR to take the next step.
Vaughan tells us that five different complaints came in to their office about Isom, including May’s. CBS 6 News also learned that Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s office also received at least three complaints. That office is now investigating
CBS 6 News spoke to Isom who says his company fell on hard times and when he experienced family illness, things went downhill.
He says he has spoken to someone from the Attorney General’s office and told them of his plan to repay customers. Isom tells CBS 6 he has already paid three customers back.
He vows to pay each victim back one by one, including May. Both men go to court in January about this issue. Isom says he plans to be there. CBS 6 News will continue to follow this story and bring you the latest.
