NC Sues Kitchen Remodeling Company

A Burlington-based company is facing legal action by the state of North Carolina for taking consumers' money and failing to complete kitchen remodeling jobs.

During a press conference in Greensboro Wednesday, Attorney General Roy Cooper announced that the state has filed a lawsuit against American Kitchen Corp., and its owners Robert Selfors and Tyler Justin Sheets. Cooper says the state is seeking to ban them from offering home repair or home improvement services in North Carolina.

“We have 49 complaints from people who have lost over $300,000," says Cooper. "Many of them saved up for the kitchen of their dreams and the remodeling project has started and their kitchen is a mess and there are no cabinets. They are waiting for a job that has never been completed.”

American Kitchen closed its doors in June.  Cooper says he's not sure when consumers will get all of their money back, adding sometimes litigation cases can take years to resolve.

To avoid problems with home improvement, Cooper offers the following tips for consumers:

• Avoid paying more than 10 percent of the total cost in advance.

• If you must pay fees in advance, use your credit card if possible in case you need to dispute the

charge later.

• Ask to pay as the work is done, or once the work is completed to your satisfaction.

• A contractor who claims to need a lot of money upfront for supplies and materials may have poor credit or be in bad financial shape. If you wish to do business with such a contractor, buy the supplies and materials yourself and pay for the labor once the project is finished.

To report problems with a home improvement company or contractor or ask questions before hiring one, contact the Consumer Protection Division at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM. More information and tips are available at their website.

Follow Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news