8 December 2020
In 2017, he was sentenced to {10 years|ten years} in {prison|jail} for {fraud|scams} in Jefferson County. {Fewer|Less} than {two|2} years {later|later on}, he was {released|launched} and {accused|implicated} of scamming {again|once again}
ST. LOUIS– {A recommendation|A suggestion} from {a neighbor|a next-door neighbor} or {friend|buddy|pal|good friend} can {often|frequently|typically} seal the {deal|offer}. {Especially|Particularly|Specifically} if you’re {looking for|searching for|trying to find} {a contractor|a professional|a specialist}.
It didn’t {work out|exercise} well for one Hazelwood {man|guy|male}. He {told|informed} the 5 {On Your Side|In your corner} I-Team he had no {idea|concept} his {roofing contractor|roofer} {had|had actually} {just|simply} been {released|launched} from {prison|jail} for {stealing|taking} thousands from
his {customers|clients|consumers}.< div class="{article|short article|post} __ {section|area} {article|short article|post} __ section_type_text {utility|energy} __ text "readability
=” 33″ > This spring when Justin McDonald {found out|discovered|learnt} his {roof|roofing system|roofing} was {leaking|dripping}, he {knew|understood} he {needed|required} to act {fast|quick|quickly}.
” I was getting some water {leak|leakage} from a rainstorm,”{said|stated} McDonald. The lockdown {had|had actually} {just|simply} {started|begun}. {Finding|Discovering} {a contractor|a professional|a specialist} was {tricky|challenging|difficult}. {So, McDonald felt {lucky|fortunate} when his {neighbor|next-door neighbor} had {a recommendation|a suggestion} for him: Donald”DJ” Harralston with ‘{Multiple|Several|Numerous} Trade Solutions LLC’.|McDonald felt {lucky|fortunate} when his {neighbor|next-door neighbor} had {a recommendation|a suggestion} for him: Donald”DJ” Harralston with ‘{Multiple|Several|Numerous} Trade Solutions LLC’.}”[ Harralston {claimed|declared} he]
{worked with|dealt with}, you {know|understand}, {local|regional} {police officers|policeman|law enforcement officer} and things like that. {So, he {wanted to|wished to} {make sure|ensure|make certain} to keep your, keep {business|company|service|organization} up in this {area|location},”{said|stated} McDonald.|He {wanted|desired} to make sure to keep your, keep {business|company|service|organization} up in this {area|location},”{said|stated} McDonald.} McDonald {gave|provided|offered} Harralston $ 7,000.
That was the {entire|whole} {amount|quantity} his {insurance company|insurance provider|insurer} {gave|provided|offered} him to cover the {repair|repair work}.”[ Harralston] {told|informed} me that within a week of getting the {insurance|insurance coverage}
{money|cash} that he {could|might} {start|begin} the {process|procedure},”{said|stated} McDonald. “I got them the check and I {never|never ever} {heard from|spoke with} him {again|once again}
.” McDonald {did some {research|research study} and came|came and did some {research|research study}} {across|throughout} Harralston’s {lengthy|prolonged} rap sheet. “I {found out|discovered|learnt} that he was {a convicted|a founded guilty} felon for {insurance|insurance coverage} {fraud|scams},”{said|stated} McDonald.”The Missouri {attorney general|attorney general of the United States|chief law officer} had {actually|really|in fact} {filed|submitted} {suit|fit|match} {against|versus} him,”{said|stated} Don O’Brien with the {Better Business Bureau|Bbb}. The BBB {has|has actually} {issued|provided|released} {at least|a minimum of} {two|2} {warnings|cautions} about Harralston and his contracting {businesses|companies|services|organizations}. A long criminal history< div class ="{article|short article|post} __ {section|area} {article|short article|post} __ section_type_text
{utility|energy} __ text”readability=”38″> The I-Team {found|discovered} Harralston’s {criminal record|rap sheet} {stretches|extends} back {almost|practically|nearly} {two decades|twenty years|20 years}. It {includes|consists of} 20 felony convictions, such as forgery, theft, drug {possession|belongings|ownership}, {exploiting|making use of} the {{elderly|senior} and {deceptive|misleading}|{deceptive|misleading} and {elderly|senior}} {business|company|service|organization} practices. In 2017, Harralston was sentenced to {10 years|ten years} in {prison|jail} for {financially|economically} {exploiting|making use of} the {elderly|senior} in Jefferson County with his previous {business|company|service|organization}: All-American {Remodeling|Renovation|Improvement}. {Ultimately|Eventually}, his sentence was suspended. Court {documents|files} {show|reveal} Harralston {completed|finished} a drug treatment program and was {released|launched} from {prison|jail} in the {summer|summertime|summer season} of 2019. Less than a month {later|later on}, he was {accused|implicated} of scamming {people|individuals} {once|when|as soon as} again as {a contractor|a professional|a specialist}.
This time with {a new|a brand-new} {business|company|service|organization} name: {Multiple|Several|Numerous} Trade Solutions LLC.
“What {happens|occurs|takes place}, {unfortunately|sadly|regrettably}, {sometimes|in some cases|often} as these {contractors|professionals|specialists} {go bad|spoil}, they will {open up|open} {a business|a company|a service|an organization} with another name,” {explained|discussed|described} O’Brien.”I {feel like|seem like} had he served {at least|a minimum of} 60 % if not 80 % of his time in {prison|jail}, I would have {never|never ever} {dealt with|handled} him,”{said|stated} McDonald.”I {feel like|seem like} the justice system, in
{a way|a method}, {kind of|type of|sort of} {failed|unsuccessful} {people|individuals} like us, the ones who are being {victimized|preyed on|taken advantage of} by the {scam|fraud|rip-off}.” Court {documents|files} {filed|submitted} by the Missouri {attorney general|attorney general of the United States|chief law officer} {show|program} McDonald is
{one of|among} {at least|a minimum of} {nine|9} victims who
paid Harralston for work he {never|never ever} {started|began} or {never|never ever} {finished|completed|ended up}. Justice coming for victims? In October, the AG’s {office|workplace} {filed|submitted} to {revoke|withdraw} Harralston’s probation. He was {taken into custody|apprehended|collared|nabbed} {but|however} {recently|just recently} {posted|published} bond. He will be back in court on Dec. 9
for a case {review|evaluation} hearing {regarding|concerning|relating to} parole {revocation|cancellation}.
{Better Business Bureau|Bbb} checks. {Because|Since|Due to the fact that} even with {just|simply} {recommendations|suggestions} from {neighbors|next-door neighbors}, you {just|simply} can’t go off that alone.”Tips for {choosing|selecting|picking} the {right|best|ideal} {contractor|professional|specialist} {Consider|Think about} these {tips|suggestions|ideas|pointers} when
{Ask for|Request|Request for} {references|recommendations|referrals}. Ask the {contractor|professional|specialist} for a list of {recent|current} {local|regional} {references|recommendations|referrals} you {may|might} {contact|get in touch with|call}. Ask the {references|recommendations|referrals} about the services {performed|carried out} and their {overall|general|total} experience with the {contractor|professional|specialist} and the quality of the work. {Ask if the {contractor|professional|specialist} {stuck to|stayed with|adhered to} the {estimated|approximated} {budget|budget plan|spending plan} and {completion|conclusion} date for the {project|job|task}.|If the {contractor|professional|specialist} stuck to the {estimated|approximated} {budget|budget plan|spending plan} and {completion|conclusion} date for the {project|job|task}, ask.} {If possible, {inspect|examine|check} the {contractor|professional|specialist}’s work yourself.|{Inspect|Examine|Check} the {contractor|professional|specialist}’s work yourself if possible.} Ask if the {contractor|professional|specialist} {is a member of|belongs to} {a professional|an expert} association that has {standards|requirements} or a code of {ethics|principles}.
{Ask for|Request|Request for} {multiple|several|numerous} quotes. You {should|ought to|must|need to} {always|constantly} {shop around|look around|search} and get at least {three|3} quotes from {different|various} {businesses|companies|services|organizations}. {Make sure|Ensure|Make certain} all {bids|quotes} {consider|think about} the {same|exact same|very same} set of {criteria|requirements}. {Remember that|Keep in mind that|Bear in mind that} {the lowest|the most affordable} {bid|quote} {may|might} not {necessarily|always} be {the best|the very best} {bid|quote}; if one {bid|quote} is {significantly|considerably|substantially} lower than the others, the {contractor|professional|specialist} {may|might} be cutting corners or {may|might} not {understand|comprehend} your work requirements.
Get it in {writing|composing}. {Always|Constantly} get {estimates|quotes|price quotes} in {writing|composing} and {never|never ever} let any work {begin|start} without {a written|a composed} and signed {contract|agreement}. Do not be {pressured|pressed|pushed} into signing {an agreement|a contract|an arrangement} {before|prior to} you are {ready|prepared|all set} and {make sure|ensure|make certain} you {{read|check out} and {understand|comprehend}|{understand|comprehend} and {read|check out}} {everything|whatever} {before|prior to} {signing|finalizing}. The {contract|agreement} {should|ought to|must|needs to} {include|consist of} contact {{information|info|details}, start and {finish|surface}|{information|info|details}, {finish|surface} and start|start, {information|info|details} and {finish|surface}|start, {finish|surface} and {information|info|details}|{finish|surface}, {information|info|details} and start|{finish|surface}, start and {information|info|details}} dates, {a detailed|a comprehensive|an in-depth} description of the {exact|precise|specific} work to be done, any {material|product} {costs|expenses}, payment {arrangements|plans} and {warranty|guarantee|service warranty} {information|info|details}. {Specify|Define} who is to {obtain|acquire|get} {necessary|required|needed|essential} {building|structure} {permits|licenses|authorizations} and who {is responsible for|is accountable for} {cleanup|clean-up}. {Make sure|Ensure|Make certain} all {verbal|spoken} {promises|guarantees|pledges} are {included|consisted of} in the {contract|agreement}. Ask {how much|just how much} work will be {subcontracted|farmed out} and {ask for|request|request for} {information|info|details} on the subcontractors. {Ask {questions|concerns} if you do not {understand|comprehend} any part of the {contract|agreement}.|If you do not {understand|comprehend} any part of the {contract|agreement}, ask {questions|concerns}.} {Never|Never ever} sign {a {incomplete|insufficient} or {partially|partly} blank |a {partially|partly} blank or {incomplete|insufficient}} {contract|agreement}.
Verify license and {insurance|insurance coverage}. {Always|Constantly} {be sure|make sure|make certain} that the {company|business} you {decide|choose} to {work with|deal with} has the {necessary|required|needed|essential} licenses and {insurance|insurance coverage} to {work in|operate in} your {region|area}. In the United States , youcan get
to your state’s licensing {agency|company|firm} {to learn more|to find out more|for more information|to get more information|to read more} here. In Canada, requirements {differ|vary} from province to province. {Search for|Look for} {information|info|details} {specific|particular} to the province you are {having|having actually} the work done. Your {local|regional} BBB can {help|assist}. {Once|When|As soon as} you have your {contractor|professional|specialist}’s {insurance|insurance coverage} {information|info|details}, call the {carrier|provider} to {confirm|verify|validate} {appropriate|suitable|proper} {coverage|protection} for {worker|employee}’s {compensation|payment|settlement}, {property|residential or commercial property|home} damage and {personal|individual} liability in case of {accidents|mishaps}. {Confirm|Verify|Validate} {building|structure} {permits|licenses|authorizations}. Your {contractor|professional|specialist} {must|should|needs to} have the {correct|appropriate|right|proper} {permits|licenses|authorizations}{before|prior to} {starting|beginning} your {project|job|task} . They will {usually|typically|normally|generally} {obtain|acquire|get} the {permits|licenses|authorizations}, {but|however} you will {probably|most likely} {pay for|spend for} them. That {should|ought to|must|need to} be detailed in your {contract|agreement}. {Request|Demand} that all {final|last} {inspections|evaluations|assessments|examinations} be {completed|finished} by the {local|regional} {building|structure} {official|authorities} prior to {final|last} payment. {Inquire about|Ask about} a lien waiver. A lien waiver, in the United States, is {a statement|a declaration} from
your {contractor|professional|specialist} that {says|states} all {{suppliers|providers} and subcontractors|subcontractors and {suppliers|providers}} {have|have actually} been {paid for|spent for} their work. In some Canadian provinces, there is {a mandatory|an obligatory|a necessary|a compulsory} {Builders|Contractors|Home builders} Lien holdback, so {ensure|guarantee} you {understand|comprehend} any {financial|monetary} {obligations|responsibilities|commitments} you {may|might} be {liable|responsible|accountable} for. {Think about|Consider|Think of} future service {issues|problems|concerns}.
{Make sure|Ensure|Make certain} you {are aware of|know|understand} your {warranty|guarantee|service warranty} {coverage|protection} and how to {deal with|handle} service {issues|problems|concerns}.
payments so your {final|last} payment is not due {until|up until|till} the work is {complete|total} and you {have|have actually} {fully|completely|totally} {inspected|examined|checked} it. Do not pay {cash|money}; {make sure|ensure|make certain} your check is {written|composed} to {a company|a business}, not {an individual|a private|a specific} or that you {use|utilize} {a credit card|a charge card}. Paying with {a credit card|a charge card} will {provide|offer|supply} some {recourse|option} {should|ought to|must|needs to} the {job|task} not be {completed|finished} as {stated|specified|mentioned} in the {contract|agreement}. Get {a receipt|an invoice}. {Request|Ask for} {a receipt|an invoice} marked “Paid {in Full|completely}” when the {job|task} is {completed|finished} and your {final|last} payment made.
Keep your {contract|agreement}. {Hold on|Hang on} to your {contract|agreement} for future {reference|recommendation|referral} or if any {questions|concerns} {arise|occur|develop|emerge} after the work is {complete|total}.
Source: ksdk.com