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Contractor helps customers who say Jacksonville roofer scammed them

Five Jacksonville homeowners who say they were scammed by a local roofing company are getting a weight lifted off their shoulders.

ELO Restoration has committed to fixing at least five Carlson Enterprises customers’ roofs, and waiving the amount the homeowners already paid Carlson in their deductibles and first insurance checks.

Action News Jax was the first to investigate Carlson Enterprises in last October for accusations the roofing company took customers’ money, but did not complete the promised work.

MORE: Customers accuse Jacksonville roofer of taking money, not doing the work | Jacksonville roofing company executives start new business after complaints | Employee reveals evidence Jacksonville roofer faked positive BBB reviews 

Sharon Howell said her insurance company paid Carlson Enterprises a $2,300 deposit after Hurricane Irma, but the company never fixed her roof.

“I just didn’t like the way things were going. I didn’t think they were being proper,” said Howell. “I got a few more gray hairs.”

Now ELO Restoration has installed a new roof on her house and waived the money her insurance company already paid Carlson Enterprises.

A lawsuit filed by the attorney general accuses the Jacksonville-based company of stealing more than half-million dollars from at least 72 homeowners.

In April, a Duval County judge signed an injunction and froze the company’s assets.

But for now, customers like Howell still can’t get their money back.

“We wanted to get it done. We didn’t want the house leaking,” said Howell.

ELO Restoration Chief Financial Officer Pam Williams said she saw it an opportunity to give back.

“It’s heartbreaking -- one, for our industry because people get a bad taste in their mouth for contractors. And two, you see people being victimized,” said Williams.

ELO Restoration wants to help more Northeast Florida victims who have lost money to unlicensed or unscrupulous contractors who never completed the work.

There are three ways to nominate yourself or someone you know:

  1. Go to ELO Restoration's website and submit the nomination through the "request a quote" page.
  2. Email the nomination to info@elorestoration.com
  3. Message the company's Facebook page