THOMAS COUNTY, Ga. (WCTV) – A Valdosta contractor accused of turning desires into nightmares is now being accused of swindling a number of Thomas County households out of hundreds of {dollars} as nicely.
Jerry Maxwell Ward, often known as “Max Ward” and proprietor of High quality Swimming pools & Patio, is dealing with practically two dozen complaints throughout a minimum of two counties concerning his firm. The allegations started in Lowndes, however now officers with TCSO say alleged victims have come ahead with comparable tales about Ward.
One native girl instructed WCTV her household has dreamed of getting a pool. Ashley Morris signed a contract with Ward final yr in June paying a $20,856 deposit. Morris mentioned she then paid Ward a further $20,000 in November 2021, and a last cost of $14,000 in April 2022.
She shared pictures and video of the unfinished work, together with landscaping round the place the pool was alleged to be.
“Mr. Ward has been contracted over right here to do some work,” Capt. Tim Watkins with TCSO mentioned. “He has obtained cost for that work and he has but to supply the providers that he was paid for.”
Watkins mentioned there are a minimum of three different households within the space with the identical story. Nevertheless, he mentioned Ward got here extremely beneficial to the alleged victims from former prospects.
“Different folks had their swimming pools achieved and raved about his work. Sadly, I don’t know what monetary difficulties he’s fallen into, however he’s failed to supply the providers in a minimum of these 4 victims’ instances,” Capt. Watkins mentioned.
Morris mentioned that there was a Fb web page made entitled “Victims of High quality Swimming pools/Max Ward,” and that there are a minimum of 78 folks within the group.
One Valdosta household, Bridgette and Clayton Singletary got here ahead and shared their expertise with Ward. The couple says they initially met with him again in November 2021. They have been instructed they might have a pool and be swimming by the summer season of 2022, in line with Bridgette, nevertheless, not lengthy after their first cost to High quality Swimming pools and Patio did Ward cease making contact.
“He referred to as my husband and requested him for a down cost. My husband mentioned okay. He requested for $12,000. We gave him $12,000 money cash. We didn’t hear anything from him. March 1st rolled round, by no means confirmed up,” mentioned Mrs. Singletary.
Bridgette claims in Could, Ward reached out once more and requested for a further $12,000 which they paid him. The couple says Ward had his crew come out to dig the outlet for the pool however didn’t dig deep sufficient, or within the form they requested. Then the Singletary’s say the work and communication stopped altogether.
“It actually set us again tremendously financially. We weren’t anticipating to lose that form of cash up entrance after which have to begin over,” mentioned Clayton Singletary.
After spending over $20,000, the couple says the outlet sat of their yard amassing rain water and finally triggered points round their house.
“Our complete property was falling in. It was actually unhealthy,” mentioned Clayton, which compelled them to achieve out to a different pool contractor to complete the job Ward had began.
Larry Watford, the proprietor of Watford Swimming pools says fixing the mess allegedly left behind by Ward was a troublesome job. Nevertheless, he’s pleased he was capable of assist make the household’s dream of getting a pool come true.
Watford says whereas a lot of Ward’s potential victims claimed he got here extremely suggest, one of the simplest ways to keep away from being taken benefit of is by doing your personal homework and asking for proof of labor.
“Ask to have a look at the builders pool. Are you able to present me photos of your swimming pools?” mentioned Watford. ”How lengthy have you ever been constructing swimming pools? Are you able to present me a portfolio of swimming pools that you just’ve constructed within the final two years,” he added.
We reached out to the contact quantity for the enterprise High quality Swimming pools & Patio and nobody answered. In keeping with Google the corporate is completely closed, and the constructing is gated.
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