Cam Cervo lives with cerebral palsy. It makes it difficult for him to accomplish some household tasks.
So when it came time for a major home renovation, he needed to hire someone to help get the job done.
He did some research and eventually contracted ‘Reline Construction’ run by Clynton Mann, after getting a few quotes and a recommendation from a friend.
After the work began the couple paid Mann almost fifteen thousand dollars over the summer to keep the project moving.
But, Cervo said, Mann stopped coming back to do the work; leaving the couple no choice but to bring in someone else to finish the job.
Now, they just want their money back.
If he could talk to the contractor face-to-face, “I would just say lets just sign a deal, meet the terms you need” Cam said, “structure it the way you want and get it paid back.”
Global News contacted Mann over the phone last Friday. He acknowledged an error in judgement and agreed to contact the Cervos to make things right.
“I made a mistake, I understand,” Cam said ” I’m just going to call Cam here and or text message and tell him that I want to rectify it again and I’ll make arrangements to make monthly payments and so you have that proof and I’ll send it to you.”
He then sent a text message to Global News, addressed to the homeowner saying, “How would you like the first $100 sent to you?”
But, the homeowner says he still hasn’t seen any money, all he has is Mann now telling him through a Facebook message that his phone is broken.
“He’s really difficult to get a hold of. I get messages here and there, but nothing that I can nail down and book a time.”
Friends of the family started a Gofundme page and helped finish the job, but the Cervos say it cost them close to ten thousand dollars more to buy materials and complete the renovations.
Home renovation fraud is the most common complaint Service Alberta receives; coming in at more than 1200 complaints since last April.
Investigators at Service Alberta say they are pursuing the Cervos’ complaint, but that it’s too early in the investigation to comment.
Cam says his kids education is all he cares about.
“To put that money away and then have it all gone, starting over that way, is really frustrating.”