Port Neches couple raises contractor complaints

A husband and wife in Port Neches are trying to repair damage to their home from Hurricane Ike, but they claim a contractor who started on the work, has stopped and not returned in more than a week.  The contractor says there is more to the story.

Most people who hire contractors for home repairs put these signs in their yards to promote the company they're using, but the Gutierrez's in Port Neches are leaving this sign in their yard to warn others of the company they wish they hadn't hired.

Joe Gutierrez said, "Oh it's just a mess."

The 77-year-old says his roof began leaking after Hurricane Ike damaged it in September.  His nephew, Lin Boudreaux, patched up the inside but knew more needed to be done on the outside.

Boudreaux said, "Found about 50 holes and at that point we decided we needed to get a contractor."

Gutierrez and his 80-year-old wife had to borrow $6,000 from a relative to pay Art Northcutt's business, House Top Roofing and Tree Service, to start work on their home two weeks ago.

Boudreaux said, "He took the shingles off the house and put that tar paper on there and that porch, he put that porch there and that's about it."

The family says Northcutt worked for about three days but hasn't been back in more than a week. They also say he hasn't returned their many phone calls to his business. The Better Business Bureau reports the same problems for House Top on its website. According to the BBB, House Top Roofing and Tree Service has an 'F' rating.. and has failed to respond to several complaints, which include failure to honor a contract or agreement and delayed completion of service.

On the second try, KFDM reached the owner by phone Wednesday. He told us he hasn't returned to the Gutierrez's because they haven't paid him the full amount.. and claims he's working another job to get the money to finish their project.

But the Gutierrez's say their contract calls for a monthly payment, and it's only been two weeks since the job began. The family says it wants the job done before hurricane season hits its peak.

Boudreaux said, "We're standing on the edge right now, it could go either way, if it rains, has a heavy rain, it blows the tar paper off, then we're gonna be in a pickle."

KFDM also asked Northcutt about his BBB rating. While he refused an on camera interview, he had this to say by phone, "99.9% of my customers are satisfied with my work."

He said, "It does take longer at times, but I do finish the job and eventually they're satisfied."

KFDM also searched public data for information on Art Northcutt.  We found several criminal charges from 1987 to 1997, across at least five counties.  It shows convictions for misdemeanor theft by check and writing hot checks.  There was one felony theft conviction in Jefferson County.

Northcutt confirmed the information, but said, "I get checks from a lot of people. some people give me good checks, some people give me bad ones."

The Gutierrez's say they're considering taking Northcutt to small claims court.