Gulf Atlantic Industries of America

9/27/2019
Dear Ms. Arundel:
I am writing to you in response to an e-mail I received from Mr. Sechriest on 9/9/2019. Referring to Case number 2018033486, several of the statements made by Mr. Sechriest and/or his representatives are false. It is only now that I am able to read Mr. Odens’ letter to you dated Friday, September 7, 2018 9:16 AM. Though Mr. Sechriest stated that he “has tried to call me several times”, he has made no attempt to contact me for over 6 months, even though he has my contact information, i.e. e-mail and phone number. My e-mail and phone number are both clearly stated on the contract.
A contract was signed on November 2nd, 2017. After verbal discussions with the local office located at 454 S. Yonge St., Suite D, Ormond Beach, FL 32174. I was informed that the full disbursement of funds I received from the insurance company in the amount of $16,000.00 would need to be deposited into the account of Gulf Atlantic Industries of America Disaster Relief, LLC. (“the company”) before any work was to be performed. I was not comfortable with sending the full amount, until some work had commenced. We mutually agreed to half the amount and I issued a check for the amount of $8000.00, which was more than was needed to “commence substantive work within 30 days of receiving at least 10% of the total job amount”.
Mr. Sechriest is in violation of section 489.129(1)(j) Florida statutes, and section 489.126(2)(a), Florida statutes, by receiving an initial payment of more than 10 percent of the contract price and not applying for necessary permits to perform work within 30 days after the date the payment was provided. I have no documentation that the company applied for a permit. No work was performed within the 90 day limit according to statute. The total to complete the work is quoted by Mr. Sechriest at $60,000.00. The $8000.00 deposit would still be considered more than the 10 percent of the total cost, even though that total is a complete exaggeration.
Mr. Sechriest also requested additional funds from the insurance company without my knowledge. Mr. Sechriest was able to contact the insurance company, yet claimed that he was still unable to contact me, is disingenuous at best. I only became aware of this after the insurance company contacted me regarding this issue, which required my signature for additional funds. I informed the insurance company that they were not to forward any additional funds, since no work was performed on the roof for 6 months, with the exception of a tarp placed on the roof, and that I would not endorse any additional funds to Mr. Sechriest.
For several months, I attempted to make phone contact with “Emily” at the local office in Ormond Beach, with no success. There was either no answer, I would have to leave a message, or the mailbox was full. It was difficult to make a personal appearance since I do not reside in the state of Florida, and also work full time. The company also has a website with no contact information.
On March 27th 2018, I received an e-mail from Ocean Villas Homeowners association. They were concerned about the length of time it was taking to have the roof replaced. I forwarded that concern to Mr. Sechriest the next day. Later that afternoon, Mr. Sechriest responded and asked about the color of the tile. On April 4th 2018, the Ocean Villas Homeowners association provided the information to Mr. Sechriest (using the e-mail “gulfatlanticstormpros@hotmailcom”) on the specific color of the roof tile. The e-mail stated:
“The tile that must be used is Mediterranean Style tile colored Mission Red.
Your roofer should be familiar with this style and type.” Mr. Odens’ statement that “Additionally no one has ever told us what tile is accepted by the homeowners association on this.” Is completely false.

On June 1st, more than six months after the initial signing of the contract, I received an e-mail from Mr. Sechriest stating “Jim, I am sorry I have been swamped. I think I will have to send my QC guy over there with a sample to match.” I assume QC is Quality Control. Why would it take 7 months (since the initial contract) to ask me about the color of the tile (again), when the company was already provided with this information ? Mr. Sechriest was well aware of the color of the tile two months prior, when he sent an e-mail to JGA Beacon Roofing Supply Company on April 4th 2018.
At this point, I received a complaint from the Homeowners Association about the tarp shredding on my roof and it needed to be replaced since my roof was no longer protected from the elements. They were concerned about the extensive time it was taking to have the roof replaced. They were now seeking legal relief against me from the city of Ormond Beach, and I had to explain the issues I faced to replace my roof.
At this point, I was concerned that the roof would never be replaced by Mr. Sechriests’ company. Mr. Oden states that “We cannot give the homeowner a co