Quality Mobile Home Services

My 73 year old mother was recently defrauded by Quality Mobile Home Services Inc. whom she contracted with for services related to her home in Huntington Beach, California. On September 12, 2013, Quality Mobile Home Services Inc. (“QMHS”) of Lake Elsinore, California, collected $1,000 from her, pursuant to a Property Improvement and Agreement, with a total estimate of $40,000 for the project. On November 17, 2013, QMHS collected another payment in the amount of $15,000 and indicated the money was for the purchase of materials. At no time were materials purchased, plans approved or work commenced.
On March 30, 2014, I was informed by my elderly mother that she had given QMHS $16,000, seven months prior and no work had been done. She indicated that she wanted to cancel the contract and get the money back. I researched the situation and soon learned that no plans had been approved (the plans submitted by QHMS had violated fire and safety codes) and that plans to fix the problem had not been resubmitted.
Exasperated with the situation, I told QMHS that my mother was cancelling the contract for violation of law and nonperformance and wanted her money back. Several weeks went by without any response from the contractor. The contractor then put me in contact with their attorney. After much haranguing, the attorney offered a settlement of about half of the deposit, which I refused due to the fact that the money should never have been collected (there were many violations of law relative to the collection of the money) and no services had been performed, including approved plans. I demanded a full refund, which the contractor refused.
I have since reported the contractor to the California State Contractors License Board, to which they have indicated that the contractor has refused to return their calls after several months. The Board has indicated that it has heightened the complaint and will likely cite the contractor. However, this does not recover the money as the contractor continues to ignore us and the governing bodies and it doesn’t pursue the criminal actions of the contractor. We’re also in the process of reporting the crime to the Huntington Beach Police Department as recommended by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, which may be escalated as a case to be pursued by the District Attorney at a later date.
The contractor has violated several laws regarding frontloading, receipt of deposits and general required contractual obligations. Specifically, Business and Professions Codes Sections 7159.D8A, 7159.D9A, 7159.D10A, 7159.E4, 7159.5A3 and 7159.5A5. Additionally, Penal Code Section 368(d), relative to financial abuse of the elderly, as well as many other violations.
The State Contractors Board warns the elderly against contractors who take advance payments and payments in excess of the maximum deposit of $1,000. Specifically, they warn that the elderly often falls victim to contractors as they are easy prey since they tend to have more liquid assets for retirement. We feel that the contractor took advantage of the situation and the naivety of my elderly mother. The State Contractors Board indicates, “It is illegal for a construction contractor to accept a down payment of more than 10 percent of the total home improvement contract price or $1,000, whichever is less. It is also illegal to “front load” the contract by asking for project funds in advance,” as well as indicating that contractors when working with the elderly are often “opportunity driven” and the elderly are often “easy targets.”
We are exasperated in this matter and want to warn others against using the services of Quality Mobile Home Services Inc. BUYER BEWARE!!