Customers Left Stranded as Charleston Roofing Company Vanishes

News Summary

In Charleston, multiple customers of Orange Elephant Roofing have reported losing thousands of dollars after the company disappeared following severe weather events. Owners, including Jake Kelly, seem unreachable as customers face frustration over unfulfilled roofing repairs. The company’s business license is suspended, and it is currently facing numerous lawsuits. Affected clients are left in the dark with no means to recover their funds. Other local roofing companies are stepping up to assist these stranded homeowners.

Customers Left Stranded as Charleston’s Orange Elephant Roofing Disappears With Thousands in Payments

Charleston, South Carolina – In a troubling turn of events, multiple customers of Orange Elephant Roofing have come forward to report that they are unable to reach the company after having paid thousands of dollars for roofing repairs. This unfortunate situation arose mainly after numerous severe weather events, including a recent microburst that left many homeowners scrambling for assistance.

Orange Elephant Roofing has been a licensed roofing company since 2019, with Jake Kelly listed as its owner. Unfortunately, recent reports indicate that the company has seemingly vanished, taking clients’ hard-earned money with it. Customers have shared experiences of desperation and frustration as they’ve attempted to connect with the company via various phone numbers, only to find an empty office.

For instance, Alexis Tecosky paid a staggering $12,000, only to discover that the company’s office was vacant when her brother visited the Charleston location. He described the scene: a once-bustling workspace turned into an abandoned space filled with leftover equipment and paperwork. To add insult to injury, the company’s listed North Charleston address is no longer valid, and attempts to contact them through official phone numbers and emails have gone unanswered.

And it’s not just Tecosky who has been affected. Other customers, including Amanda Karabees and 94-year-old veteran James Natividad, report similar experiences after paying $12,000 and $6,000 respectively. Customers who have sought refunds were often told it could take six to eight weeks, yet many have reported receiving no compensation.

To complicate matters, Orange Elephant Roofing’s business license has been administratively suspended since November 1 due to the absence of a primary qualifying party. Additionally, the company is now facing over a dozen lawsuits in the Lowcountry area dating back to 2020, further complicating the path to resolution for frustrated clients.

The South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation has remained tight-lipped on the specifics of the complaints against the company. Meanwhile, the Department of Consumer Affairs has indicated that affected customers have no direct means to recover their funds. They can, however, file police reports and lodge complaints with relevant regulatory bodies to seek redress.

In light of this situation, some roofing companies, including New Beginnings Construction and Patriot Roofing, have stepped in to offer their services at cost to those impacted by Orange Elephant’s disappearance. This act of goodwill is an essential lifeline for homeowners left in the lurch.

Among the many who have shared their experiences, Ellen Davis from Summerville and her neighbor Lachelle Brooks echoed similar frustrations. Both women claim that after handing over their checks for roof repairs, they were left in the dark, with no communication or updates from the company.

In an ongoing suit, Gulfeagle Supply has accused Orange Elephant of breaching contract terms over unpaid materials amounting to nearly $18,000, illustrating the level of financial distress the company has landed in. Moreover, complaints to the Illinois Attorney General’s office regarding Orange Elephant have led to the revocation of the company’s business license in that state as well.

A former manager of Orange Elephant Roofing has shed light on the financial troubles facing the company, leading to unfulfilled jobs and unpaid contractors. Customers are openly voicing their frustrations and feeling scammed, calling for accountability and action against the company.

This challenging episode has prompted many homeowners to reassess their approach to hiring contractors. The need for due diligence and thorough research before committing funds to roofing services has never been more apparent for Charleston residents navigating this rocky landscape.

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