Victims Respond To Choo Choo Exteriors Story

NewsChannel 9 has come into contact with ten more purported victims of Choo Choo Exteriors. We broke the story on our website about the company taking deposits from customers for home improvements, namely windows but still not delivering services.

Victims have flooded our station and the court system after we first broke the story of Choo Choo Exteriors alleged deceptive business practices on Tuesday. Police arrested the owner Curtis Powell last Friday and several additional charges have been added some after our story aired.

Homeowners say the exterior siding and window company's advertisement in local papers at very good prices. The company was licensed and bonded. But homeowners have hit the same problem. They put up half of the money required for their job....reportedly to pay for windows being manufactured.

But the deadlines have passed for more than 20 homeowners who have NO windows and shattered bank accounts.

To date, Scott McCloud and his wife have lost the most money. They put $7,200 down, half the amount for a roof replacement, new windows, gutters, the whole treatment. But that didn't happen.

McCloud said, "We did get a roof installed, I'm guessing maybe about five thousand. Yeah it does (hurt,) especially when we refinanced our home to get that money and now we're going to be paying on that for another 30 years and not have anything to show for it."

Again, we have been flooded with calls. If you are a victim, Alder and Cox, the insurance company which wrote the surety bond for Choo Choo Exteriors advises you to call its adjuster. You can reach Carol Holtshouser with questions at (423) 847-6600. Johnny Cox of Alder and Cox says the bond was for only $10,000. Cox says an interpleader, or quit claim, may need to be filed for homeowners not covered by the surety bond amount. In other words, homeowners may have to take Powell to civil court to recoup damages.