Troubleshooter Diane Wilson investigates Carolina Hot Tub Repair
CHATHAM COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- A hot tub company has left many Triangle residents with no fix and out their money. Now the owner is in trouble with the law.
Andy Renz hired Carolina Hot Tub Repair back in March. He paid the owner of the company Charles Rawson half of the total cost of the repair -- $745.
"He said the parts will be shipped to me. He would give me the tracking number, and as soon as they come, I call them and he comes and installs and he was talking about a week time frame," Andy said.
However one week, turned into many weeks.
"And finally I go to him on the phone. He said, 'Well, yes it was delayed,' and actually the parts were shipped to him rather to their company together with nine other customers and he will all come and install that," Andy said.
Yet, that never happened, so Andy got in touch with me.
The owner of Carolina Hot Tub Repair told me they had two deaths in the family and they were out of state, and since they couldn't install the parts by the deadline they did agree to give Andy his money back by May, but no refund was ever sent.
"So money is gone, nothing happened - I don't even know if these parts were ever ordered," Andy said.
Andy is not alone. A Hillsborough viewer complained to me after paying the owner $391 for a hot tub fix that she says never happened. Another Durham viewer paid $708 to Carolina Hot Tub Repair and says he's also still waiting for his repair.
Plus, there are more problems when it comes to his identity. Andy and other viewers told me the owner of Carolina Hot Tub Repair said his name was Charles Rawson, but we learned he goes by several different aliases. Other names include Gordon Smith and C. Smith Gordan.
Additionally, he's no stranger to problems when it comes to his hot tub companies. He's operated several different hot tub companies throughout North Carolina over the years and has been convicted of obtaining property under false pretenses and worthless checks. All of which is shocking information to Andy who says he wants to know how this business owner continues to do this to his customers.
"Give me my money back. There's no excuse for such a behavior. And also I don't want this to happen to other people," Andy said.
Wednesday afternoon, more charges were filed by the Chatham County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators say the owner of Carolina Hot Tub Repair's real name is C. Smith Gordan. He's now charged with the felony obtaining property under false pretenses and failing to do work after being paid.
I did reach out to Gordan but he hasn't gotten back to me.
The best advice, do your research before giving any company money up front.
Contact Troubleshooter Diane Wilson
