Just off the presses this week – the crooked owner of Classic Fence Company has pleaded guilty to deliberately bilking his customers and may be going to jail (read story, here).
I didn’t realize when we signed up with Classic Fence in August 2017 that Fred DeNormand had been stiffing his clients since 2016. I had found no negative reports in my on-line research, and he sounded so pleasant the couple of times I spoke with him on the phone. Perfect con man!
I still wonder what made me use the credit card for that down payment. At that time, it was a badge of honor for me to pay cash for everything – but something (or someone up there) whispered in my ear that perhaps on this one occasion, I should use the credit card “in case anything happens.” I got my money back through the credit card company, but I suspect all those Classic Fence customers who wrote checks or paid cash will be waiting a long time for repayment. After all, if the guy didn’t have money to pay his employees or his business taxes (I checked), how is he suddenly going to cough up nearly $140,000 to refund all those down payments? There are judgments on record against him since 2017 – good luck collecting on those!
Meanwhile, Puppy Cody and I are enjoying our nice fenced-in yard, as you all know. A couple of runs the full length of the yard while chasing bunnies, and Cody is ready to nap the rest of the day.
Happy Friday the 13th, Everyone!
May your day be prank-free.
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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com
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Images by Cordelia’s Mom
Cordelia's Mom, Still 
Hard to believe he got away with it for so long. You’re one of the lucky ones. Good thing you trusted your intuition, or whatever it was nudging you to pull out your credit card.
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He had been in business for over 60 years and always had a good reputation. I don’t know what happened to him towards the end.
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Strange. Something must have set him off.
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He claimed his bookkeeper robbed him, and supposedly went to jail for it. But I don’t know that I believe that would have prevented him from honoring his existing contracts, and if he didn’t have money to complete the work, he never should have taken on new contracts.
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Yep. Something doesn’t smell right about his explanation.
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One, glad you got your money back, and two Hurrah! He’s got caught!
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I am soooo glad I got the money back. No way could I have waited another two years or more to get my fence!
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Good for you and for all of his customers/victims who were yet to be
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Yep, but I feel bad for those who lost money. I really don’t think those down payments will ever be refunded.
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That is awful and at least there will be no more
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Great looking lawn for one happy dog. I’m SO glad you got your money back!
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Huge lawn, not so huge dog. Works out well.
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So glad to hear this worked out for you. Usually the stories don’t end up that way. (And your yard is FABULOUS! So much fun for your pup.)
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Thanks, Laura. Things usually don’t work out so well for me. This was definitely an exception. We’re all enjoying that yard – Cody can run, and I can just open the door and let her out. Win-win.
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