Consumer complaint received 2025-09-29 00:00:00
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam — 
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
b'Victim: XXXX XXXXAddress of job: XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  FL XXXXPhone: XXXX  Email: XXXXXXXXTotal paid: $XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX check + $XXXX  XXXX  Chase bankXXXX XXXX XXXX Permit: XXXX for XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  in XXXX XXXX for new driveway extended and adding half circle driveway with curve blending into new patio. All plain concrete. XXXX PSI, 4 and 6approach, fiber mesh, expansion jointsXXXXSuspectsXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  (owner, collected deposit of $XXXX  on XXXX XXXX XXXX  listed as applicant on my XXXX XXXX XXXX permit paperwork XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX (qualifier of record on my XXXX permit) XXXXXXXXTimeline of EventsXXXX contacted Michael De La Rosa of Decorative Concrete Driveways & Patios LLC at XXXX XXXXHe came to my property the same day, quoted $XXXX, lowered to $XXXX, then offered $XXXX. I didnt see at the time this is a tactic to offer too good of a deal to get me to sign a contract now.\nHe wrote a $XXXX  contract requiring: 30% deposit ($3,000), 20% after permit approval/demo, 50% at concrete pour. (Photo attached)\nAt his request, he preferred XXXX  only, I was only able to send $XXXX  via XXXX  to XXXX and $XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX check XXXX  payable to XXXX XXXX XXXX The check was cashed the same day. (Photo attached)XXXXXXXX assistant, XXXX XXXX, came to my house for me to sign XXXX XXXX XXXX permit paperworkXXXX  asked XXXX  for a survey drawing. The drawing he sent omitted sections we had discussed. I sent him a marked photo showing the missing areas, and he confirmed in text they would be includedXXXX checked the XXXX XXXX XXXX  portal and saw a permit application submitted for my address.\nThat evening, XXXX  called and said he wanted to start and finish the entire project the next day XXXXXXXX a text message, he stated all work would be completed in one day, including demo, framing, and concrete pour.\nI responded, lets wait for permit approval. He did not reply Until the bank notified him the check was filed as fraud and they clawed back the $XXXX  check only. (Exhibit E  TextsXXXX paid $XXXX  permit fee directly to the XXXX XXXX XXXX.\nThe City denied the permit for missing zoning/survey affidavit and property owner section.\nAt XXXX  request, I signed a survey affidavit the same day. No corrected documents were filed afterward and had no updates since. Additionally I asked her to confirm the survey drawing was updated multiple times and did not hear back regarding thisXXXX texted XXXX  for updates. On XXXX she said she was meeting with XXXX  and would update me. No updates followed.XXXX XXXX XXXX confirmed nothing new has been added to my permit. Which means XXXX  did not upload the survey affidavit she asked me to sign. I also discovered there was another document needed signed per the denial which she did not have me complete. I started researching into XXXX  more and his past companies.\nIt should be noted XXXX, and his current XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  and even past dissolved XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  all have a XXXX  rating of F with multiple negative reviews and complaints showing a pattern of collecting deposits/not completing work/or disappearing. All this information was unknown at the time I gave a deposit. There were no good reviews except on his social media which he posted of a sheet of paper (my belief is these could have been created by XXXX, printed and posted).\nAdditionally on my Permit the contractor name is XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Who Also has XXXX  rating of F multiple complaints. Michael lied about being licensed and insured and this  XXXX  name or company was never informed to me and I paid XXXX  and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXSo at this time, I have discovered multiple negative reviews specifically naming XXXX  and his company taking deposits and not completing jobs. I also discovered dissolved XXXX  in his name with same issues and even the contractor on my permit (XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXFurther researching, I learned that contractors may use stall tactics making it seem as if they are waiting on permit, when really they arent submitting corrections, waiting on the Bank deadlines to pass before completely disappearing. So then I would miss deadlines for calling check in as fraud making it harder to get my money back.XXXXHaving seen no corrections filed since XXXX, and with deposit deadlines approaching, To protect myself, I called XXXX XXXX XXXX  explained what is happening and they assisted with reporting the $XXXX  check as fraud. They placed a hold on the funds (heard this only from XXXX) since XXXX XXXX XXXX can not tell me whats the status of another persons account. But it appears the money is on hold until they finish their investigation.XXXXXXXXConfirmed with city building dept and they stated still no resubmissions since the denial of XXXX also Text both XXXX and XXXX  for updates to see if I get a response and if so I could ask why nothing has been submitted to permit- couple hours go by nothing. Last contact with XXXX at this point was him not responding to me when i saidlets wait for permit to be approved. This is a clear violation he wanted to start job in one day without permitXXXX  called me sounding angry about the bank action. He then texted: My bank just called you reported the check as fraudulent. We are ending services today fees may apply. \nI requested a refund. He refused, including for the XXXX XXXX. I respond in text:- Based on everything Id like full refund. You wanted to start and finish work on the day permit was submitted. You said the bank took out XXXX  from you to return to me, I still paid the additional XXXX XXXX payment which needs to be refunded. No work has been started. I spoke with XXXX XXXX XXXX building. There hasnt been any revisions uploaded made to permit after signing new survey document. It is also still missing additional documents. Reviews based on your name and businesses. Have numerous complaints of taking deposits and not doing work. Stalling and therefore making it harder for banks to retrieve money XXXX, The fact is I paid you XXXX XXXX  check + XXXX XXXX) no work was done, and the permit was denied with no resubmission. I need a full refund. If I dont receive it within 5 business days, Ill move forward with small claims, Attorney General and DBPR complaints, and other remedies. I waited days after your assistant said shed give me an update. You also didnt acknowledge after i said lets wait for permit , you clearly said in text you wanted to start work and complete in 1 day before permit was approved all based on your assistant said go ahead..which is a violation. The city also confirmed no revised paperwork has been submitted since the permit denial on XXXX Given the lack of communication and progress, I had no choice but to contact the bank to protect myself due to bank deadlines. I still expect a full refund of $XXXX. Just because the bank took $XXXX  out of your account doesnt mean I automatically get that til the investigation is complete. I also XXXX you $XXXX  which I need back. Im familiar with local and state laws and no work has been started. XXXXXXXX  responded via text:- Goodmorning $XXXX  Money was taken out of my account Ive had good and bad clients. I hire a permit assistant to deal with the permit and its not free. I can continue to work on the permit until its approved and we can touch base then. If you want the addresses I can send them over so you can see completed projects I dont take peoples money just to take it. I work very hard hands on. The whole process is work including the permit, all the run around\nI respond via text:- Good morning, thank you for the response. Ive been scammed before by contractors who stalled until it was too late for me to get my money back, so I cannot take that risk again. If you are serious about completing this job, the only way forward is to start fresh. That means refunding my full $XXXX  deposit now ($XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX check). The simplest way is to XXXX  me the $XXXX  directly. Once thats complete, I will notify Bank that the matter is resolved. After the permit is approved and the job is fully completed (with no issues or mid-project demands for more money), I will pay the full balance  and to show good faith, Im even willing to increase the final payment by $XXXX  (so instead of $XXXX, it would be $XXXX). I understand most contractors use deposits, but given the history of issues and complaints, the only way I can move forward is with full payment at completion. If the only way you will do the job is with a deposit, then it must be paid by credit card so both sides are protected. If these arrangements do not work for you, then I simply need my $XXXX  refunded by WednesdayXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  responded:- The $XXXX has been depleted already from my account and its in the air because Im guessing you dont have it either so now we gotta go through a 90 day process from the bank with your permit might be approved way before then and this money still gonna be on hold so unfortunately there is nothing to return. It has already been depleted out of my account and Im still working on our side trying to get your permit approved so how is that fair? and I am not making this up. I have the proof also there was Notary that was paid for to submit your permit. XXXX  doesnt work for free either. She gets paid as well to answer your phone calls and submit the permits so unfortunately, as of right now the money is in the air and Im waiting for your permit to get approved to get demolition started and concrete. Pour as agreed upon the only problem now is the $XXXX  in the air and your permit will be approved as soon as next week or this week. I just gotta make the revisions\XXXX  is only concerned about the $XXXX  depleted from his account. He does not acknowledge there is still a XXXX XXXX  payment. He claims to still be working on my permit but he just needs to make revisions which he has not done since we talked about the missing sections on the survey drawing on XXXX It is now XXXX  He also doesnt acknowledge starting fresh, and either yes or no on credit card or another secure form of payment. He mentioned twice now that he hired Dori as Permit assistant (later in this report, according to Dori who contradicts herself, she claims to been hired but then also not received any of my $XXXX). \nI respond via text:- Florida Statute 489.126 requires that a contractor who takes a deposit but does not perform actual work must return the deposit. Work means tangible labor or materials on the job, not administrative tasks like paperwork or phone calls. Since no construction has begun and the City has not even received the updated survey drawing I requested, you are legally required to fully refund my $XXXX  deposit. Please XXXX $XXXX  immediately to my cell and I will notify Bank to release the hold on the check. My deadline remains XXXX XXXX XXXX  The City denied the permit on XXXX  for a missing affidavit and another document. I signed the affidavit that same afternoon, yet nothing has been resubmitted since. The updated survey drawing I texted you about on XXXX, and which you acknowledged on XXXX  with yes, has also never been filed with the City. In your own words you said you just gotta make the revisions. If thats the case, why has nothing been resubmitted since XXXX? As of today, the City still has not received the affidavit I signed on XXXX  and has never seen the updated survey drawing you agreed to include prior to the initial permit application. \n\nHe did not respond furtherXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX went in person to the XXXX XXXX XXXX  Building Dept.\nStaff confirmed my file contained a XXXX XXXX XXXX  survey, not my property survey. I was told no valid resubmissions had been filed since the XXXX  denial.\nI signed a form blocking XXXX from further changes. (Did not work see below)\nI requested and obtained a printout showing the wrong survey attached to my permit. (Photos attachedXXXXOn Friday XXXX I send identical texts to both XXXX  and XXXXFriday XXXX  I textXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX   this is XXXX  XXXX XXXXeviewed the permit paperwork you submitted to the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  and the survey on file is for a different property in XXXX XXXX  not my address. That means no valid permit was ever submitted for my driveway and the documents you provided are demonstrably incorrect. I paid $XXXX  ($XXXX  check and $XXXX  XXXX  payment) on XXXX for driveway work to be performed under a proper permit. To date no work has been done, no correct paperwork has been filed, and the City record proves the submission was for the wrong property from XXXX. This is evidence of misrepresentation and contractor Fraud and I will be documenting this as a Police report to be forwarded to economic crime investigators which will involve review by the State Attorneys office and comparison with other similar cases I have already located. It should be noted I have located other cases in different counties with similar fraud. Showing all your names and incomplete permit paperwork. You cannot argue that work has been done regarding the permit since it was all wrong and incorrect. I have text proof you both XXXX  and XXXX  telling me you submitted My house survey when clearly you did not. And even the survey affidavit i completed on XXXX and still that wasnt even submitted.\n\nUnder Florida Statute 489.126 a contractor who takes a deposit but does not perform actual work must return the deposit. I demand a full refund of $XXXX  by XXXX  to XXXX to my account no later than XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX  I do not receive the full refund by that date I will, without further notice, pursue all lawful remedies and complaints in the state of FL. This is your final opportunity to resolve this directly and avoid further legal action. I expect written confirmation of the refund and the XXXX of $XXXX  now and/or before the deadlineXXXX XXXX XXXX\nAfter I texted XXXX  and XXXX  demanding a refund, a new survey was uploaded to my permit (Cannot confirm which survey since I wasnt there in person to get copy I only called and they told me at XXXX XXXX uploaded).\XXXX texted (havent heard from him since XXXX XXXXnd it is now XXXX Im assuming because I included XXXX  and XXXX  in text): Youre gonna wait past XXXX  first so do what you need to do now! and again denied refund. He added peace sign XXXX\nI responded to XXXX:- How do you think it is acceptable to keep any of the $XXXX  when no work has been performed and no valid permit was ever filed?As Ive already said: if you XXXX  the full $XXXX, I will notify XXXX XXXX XXXX that payment has been received and this matter will be considered resolved. That is the only way to avoid legal action.\XXXX responded: AS I SAID THE FUNDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN DEPLETED FROM MY ACCOUNT! Bank has your money. If the wrong survey was submitted must been a mistake from all the attachments Im sure XXXX  has from all the customers we deal with. Not all the paperwork was wrong\nI responded to XXXX XXXX even if you want to argue the $XXXX  check is tied up in the bank dispute, the $XXXX  XXXX  is not. Under Florida Statute 489.126, you must refund the full deposit when no work has been performed.Send $XXXX  by XXXX  now to (XXXX XXXX  If you do not, I will include this refusal in my DBPR complaint, police report, and civil claim. The deadline for the full $XXXX  remains XXXX XXXX XXXX has not respondedXXXX responses:\n\nThe next few text threads is with XXXX  from the same text I sent on XXXX addressing all three subjects.\XXXX  tried calling me however I asked if she meant to call in text and I stated text works for now, Im busyXXXX also texted XXXX : can you explain to me what happened? On XXXX  you didnt reply after I reached out, and Ive since found out the survey filed was for a completely different property. I need to understand why nothing correct was submitted. (Last text from her was XXXX saying will get update)XXXXXXXX  responded: Im not sure what you mean by contractor fraud. There may have been a simple mistake with uploading the wrong document, but thats unrelated to the timing of the permit submittal. I submitted all required applications when they were due.Im still waiting on XXXX  to provide specific information - Ive submitted the application on our behalf and can only move forward once he communicates back. Could you please clarify what youre referring to with contractor fraud and the XXXX deposit? From my side, theres no fraudjust a wrong document upload that I already corrected.Thank you,XXXX\nShe acknowledged a mistake was made uploading document. She states waiting on XXXX  for info (from XXXX Even though I have asked multiple times and she was meeting with him on XXXX. She appears to be trying to distance herself once I mentioned legal action. But it is clear to me she was not going to respond to my update texts from XXXX (same date XXXX  found out I reported the check).XXXX  responded: XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX confirmed to me in person that the only survey filed was for a different property in XXXX  from XXXX. That is not a simple mistake, it means no valid permit for my property was ever in review. I paid $XXXX  for work on my address under a valid permit. That has not happened. Even the affidavit I signed on XXXX  was never submitted. This is why it rises to misrepresentation and fraud under Florida law. You told me via text that my survey was submitted when clearly it was not, so you are part of the misrepresentation whether or not XXXX  gave you the documents. You both have until XXXX XXXX XXXX, to return the $XXXX  in full via XXXX. Permit paperwork is not work  Florida Statute 489.126 requires the deposit to be refunded. If the refund is not received, I will move forward with my police report, DBPR complaint, and civil claim against everyone involvedXXXX responded: XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX does not have any XXXX XXXX survey on record for your application. What happened was a simple oversight on the detailed plan naming  I label all my submittals Detail Plan, and one version was misplaced. That mistake has been corrected, and the proper applications are already filed with the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Original submittal XXXX XXXX to cancel, I can file the withdrawal with the city right awayXXXXShe states the XXXX XXXX XXXX does not have a XXXX XXXX survey even though I have printed copies of what she submitted under my permit. She then contradicts herself saying simple oversight labeling all her submittals detail plan. She says it has been corrected. Also it is highly unlikely she labels all submittals detail plan only because any computer would display a pop up saying file already named detail plan and therefore if its in the same folder she would have to label it different if thats the case she is claiming to have multiple files all labeled exactly the same?What i beleive she means by that is she is now trying to correct it because I called the city and they stated at XXXX she uploaded a survey (cant confirm the survey address since Im not there in person). It should be noted I was there in person this day at XXXX  and she should have been denied access.. it is my belief she is trying to correct it only now because I will be taking this to court. XXXX  had no intention of looking at my permit since XXXX (day bank notified XXXX  of fraud). XXXX responded: I confirmed with the City that a survey was uploaded today at XXXX XXXX, after I texted you about the wrong paperwork. You have not responded since XXXX This confirms there was no valid permit in review before today, despite your prior texts claiming otherwise.You also stated there was no XXXX XXXX record, but I have the printed proof. You then tried to explain it away as a naming error. Uploading a new document today does not change the fact that I paid $XXXX  on XXXX and no work was performed under a valid permit. Under F.S. 489.126, the deposit must be refunded. Deadline remains XXXX XXXX XXXX Please XXXX XXXX to XXXX XXXX. Do not make further submissions on my permit. Leave it alone  I will cancel it directly with the CityXXXX  responded: I was hired only for permit submittal and have no involvement with your $XXXX  payment that is strictly between you and XXXX, and I never received any of those funds. The survey is on record, and I can show you proof of the XXXX  XXXX  permit I submitted for that survey, which was accidentally attached to your permit because I was submitting both the XXXX  and XXXX  permits at the same time. The submittal with the wrong survey name was an unintentional naming error, not an attempt to mislead you. Im not perfect nor are you so I hope you can understand how that kind of mistake can happen. I will make no further submissions -  Please address payment issues with XXXX  and do not text me again.Thank you\XXXXShe stated she was hired (just like XXXX  did claiming XXXX  needs to get paid for permit and answering my calls). She then contradicts herself saying she never received those funds. I believe she is trying to distance herself from working in concert with XXXX  committing fraud/theft otherwise why ignore my update texts?XXXXXXXX responded: Understood, XXXX. But since you are the applicant on my permit and confirmed false filings to me by text, you are part of this matter. Get with XXXX  and resolve it. If I do not receive the XXXX  refund by XXXX XXXX you will also be included in my police report, DBPR complaint, and civil claim. This is my final message to youXXXXXXXX  texted XXXX XXXX  the qualifier listed on my permit, to confirm whether he authorized XXXX  to use his license. He replied: I am looking into it I will contact you later today. He has not responded further. XXXXCurrent Status\nAs of XXXXNo construction work has been performed at my property.\nThe permit remains unresolved, with the wrong survey \XXXX  refuses to refund either the $XXXX check or the $XXXX  XXXX. Or starting fresh by refunding me and taking credit card or secure payment form. \XXXX  admits to submitting the wrong survey but distances herself from the money even though XXXX  stated he needed to pay XXXX  and XXXX  stated she was hired.\XXXX  has not clarified his role, despite his name being on my permitXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  check #XXXX  (fraud hold in place, outcome pending investigation)\n$XXXX   XXXX  to XXXX (Chase)  not refunded. Filing CFPB claim.\nTotal: $XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX have not responded since. No work has started and no additional permit paperwork has been worked on by XXXX XXXX XXXX. Attached is numerous court documents which are public record of XXXX  doing the same thing to others.\n\n I labeled texts with XXXX  #1 through #18.\n\nTexts with XXXX  is #19 through #26, Texts with XXXX  labeled #27 and #28'

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation