Stolen Jewelry, Theft of Funds Among Criminal Complaints Against Contractors: San Antonio Users of Angi Speak Up
Background
Being a platform that vouches to connect homeowners with professional service providers, the highly used home improvement website, Angi (Formerly Angie’s List), has come under the spotlight in San Antonio. Recent reports suggest Angi has been marred by several instances of criminal conduct related complaints filed by users and contractors alike.
Alleged Cases
Funds Theft
One of the victims, Jesse Aranda, recounted his plight of using Angi to get a custom pool built in his backyard. Aranda transferred a hefty sum of $13,000 to a contractor for the $83,000 project, only to end up with digital renderings of the said pool. He spent several months trying to retrieve his down payment from the builder, and it wasn’t until he lodged a copious felony theft report that his payment was returned. Aranda has since refrained from resorting to Angi’s services.
Jewelry Theft
In yet another incident, a housecleaner recommended by Angi was accused of stealing jewelry from a West San Antonio resident’s home. The cleaner, reportedly, left the house in haste after being guided through the tasks and duty areas. The homeowner later noticed the missing jewelry, leading to the arrest of the cleaner.
Theft at Home During Services
A San Antonio woman was reportedly swindled of more than $6,100 over three weeks. The perpetrator, a housecleaner hired from Angi, allegedly stole the victim’s debit card and made enforced transactions. Similarly, another Angi user lodged a burglary complaint after an unauthorized entry was carried out by three men in her under-renovation house.
Advisory for users
A 30-year veteran of the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD), Detective Ronald Rocha, offered some tips for homeowners seeking outside help for home improvement projects. He advised consumers to perform independent vetting, not leaving valuables around, checking the Better Business Bureau review of a company, getting contracts in writing, and meeting contractors face-to-face before hiring them.
In Defense of Angi
In view of the misconduct allegations, Angi spoke about its rigorous vetting procedure that include background checks on the owner or the principal of a business, but not its employees. Furthermore, a spokeswoman for Angi assured users of the platform’s steadfast commitment to maintaining high reviews and immediately responding to complaints. She also encouraged users to reach out to Angi whenever a problem occurs, promising resolution and support.
Conclusion
This incident serves as a call for users and the Platform alike to become more vigilant and involved in the vetting process to ensure worthwhile and trusted transactions.
