LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — More than 30 central Florida families just discovered how a controversial Florida law can force you to pay twice for any work done on your home.
A major pool contractor shut its doors and now many customers are being forced to pay for its bad debts, even though their pools were never finished.
Joanne Borden spent $30,000 but instead of a new pool, all she's left with is a concrete shell surrounded by dirt.
"I tell my friends it's like taking money and throwing it out the window," she said
Her contractor, Erickson Pools in Clermont, shut its doors and filed bankruptcy.
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That left Borden and at least 34 other customers high and dry.
Then Burden was sent a notice in the mail that the concrete company that supplied materials had not been paid by Erickson Pools. So even though she had already paid the contractor, now Joanne Borden had to pay another $10,000 to a subcontractor to remove the lien.
"I am a victim (so why) are they punishing me?" she asked.
She is being forced to pay because of the Florida Construction Lien Law.
If subcontractors or suppliers aren't paid by the general contractor the homeowner has to pay a second time to cover the general contractor's bad debt.
Erickson Pool customer Nduese Udom was hit with a $14,000 lien by the same subcontractor.
"I thought that wasn't possible initially, until my wife told me it's in the Florida law," Udom said.
In the worst cases, unless the owner pays twice to remove the liens they could lose their homes.
The law allows suppliers and sub-contractors to foreclose on a the home to collect the lien.
Robin Spradlin just found out she has to pay a $9,000 lien to cover a bill Erikson didn't pay.
"They need to change that law, that law is ridiculous," Spradlin said.
Many consumer groups and advocates have tried to reform Florida's lien law.
The last legislative attempt failed in 2003. They blamed a strong construction lobby for defeats.
The lien law leaves homeowners hiring any licensed contractor at great risk.
Joanne Borden paid the $10,000 lien to keep her house and called that incredibly painful and unfair.
Many Erickson Pool customers will also have to hire new contractors to finish the pool, and their costs could easily double before this nightmare ends.
Homeowners can protect themselves from this mess by asking all subcontractors and suppliers for lien waivers before they pay the general contractor.
WFTV
