VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla — A Volusia County homeowner wants his money back following a dispute over a home construction project.
“I wasn’t sleeping at nights. I was really distraught of this guy just doing that to us after we trusted him,” said Gary Kelly.
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Kelly told Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal he was concerned the business owner didn’t have a contractors license and feared the job might not get done right.
Showing the Action 9 team around his attic, Gary Kelly explained he wasn’t happy with the small insulation project he hired a company called ACL Remodeling to do.
Kelly said, “That was a four day job, let’s say, and after five weeks, it wasn’t completed. Back and forth on the phones, excuses, excuses.”
He and his wife paid $4,200 for that attic work. They also paid another $35,000 up front to convert part of a garage to a living space, but after what Kelly saw in his attic he decided to pull the plug.
“I said, ‘I’m not gonna have you do the job. You’re just not following through, your inconsistency,’” Kelly said.
Even though he had an estimate, he said there was no signed contract. He wanted his money back and started looking into the owner of ACL Remodeling.
From his social media accounts, ACL’s owner Carlos Lira appears to be a high energy guy with an interest in flashy cars. He owned at least two Ferrari’s before they recently got repossessed. His website shows he owns several businesses and is a racecar driver and NASCAR team owner.
Gary Kelly said, “He came over with his Rolex watch and alligator shoes on and making jokes and laughing.”
But Kelly isn’t impressed now and apparently neither are some other customers. One couple is suing claiming they want money back because Lira didn’t pull permits or show proof of a contractor’s license and liability insurance. Another couple suing claims since the involvement of ACL Remodeling, their property has “been destroyed.” Another man who filed suit claims ACL made his home “barely livable.”
Action 9 also saw Carlos Lira has about a dozen unlicensed contractor complaints with the state. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation has fined him twice. Some 2026 cases are still open.
The Action 9 team went looking for Carlos Lira at addresses associated with him and his businesses, including at a $2.4-million dollar home, he listed as his address in a state filing last month even though records show his ex-wife sold the home to another couple more than a year ago. Action 9 never caught up with him in person, but Carlos Lira later told Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal by phone, his lawyer is handling the lawsuits, he has more than 100 jobs working and wants to resolve this small number of complaints.
And Lira said when it comes to Gary Kelly’s home, he did some work on the plans and doesn’t believe he should have to pay all the money back. He also said his lawyer is negotiating because Kelly is demanding even more than he paid.
Still, Lira and Kelly both want to put this behind them.
“I’m just hoping I get at least some of my money back in here,” Kelly said.
When looking to get work done like this, it’s always important to get a signed contract. Also, do your own research, verify a license and try to limit the amount of money you pay up front.