HOUSTON — Angry customers are demanding refunds and not getting them from a local company. Tired of not getting results, they picked up the phone to call Grace White for help.
Three customers contacted our helpline about the same company, A&L Sheds. The company, according to the Secretary of State, is registered to a Houston address.
Lee Kluttz is one of the customers who contacted KHOU 11. He likes living out in the country but was looking for more storage.
“I saw them on Facebook and I reached out to them and they were running a special," he said. "They were the best price."
Kluttz paid A&L Sheds a $1,925 deposit in March 2023.
“After the few months was up, they ended up telling me, 'It’s going to be October before we can get to you, but if you will be patient with us, what we will do is we will offer you $50 a week,'" Kluttz said.
He wasn’t the only one.
“They basically kept pushing us out and said,'Hey, if you don’t cancel the order, we will discount the order $50 a week," said Nomar Cabello, another customer.
He and his wife paid a $2,650 deposit in March 2023 for a shed that was never built.
“This has been a nightmare,” said Donna Polston.
Polston paid $10,376 for her entire project upfront in February 2023.
“I canceled my bid on December 11, and she said you will get your money in seven to 10 business days," Polston said.
“What became pretty clear in our complaints, you are still taking in new business soliciting and you haven’t handled the ones that are piling up behind you," said Dan Parsons, President of the Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston and South Texas.
The organization sent a letter on November 3, 2023 to A&L Sheds, notifying the company that the BBB was in the process of revoking its accreditation.
“They need to be the loud squeaky wheel," said Parsons, speaking on his advice to consumers.
Polston also spoke to KHOU's sister station, KCEN, in Waco, prompting the company’s CEO/ Owner Amanda Sparks to do an interview.
“My husband who is the builder, he ended up having to have reconstructive surgery on his ankle," Sparks said.
The company also posted on its Facebook page addressing the flurry of bad reviews.
“Any and all inconveniences this wait has caused people, we are truly sorry for,” the post said.
That message was posted in July 2023, although it noted the original medical issue began in January 2023.
We called and emailed Sparks on March 11. However, after going back and forth, KHOU was never able to schedule an interview.
“That’s all we are asking for, just give us our money back Cabello said. "We don’t need anything else."
Meantime, customers have been left frustrated and wondering if they will ever see their money.
“Shame on you!" Kluttz said. "We are hard working folks, you know. Contrary to what I feel like y’all do, we work for our money."
Sparks told us in an email she takes full responsibility.
"There are many things I wish I could do differently,” she said.
We asked her about the refunds and she said everyone will be "refunded or built.”
KHOU will continue to follow the story and update our reporting if and when those refunds are issued.
If you have a problem and need help, email GraceCanHelp@khou.com, call (713) 521-HELP or fill out the form below.