An Arlington-based company took $500,000 in deposits for manufactured homes it never built and has been shut down by Oregon officials for defrauding customers, according to the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services.
In one case, Fuqua Homes told a customer it would give him a discount if he paid for the home in full before production. The customer lost nearly $137,000 for a structure that was never built, according to the department.Jeff Morris, another accuser of the company, said in an interview that he was defrauded out of $160,000."They tricked us out of our money," he said. "I think it should be known to the people of Texas not to do business with Fuqua."At least 26 deposits were put down for homes from October 2008 through August 2011, and the consumer department has heard from other people who say that they were victims, spokeswoman Melanie Mesaros said.The company was hit with a $155,000 fine for 26 violations for failing to deliver on purchased homes or refund deposits to customers, and five violations of fraud for lying to customers about the reasons their homes were being delayed, court documents say.However, Mesaros said that pursuing compensation for victims isn't in the department's jurisdiction."We can stop them from scamming people, but as far as folks getting money, they're going to have to get attorney and file a lawsuit," she said.She was unsure whether the Oregon Justice Department or federal prosecutors would take up the case.The company, Fuqua Homes, is not manufacturing in Texas, authorities here said. However, the Better Business Bureau shows its address as 7100 S. Cooper St. in Arlington. Messages left for President and owner Phillip R. Daniels at the company's local number and his home were not returned.Daniels was been barred in Oregon for five years from obtaining a license as a manufactured-structure dealer or from working in an administrative or managerial capacity for any manufactured-structure dealer.Last week, the Oregon department revoked the license of Fuqua Homes of Bend, Ore., to sell manufactured homes. The company had a factory in the area since the 1970s. The state's Building Codes Division also decertified the company from producing homes.Beginning in February, Fuqua closed its factory in Missouri. In July Fuqua closed its factory in Bend, and an associated company closed its manufactured-structure dealerships in Coburg, Ore. and Eugene, Ore.Consumer complaints led to the investigation. The department's Division of Finance and Corporate Securities found that though the company had closed its factories in February, it was still accepting customers' deposits for home purchases."This is a reminder that consumers should investigate a company before making a major financial purchase," David Tatman, administrator of the Oregon department, said in a written statement.Records at the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs, which regulates manufactured housing, show that the company appears to have stopped doing any form of retailing and manufacturing in Texas since 1992.The agency could find no records that Daniels is licensed for the manufactured-housing industry in Texas. "Additionally, it cannot find any evidence that this situation exists due to regulatory or disciplinary action taken by TDHCA against Mr. Daniels," spokesman Gordon Anderson said.Online: Oregon order, www.dfcs.oregon.gov/securities/enf/orders/MSD-11-0110.pdfDarren Barbee, 817-390-7126Twitter: @DarrenBarbeeHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
