ASHVILLE, Ala. (WBRC) – What started as a home repair project for an Ashville family has turned into a financial and emotional nightmare.
Tesla Worley and Tristan Blanton say a dispute with a local contractor has cost them $58,000 and left their home gutted and unlivable.
The trouble began in May 2024 when lightning struck a tree near their home, damaging its electrical wiring. The couple filed an insurance claim, which was approved for $73,000. Searching for a contractor, they turned to Facebook, and that’s how they found Adrian Hernandez.
The couple says they signed an itemized contract with Hernandez, paying him $58,000.
“On the contract, it stated that we had to owe $58,000 – that was to pay for an electrician because he did not have an electrical license. And then that was half his labor and all the material because he’s a small business and did not have that much material lying around,” Worley explained. “I thought we had to abide by what the contract said, so that’s why we wrote him a check for that amount.”
At first, the work progressed, but soon, fewer and fewer workers showed up. Then, a leak from an upstairs bathroom flooded the entire home.
“When the house was getting demoed, all the ceilings were down, the walls were down, but the floors were still here,” Worley said. “The floors were not included in what was supposed to be going on. Well, then the upstairs bathroom leaked.”
The couple filed another insurance claim, but this time, it was denied. They say the insurance company blamed the contractor because they were not living in the home at the time, and the only activity in the house was from Hernandez’s crew.
Shortly after, Hernandez stopped responding to them.
“I get a text from Adrian, saying, ‘Hey, I think I’m going to go my separate ways. I will deduct what labor we have done and such and bring you a check,’” Worley recalled. “And I said, ‘OK, well, how do I get my check?’ And that was the end of the conversation.”
The couple says Hernandez never returned their money or completed the work. When they took their frustrations to social media, they say he responded by sending them a cease-and-desist letter through his attorney, threatening to sue for defamation.
Hernandez declined to comment for this story, but has denied the couple’s claims. In a surprising turn, he has accused them of flooding their own home.
“He mentioned after all this that he could take my money, and legally, there was nothing I could do about it,” Blanton said. “We still have the text that shows that.”
The couple contacted the Ashville Police Department, but so far, no charges have been filed.
Hernandez has told the couple he was cleared by the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board, the agency that oversees contractors in the state. However, he has not provided proof, and when WBRC reached out to the board, they said he is not a licensed contractor.
“I checked our database, and Adrian Hernandez is not licensed by the board,” said Darlene Burt, Director of Compliance & Continuing Education.
While the board would not confirm if Hernandez is under investigation, they said they frequently hear stories like this. In Alabama, unlicensed contractors can face fines of up to $5,000 and up to a year in jail if found guilty.
“I should not give advice, but if I were getting work done on my property, I would not want to give money upfront,” Burt added. “I understand that some of them would like a down payment, but most reputable contractors will have enough money to float something for a little while until the job is finished.”
For Worley and Blanton, the experience has been devastating.
“Bought this thing when I was 21 years old, and I restored one room after the other,” Blanton said. “And then I thought, ‘Man, my house is finally going to be nice. I’m under 40 years old. I’m going to have a nice place to live.’ And then—gone, just like that.”
The couple also points out that they have been traveling back and forth to the house twice a day to feed their pets and allow their children to get on and off the school bus. They told WBRC they did not want to uproot their children while they lived with family members due to the home being unlivable. They also can not bring their pets, according to Worley.
The Ashville Police Department says they are aware of the situation but have not released any further details.
With home improvement season approaching, the Home Builders Licensure Board is urging homeowners to check a contractor’s license before signing any agreements. A list of licensed contractors can be found on the board’s official website.
For more details on how to verify a contractor’s credentials, click or tap here.
The family is requesting donations from the community to help them get back on their feet. You can click or tap here to donate to their GoFundMe.
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