HOUSTON – Two families in northwest Harris County are frustrated after paying $1,550 for fence repairs, only to have the company they hired disappear without completing the job.
The homeowners, Robert and Paulla Berry, say they were left with no help after reaching out repeatedly to Big City Fence Corporation for weeks.
The Berrys, whose fence was damaged by Hurricane Beryl in July, decided to hire Big City Fence Corporation after receiving a recommendation from a neighbor. The neighbor apparently had some issues with the company, but the job was eventually completed. However, the Berrys' experience turned out to be different.
After paying the company for the job and starting the repair work, the crew installed a few fence posts and then stopped showing up. When the Berrys attempted to follow up, their calls went unanswered.
“We haven’t been able to see anybody from their company since that day,” Robert said. “We’re calling them for over two months. Multiple times. It just goes to voicemail.”
Robert added that the last time they attempted to reach the company was around five weeks ago, but their efforts were met with silence.
The Berrys are not alone in their frustration. The couple shared that their neighbor, who had also paid for a portion of the repair, had similar issues trying to get in touch with Big City Fence Corporation. After multiple calls and messages went unanswered, the Berrys turned to KPRC 2.
KPRC 2’s Rilwan Balogun called and left a voicemail with the company. Balogun also sent a text message. Roughly 30 minutes later, as he was speaking with the Berrys, the company owner returned his call.
Big City Fence Corporation: Hi Rilwan, this is Dave, I received a text message from you.
Rilwan: Yes. You’re with a big city fence corporation, correct?
Big City Fence Corporation: Yeah.
Rilwan: Hey, I’m out here working on a story. Speaking with a couple who said that you. They paid you money for a fence after Hurricane Beryl, and they just haven’t heard anything from you since.
Big City Fence Corporation: Really? Who might that be?
Rilwan: I’m with them now. Here, I’ll put them on the phone. And we are recording, just so you are aware.
Robert spoke with the owner and shared his frustration.
“I don’t know how we disappeared, but I’ll look into it because this is the first time I’m hearing about it,” the owner told Robert. “Yeah, I don’t know about that. [The] phone rings all the while. I was getting 100 calls a day, so I’m not sure.”
The company owner asked the Berrys to send over their details, promising to look into the matter further.
As of now, the Berrys are still waiting to hear back from the company. They remain hopeful that Big City Fence Corporation will take responsibility and finish the job, but after months of unanswered calls, they are unsure of what to expect next.
