HOUSTON – Two families in northwest Harris County will be breathing a sigh of relief 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 told KPRC 2’s Rilwan Balogun they’d been reaching out repeatedly to Big City Fence Corporation for weeks to no avail.
After our initial report, several viewers reached out offering their services for free. Including, Joey Martinez.
“It basically hit close to home,” Martinez said. “I’ve got a mother that lives in Phenix, Arizona, and I was just thinking about her going through something like this, and I couldn’t imagine it.”
The contractor immediately reached out to KPRC 2’s Rilwan Balogun following Wednesday’s story to offer his services.
Two NW Harris Co. families get help after a fence repair company vanished mid-job. Thanks to generous viewers, repairs will finally be completed! 🙌 KPRC2 Rilwan Balogun will have more on this generous repair at 5 PM and 6 PM tonight.
Posted by KPRC2 / Click2Houston on Friday, December 13, 2024
On Wednesday, Rilwan met with the Berrys, whose fence was damaged by Hurricane Beryl in July, and decided to hire Big City Fence Corporation after they were recommended by a neighbor. The neighbor apparently also 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 the Berrys said crews stopped showing up. When the Berrys attempted to follow up, their calls went unanswered.
Rilwan even 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.
Martinez said he doesn’t want to pass judgement on the previous company but said the actions of one hurts the confidence of the industry.
“I’m not here to judge anybody. I don’t know what the circumstances are or why the contractor didn’t complete the project,” he said. “Like I said, I’m just here to help somebody out.”
The veteran said he’s been blessed by others this year and wanted to pay it forward.
“I want to get this up for you as soon as possible,” Martinez told the Berrys Friday. “Hate for you to go through Christmas without a fence.”
The Berrys tell Balogun they have yet to hear back from the previous company but are cutting their losses. The said their intentions of reaching out to KPRC 2 was as a cautionary tale to others but grateful for the grace of strangers.
“[I] really appreciate you being here to help out that’s a Godsend,” Robert Berry told Martinez.
