HOUSTON, Texas – KPRC 2 has learned Houston-based headstone company Stonecutters Monuments is being sued by a loan company called Fundbox, for failing to pay an amount of more than $13,800.
Attorneys for Fundbox filed the civil lawsuit last month with the Harris County District Court.
This comes as Stonecutters is in hot water by many families in the greater Houston area claim their orders were never fulfilled, despite their purchases being made nearly two years ago.
OUR FIRST REPORT: ‘It’s been a nightmare:’ Houston families left without headstones after two-year wait
Last week, we spoke to Joan Barnes and Joyce Bennett who told us they bought a headstone for their late mother Mertha Ransom in March 2023.
“It’s been a nightmare,” said Barnes. “During the negotiation, everything was very cordial. We signed the contract and all the communication stopped and we just received one excuse after the other.”
We also spoke to Susan Dancer, who gave us a similar story.
Since this story, KPRC 2 filed a public records request with the Texas Attorney General’s office. We learned three people filed complaints to the AG’s office.
“We have not gotten the headstone, and the money has not been refunded,” Shirley Johnson wrote in her complaint.
Kierra Thompson took her case to small claims court.
“The product has never been received,” Thompson wrote in her complaint.
According to court records, her case was settled in the amount of $1,550.50 in April 2024. But Thompson told KPRC 2 in a phone call, she still has not received that money.
Local company steps in
After our story last week, another Houston based company called Bedrock Boulders reached out to KPRC 2 offering assistance to any families impacted by Stonecutters.
Corey Chao, the owner of Bedrock Boulders, said what makes their products unique is that they use an engineered stone, meaning the stone does not come from overseas.
We asked Joan Barnes to meet us at Bedrock’s warehouse.
“It’s so embarrassing. You know, my mother, she was just well known in the town, and I know if anybody goes to the cemetery, they’re wondering, why are we disrespecting her like that by not having a headstone?” said Barnes.
Chao told Barnes a headstone from them would take six to ten weeks.
“By the time we basically figure out what kind of design you want, I can guarantee that it’ll get tested in 6 to 10 weeks,” said Chao.
Barnes said her mother’s birthday is May 1 and she hopes this year, a headstone will be in place at her cemetery plot before then.