Dandridge family down $20,000 after discovering builder had no contractor’s license

DANDRIDGE, Tenn. (WATE) — A family in Dandridge has waited over three months for a $20,000 deposit to be returned on a project that never started. The money was paid to a home remodeling company in early November 2023. When the homeowner discovered the business had no contractor’s license, she fired the builder.

The builder says he did nothing wrong, claiming he wanted to complete the project, but was fired. Homeowner Danelle Mayfield said she first requested her money back last November. She sent a demand letter to the home improvement company in late January. However, she is still waiting at the end of March.

Mayfield, her husband, and her son moved into a double-wide trailer in Dandridge nearly three years ago. The view of the Smoky Mountains from their front porch is spectacular. It is their Home Sweet Home.

However, when her dad had a severe stroke last year, Mayfield had her parents move from Arizona to Tennessee into her home and they needed extra space.

“We wanted an addition built on, a master bedroom, master bath, and additional bedroom,” said Mayfield.

So Mayfield hired Anorak Roofing and Building out of Dandridge. The contractor was Jason Brockwell, according to the website. Brockwell had previously remodeled a bathroom in Mayfield’s home.

To build the addition, Mayfield said Brockwell told her the cost would be $123,000. However, things went wrong with Brockwell.

“We had to go out and hire another contractor,” said Mayfield. “To come out and start the work. Jason Brockwell didn’t even start the work.”

However, Anorak Roofing and Building received a $20,000 deposit on October 31 to start the job.

“We did the $20,000 wire transfer,” said Mayfield. “It went to Ashley Douglas.”

Ashley Douglas is listed as the owner of Anorak Roofing and Building. However, Anorak is not on the state’s list of licensed contractors. Nor is Brockwell licensed, according to the Department of Commerce and Insurance.

“So we hired him to do the addition, paid him a $20,000 deposit by wire transfer. He bought himself a truck with the $20,000,” said Mayfield.

She said that Brockwell explained the purchase in a text message to Danelle. They said that they needed a truck to haul materials up and down the hill from the driveway.

Feeling uncomfortable, Mayfield fired Anorak Building and Roofing. She didn’t want Brockwell to build the addition. Instead, Mayfield hired a second contractor to add a master bedroom, a master bathroom, and a second smaller bedroom. The job was completed in three months. The deposit from Anorak Roofing and Building has not been returned.

“We told him prior to the job starting and ordering materials, we had decided not to go with him for the addition and requested the $20,000 be refunded,” said Mayfield.

Mayfield sent a demand letter to Brockwell requesting the $20,000 refund by the end of January.

WATE went to talk with Brockwell to hear his side of the story. He was not at home. So, we left our business card and he called back. Regarding the extensive remodeling, Brockwell provided few details of the project he planned.

“They don’t have a contract,” said Brockwell, “because they didn’t know what all they were doing yet.”

Brockwell said he assured Mayfield, she would get the deposit back. He wrote this text message to her three months ago saying “We will be returning your money as soon as possible.” In his call to us, Brockwell said he will begin monthly payments starting in late April.

“I told them I would make them monthly payments back to the money,” said Brockwell.

The state makes it easy to check who is and who is not a licensed contractor. To verify the license of a potential contractor or home improvement contractor, go to verify.Tn.Gov or call 800-544-7693. The phone number and website connect to the Department of Commerce and Insurance.

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