ST. MARYS, Ga. – A St. Marys heating and air company is being accused of abandoning jobs that it was paid for.
Multiple customers of Turner Brothers Heating and Air have come forward to the I-TEAM with allegations of fraud. Nearly a dozen employees of the company also said they haven’t been paid their commissions.
A retired airman, Jim Holler came to St. Marys to be closer to his family.
When it came time to take care of some routine home maintenance, he contacted what he thought was a well-known company with a good reputation in the community.
“I needed a new thermostat so I called Turner Brothers in St. Marys because I’ve dealt with them for years,” Holler said.
What Holler didn’t know was that the company was sold to a new owner, and the Turner brothers were no longer running it.
“A technician came out, determined I needed a new thermostat, and I gave him my credit card for $1,200. I waited a couple weeks, and a couple weeks more and hadn’t heard anything,” Holler said.
With a quick Google search, people can find the company is rated 5 stars. But if they look a little closer, they’ll notice some red flags.
A reviewer wrote: “I payed a down payment of $3K to have an HVAC system installed in my house. They have not showed up…”
On Friday, News4JAX went to Turner Brothers Heating and Air in St. Marys and there was no one at the business, which was locked up. Our calls also went straight to voicemail.
“My first feeling was disappointment,” Holler said.
Luckily, Holler’s story has a happy ending. He was contacted by the former owners of Turner Brothers who took care of getting him a new thermostat.
“He put in a temporary thermostat, about a week and a half later he came in with a new thermostat, put it in, and the only charge I got was a modest service fee,” Holler said.
But there are others out there who weren’t as lucky. One St. Marys couple said they’re still owed $850 they paid the company for a new motor.
Another woman shared a statement with the I-TEAM that showed she paid nearly $7,000 for a new AC carrier she never got.
The Camden County Sheriff’s Office confirmed they’ve received numerous fraud complaints, but at this point, no criminal charges have been filed against the new owner of Turner Brothers Heating and Air, Corey Mayerlen.
“Certainly, he’s got to account for it, be held accountable,” Holler said.
Because this is a civil case, the sheriff’s office said anyone with complaints against the business should direct those toward the current owner or manager of the company.
“The previous owners, Bill and Martin Turner, are not affiliated in any manner with the current Turner Brothers business. The new owner, Corey Myerland, is the responsible party for any problems associated with the business. Any and all correspondence or complaints should be directed to the current owner, or management, of the company,” the sheriff’s office wrote.
You can also always file fraud complaints with the Better Business Bureau and/or the Office of the Attorney General.