"LCI Group, LLC denies in its entirety the complaint of Cecilia Fennell although some of the factual basis is accurate. There was a flood in Windsor, North Carolina that damaged many homes and businesses in September 2010. LCI’s Emergency Response Team travelled to Windsor, North Carolina where it was engaged to remediate and repair many residential and commercial structures. At that time, employees of LCI Group, LLC came into contact with Ms. Fennell who requested the help of LCI Group despite her lack of sufficient funds to complete even the most basic remediation. Added to that issue was the fact that she was not insured for the damage her home incurred. LCI Group, LLC, for no charge, completed the dryings and treatment of her home to retard mold growth that often accompanies catastrophic water loss.
After the completion of the drying and treatment, Ms. Fennell requested assistance in applying for FEMA funds that were available. LCI Group, LLC personnel aided and assisted Ms. Fennell, again for no charge, in properly applying to FEMA for relief. LCI Group, LLC understands that Ms. Fennell received $3700.00 from FEMA.
Ms. Fennell then requested the LCI Group, LLC repair her property, including certain general contracting work, and provided LCI Group, LLC $3700.00 as a down payment for the work to be completed. LCI Group, LLC personnel met with Ms. Fennell, reviewed Ms. Fennell’s options with Fennell, and based on her desires, prepared an estimate for work that would be required. Ms. Fennell received the plans and estimate but decided that she would like other, and different, repairs and modifications. Again, LCI Group, LLC personnel met with Ms. Fennell and, based upon those discussions, prepared a new and different estimate. Although LCI Group, LLC remained prepared to complete the work, Ms. Fennell contacted directly a subcontractor of LCI Group, LLC and, based upon the work already performed by LCI Group, LLC, arranged to have the work completed by the subcontractor, without the inclusion of LCI Group, LLC.
Despite this breach of contract, and other issues of distrust raised by Ms. Fennell’s unfair and deceptive practices, LCI Group, LLC sent Ms. Fennell a letter on 13 March 2011 wherein LCI Group, LLC described the process that LCI Group, LLC would undertake in auditing her account, determining the appropriate charges, and refunding the remainder of her initial deposit. In addition, given that LCI Group, LLC performed certain work for Ms. Fennell based on her unavailability of funds to pay for such services, LCI Group, LLC performed the above free services for which LCI Group, LLC will remain unreimbursed. Although funds are now available to pay for such services, LCI Group, LLC remains dedicated to performing quality services for members of the communities in which they serve without remuneration where such would cause a significant hardship for those individuals. Despite Ms. Fennell’s convenient omission of these services in her complaint, and her deception in hiring an LCI Group, LLC subcontractor, LCI will remain true to its word, and not seek payment for these services.
Sincerely,
Renee Davis, LCI Group, LLC"