A 44-year-old Warminster contractor is accused of accepting more than $2,000 from a Northampton resident to build a patio roof two years ago, but never starting work.
A homeowner in the Ivyland section of Northampton claims he entered into a contract with Ian Schneider, of Schneider’s Contracting, to build a roof over the patio of his South Traymore Avenue home in July 2013, according to a probable cause affidavit. Schneider’s Contracting is registered with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, as required under a 2009 law, police said.
The homeowner paid Schneider $2,500 of the $4,500 that the contractor estimated the home improvement project would cost, which is beyond the one-third deposit that contractors can request under the Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor law.
Schneider agreed to a start day of July 22, 2013, for the project, which was to be completed by Aug. 3 the same year, in time for a planned party the homeowner was hosting.
Two days before construction was scheduled to start, Schneider asked to push back the start date until the end of the week, and promised to call the homeowner on July 24, 2013, court documents allege.
Sometime after July 25 that same year, Schneider called the homeowner’s wife who promised he’d be out on July 31 to start the roof, and that it would be completed by Aug. 3, police allege. But on July 29, Schneider contacted the homeowner by email saying he needed another week extension.
After Schneider moved the start date to Aug. 12, the homeowner requested his down payment be returned since the project wasn’t going to be started or completed by Aug. 3, the affidavit said. Schneider became “argumentative” and told the homeowner he was contacting his attorney and accountant.
Court documents do no indicate if there was further communication between the homeowner and Schneider after the email conversation.
Schneider was arraigned Friday before District Judge William Benz on two felony counts of receiving advanced payment for services and failing to perform, and deceitful business practices. He was sent to Bucks County prison in lieu of 10 percent of $25,000 bail.
Jo Ciavaglia: 215-949-4181; email: jciavaglia@calkins.com; Twitter: @jociavaglia
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