Volunteers fix contractor's broken promises

By Casey Nolen

KSDK -- It has been almost a year since a 77-year-old St. Louis County woman -- who only wants her last name of Bernstein used -- paid for an addition to her St. Louis County home. But after handing over nearly $20,000 to contractor Jeffery Wolfson, the work was never finished.

"I was in misery and everyday would go by and they wouldn't come and wouldn't come," Bernstein said. "Nobody was ever here. I had to keep calling them, 'Where are you? Aren't you coming today?'"

When NewsChannel 5 first learned of the problem, Wolfson would not go on camera but said it all a misunderstanding. The Missouri State Attorney General said it was against the law. That's because Wolfson was barred from operating as a contracting ten years early and spent time in prison for violating that order.

But even time behind bars did not stop him from setting up shop again in 2008.

"Rafters were wrong, doors were wrong, no place for switches," said Jim Compton with the American Subcontractors Association Midwest Council. "It should never have been left that way, should never been built that way."

What work was done at Bernstein's house, had to be torn down, said Compton, who then rounded up help from other contractors to make good on Wolfson's promises.

"We wanted to make it right for her," Compton said. "We were able to step forward and give Mrs. Bernstein 100 percent on this construction."

And the volunteers, some who have seen a slow down in work with home construction in the recession, went beyond the original design of the addition.

"We're glad to do it," Compton said.

"I just can't believe my lucky stars. I must be dreaming," Bernstein said. "(It is) unbelievable, especially in a day and age with everyone so busy with there own lives for somebody to take time and care about one person, it's really remarkable."

The Missouri Attorney General has filed charges against Wolfson and says the illegal contractor may have more victims.