Summerville residents ‘ghosted’ after paying thousands for a new roof

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) — Several people across the Lowcountry are reporting a similar experience after paying to have their roofs replaced on their homes, handing over the money, and then hearing nothing back.

After a strong storm moved through the area of the summer, homeowners in Summerville were told their roofs were damaged by hail. It came after severe weather moved through Dorchester and Berkeley counties in June which damaged homes, knocked over trees and left behind a path of debris.

Ellen Davis said the storm clean-up brought sales representatives from several different roofing companies to her door.

“Just wanting to do a free estimate of potential hail damage from the storm,” she explained.

Davis said her roof had other issues and she decided to call the company Orange Elephant Roofing, after seeing her neighbor speaking to them.

“I spoke to the salesman, he came back the very next day and he asked if he could please get on my roof and do a free inspection,” she said. “Since I already had this other damage I finally allowed him onto the roof and that’s when he found the hail damage.”

A claim was filed with her insurance company and at the end of August she gave Orange Elephant Roofing the insurance check which totaled a little more than $20,000.

Davis said the general manager and sales representative came back to get the check. They told her they would begin the work in October. However, in mid-September, Davis said she started to see some red flags.

‘i reached out to my salesperson and he then informed me that he no longer worked for the company,” she recalled. “He also proceeded to send me a text showing me that their HR Department said we would not be making payroll this week.

Davis said the last time she heard from the company was in early November.

“The general manager spoke to me he told me that my roof would be being done on November 1st,” she said. Shortly after that, I did get a text from him ‘didn’t work for the company anymore, so sorry’ — that would probably be the last time.”

As it turns out, Davis wasn’t the only one. She found out that her neighbor, Lachelle Brooks, was dealing with the same problem.

“We turned a check over to them and we have not heard anything since then.”

Brooks said her insurance company agreed to pay for half of the work upfront and the other half once the work was complete. She handed over a check for $6,500, and like Davis, has not heard back.

“August is when I should be ready to hear from everyone about the new roof, I contacted someone late August and they were like ‘Oh no, we have you on the schedule for February 2025,” Brooks explained. “I was like ‘I wouldn’t have went with you guys — can I get my money back?’ And he goes ‘I understand your frustration but we are gonna try to work it out so you can get everything done in September.’ But didn’t hear anything after that.”

Davis and Brooks said their insurance companies are not getting involved, and they have not been able to contact Orange Elephant Roofing as several employees have left the company.

News 2 tried calling two numbers listed for Orange Elephant and neither call went through. We are told no one is available at their King Street location either.

However, Orange Elephant is currently being sued over debts they owe. On October 31, Gulfeagle Supply, a roofing and building product distributor, filed a lawsuit for breach of contract accusing Orange Elephant of failing to pay for materials totaling nearly $18,000.

As for Brooks and Davis, they are frustrated and hope they can get their money back. Davis said the situation will also change the way she does business moving forward.

“Probably let my guard down by letting someone come to my front door and I probably should’ve reached out to a roofing company myself and maybe looked around more around my neighbors and asking them who they used,” Davis said. “I really want my money back and I want to get somebody else to do my roof.”

Another roofing company is now stepping up to help those who are in similar situations with Orange Elephant Roofing. Patriot Roofing said they will do the work at cost for anyone who can provide proper documentation.