Sunday, March 06, 2016

Pennsylvania State Cops Pinch Plumbing & Electrical Contractor Duo For Allegedly Fleecing Three Elderly Victims w/ "Grossly Exorbitant" Charges, Performing "Patently Unnecessary" Work On Home Improvement Jobs

In Wayne County, Pennsylvania, The News Eagle reports:
  • The owners of Bordsam’s Inc. Plumbing, Electrical Services in Texas Township, are facing several felony charges related to overcharging and performing work that is unnecessary. In a case filed by State Police, the victim, an 81-year old woman from Seelyville, paid Borsdam’s Inc. over $83,000 in 2014-2015.

    Charged were filed in District Court, February 22nd by the PA State Police against David Borsdam and his wife Betty Jane Borsdam of Honesdale.

    Additionally, Honesdale Borough Police filed their own complaints, on behalf of two other elderly victims.

    In the case of the 81-year old woman from Seelyville (Victim 1), State Police referred to “financial exploitation” done at the home. The Service Coordinator for Protective Services for Wayne County Area Agency of Aging supplied Trooper John Strelish with 15 contracts for work done by Borsdam’s, dated Nov. 19, 2014- Aug. 6, 2015. Victim 1 paid a total of $83,771.43 for the work.

    On September 9, Steve Ostrander, Area on Aging Inspector, of Ostrander Design Homes, went to the residence to review work that had been completed by Borsdam’s. After reviewing invoices of worked billed and actual work done, Ostrander gave his opinion to State Police that the work was more than necessary to complete the needed repairs. Stranger was of the opinion that the prices were extremely high and that the homeowner was taken advantage of.

    Executing search warrants, State Police obtained files and records from Borsdam’s which State Police say reveal a scheme of conduct to obtain money from the victim but overcharging for work that was “patently unneccessary” or that charges were “grossly exorbitant.”

    This included contracts for snow removal, yard work, repairs to a bath room floor, replacing a water heater and lines, and an electrical upgrade, among other jobs.
For more, including the details of the alleged screwing-over of the other two elderly victims, see Home Improvement Fraud in cases of elderly victims.