Protecting Michigan Consumers From Deceptive Contractor Practices — Know the Facts, Know Your Rights, Take Action.
The following warning signs have been repeatedly documented across multiple independent customer reviews. These are classic indicators of fraudulent and deceptive contractor practices recognized by the Michigan Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission.
Repeatedly demanding cash payments is a documented red flag recognized by both the FTC and Michigan AG as a classic indicator of fraudulent "fly-by-night" contractor operations that avoid paper trails and tax accountability.
Multiple customers paid for premium flooring/carpet and received an entirely different, cheaper product upon installation — a textbook "bait-and-switch" illegal under federal and Michigan state law.
Customers report deposits of $350 – $2,000 collected with no service rendered, and company refuses refunds when they fail to appear — potentially criminal under MCL 750.218 (Theft by Fraud).
Once money is collected, customers report phones go unanswered, emails are ignored, and warranty service is completely abandoned — a classic deceptive trade practice prohibited under the MCPA.
Multiple customers report waiting entire days for installers who never appear, with no proactive communication — demonstrating a systemic disregard for contracted obligations and customer time.
Installers documented to arrive without materials, complete partial jobs, and never return to finish — leaving customers with unusable floors and no recourse when the company stops responding.
Owner documented as "argumentative and combative" when customers seek refunds, reportedly pressuring customers to alter negative reviews in exchange for partial refunds — intimidation is an actionable consumer rights violation.
Advertising competitive pricing (e.g., "2 rooms for $299.99") to attract customers, then charging $900 for one room — or quoting top-grade carpet and delivering cheap substitutes — violates both FTC regulations and Michigan's MCPA.
The following are verbatim excerpts from publicly available Yelp reviews. Each represents a verified, real customer experience. Source: Yelp — Roman Floors & Remodeling
"I called the company to ask about their warranty and if they could fix it. They said they would send someone out to my home to look at it while they were in the area. No one ever called or came out to take a look at it. Now when I call the company, no one answers. I've sent several emails and no response. This company doesn't seem like they stand behind their work quality or craftsmanship."
"Terrible service! The installers didn't finish my floor because they ran out of carpet material and never returned to finish the job. Now they don't return my calls or respond to my requests to finish the job. My advice to anyone is: Don't do business with this company!"
"They over promised and didn't provide quality service or product. Run — do not walk away from this business. The work performed was subpar and delivered wrong product. Tried to resolve issue but they were argumentative and combative. A valuable lesson learned. Please think twice before doing business with them."
"I ordered top of the line carpet and when they arrived at my home, it was definitely not the same carpet I picked out and left a $550.00 deposit on. They even brought different padding than we had discussed. Not to mention the installers they sent to my home were rude and unprofessional. When I called the owner and the receptionist they were rude and liars. And charged me a restocking fee for the carpet, when they know they tried to pull a fast one and sell me cheap carpet. DO NOT SHOP HERE."
"Terrible!!!!! They are Frauds!!!!! They have terrible customer service!!!! I put down a deposit of $2,000 in March and they never came for the appointment that was set. I had to constantly reach out to them for updates... They are extremely unprofessional... LIARS AND THEY STILL HAVE MY MONEY!!!!! They are bad for business, liars, and disrespectful to PAYING CUSTOMERS. DO NOT SPEND YOUR MONEY THERE!!!!"
"Here we are, a month later, and still no refund... I just finally spoke with the OWNER of the company, he wanted to settle this 'like adults' — he asked me to update my review with 'they were happy to refund my $400!' I told him, fine, but I cannot in good faith ever recommend their company. Apparently he can't handle the truth. This company needs to know that they have a problem with their service, and understand that in this day in age, people cannot afford to lose $400 because of THEIR terrible service."
"Dealing with this company was one of the worst decisions I have EVER MADE. Their contractors look like prison escapes. Items came up missing out of my home. My cabinets were not installed correctly... my tile is cracking... my walls were not painted correctly. This company is a rip OFF. If you want a bunch of lies and promises deal with them... I assure you I wouldn't refer my worst enemy to them."
"I agree, run. They will outright lie to you, and the installer tried to take the leftover material of the wood flooring. I refused and he was pissed, said I did not pay for it — then who did? One star is too good for Roman Floors & Remodeling. 0 stars is correct."
The documented behaviors form a pattern that may violate multiple state and federal laws. Understanding your rights is the first step toward accountability. Click each law to expand the full details.
The MCPA is Michigan's most powerful consumer protection statute. It prohibits unfair, unconscionable, or deceptive methods, acts, or practices in trade or commerce and provides both private rights of action and government enforcement.
Consumers may sue for actual damages OR $250 minimum per violation, whichever is greater — plus attorney fees and court costs.
The Michigan Attorney General can seek civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation and injunctive relief to stop the deceptive practices.
Michigan law requires that any person or company that constructs, alters, repairs, or remodels a residential structure for compensation must hold a valid Residential Builder license issued by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act prohibits "unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce." This federal law applies directly to the documented practices of Roman Floors & Remodeling.
The FTC can seek civil penalties, consumer redress, and injunctive relief against businesses engaged in systematic deceptive practices.
MCL 750.218 prohibits obtaining money or property from another person through false pretenses — including falsely representing an ability or intent to perform services in exchange for payment.
Deposit amounts reported range from $350 to $2,000+ — well within felony threshold when aggregated across multiple victims.
Victims should report to their local police department and the Michigan Attorney General's Office. Multiple victims filing together strengthens the criminal case significantly.
Bait-and-switch is one of the oldest and most well-documented forms of consumer fraud. It involves advertising or quoting one product to attract a customer's business, then delivering an inferior or different product after payment is secured.
Under the MCPA, each individual instance of misrepresenting the quality or nature of delivered goods constitutes a separate, independently actionable violation — each carrying the $250 minimum statutory damage award.
When a contractor accepts a deposit and fails to perform the contracted work — or performs it so inadequately that the homeowner receives no benefit — this constitutes a material breach of contract under Michigan law.
Under federal law, any business that receives more than $10,000 in cash in a single transaction (or related transactions) is required to file IRS Form 8300 with the Internal Revenue Service.
Your complaint matters. Every report filed creates a public record and moves authorities closer to taking action. Follow these steps — it takes less than 15 minutes.
File a formal consumer protection complaint with Michigan's top law enforcement officer. Your complaint is added to the public record and can trigger investigations.
File Now →If Roman Floors & Remodeling holds a Michigan contractor's license, LARA can suspend or revoke it for fraud and deceptive practices. This is powerful enforcement.
File Now →BBB complaints are public, searchable by future consumers, and the BBB contacts the business demanding a response. Non-response affects their accreditation status.
File a federal complaint for bait-and-switch, deceptive advertising, and cash-only fraud patterns. FTC data is used for law enforcement investigations nationwide.
Your honest documented review helps future consumers make informed decisions and creates a public record. Include amounts, dates, and specific incidents for maximum impact.
For deposits and damages under $7,000, Michigan Small Claims Court requires no attorney. For larger claims or pattern fraud, a consumer protection attorney can pursue MCPA damages.
If you were required to pay exclusively in cash, this pattern should be reported. Businesses receiving $10,000+ in cash must file IRS Form 8300 — systematic non-compliance is a federal crime.
Report to IRS →Before hiring any flooring or remodeling contractor in Michigan, follow these essential consumer protection steps — recommended by the Michigan Attorney General's Office.
Never authorize work or pay a deposit without a signed written contract listing all materials, costs, timeline, and warranty terms. Verbal promises are nearly impossible to enforce.
Michigan AG recommends paying a maximum of one-third of the total as a deposit. Schedule remaining payments as milestones are completed — never pay in full before work is done.
Always use a credit card or check — never cash. Credit cards allow you to dispute fraudulent charges. Cash-only demands are a documented warning sign of contractor fraud per the FTC.
Use the LARA online portal to verify any Michigan contractor's current license status and check for prior disciplinary actions before signing anything or paying any money.
Search the contractor on the BBB website and Yelp before hiring. Look for complaint patterns — not just a single bad review, but systemic issues like missed appointments, deposit theft, and product substitution.
Never accept the first quote. Get at least three written estimates from different licensed contractors. Unusually low quotes are often a bait tactic to secure your deposit.
If a contractor refuses to provide a written contract, or pressures you to decide immediately — walk away. Legitimate contractors always put agreements in writing and don't pressure consumers.
Take photos of all work at every stage. Save all texts, emails, and voicemails. Keep receipts and canceled checks. This documentation is essential if you need to pursue legal action.
If a contractor is a no-show, stops returning calls, or refuses a refund — file complaints immediately with the AG, LARA, BBB, and FTC. Time-sensitive evidence matters in fraud cases.