JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Ask Anthony team is helping a Jacksonville couple living in what they call a “home renovation nightmare.”

Doug and Katie Holder thought their home remodeling project would take a few months to complete. However, it’s been two years and they blame their contractor for the delay. With nowhere else to turn for help, they contacted First Coast News, On Your Side’s Anthony Austin to get the problem resolved.

The Holders signed a contract on Nov. 30, 2022 with CG Consulting and Design in Jacksonville to make additions to their home and remodel their kitchen.

“We wanted to start a family,” Katie said. “We figured with more space it would help.”

The Holders said they spoke with a man named Cary Grimm, who is listed as the company representative on the contract. According to state records, Grimm’s wife, Meredith, is the CEO of CG Consulting and Design.

“He basically told us everything we wanted to hear,” Doug Holder said.

The Holders say those words soon turned into empty promises and a never-ending timeline.

“Initially, he said six to eight weeks,” Katie said. “We didn’t think that would be realistic. But, we never knew it would be two years.”

During that time, new appliances purchased for their dream kitchen have been sitting outdoors and rusting. Money wasted, according to the Holders, but that doesn’t compare to the overall cost of the project.

“I’ve got about $160,000 given to him from the beginning of the project,” Doug said.

Anthony Austin called CG Consulting and Design to get answers. He was told by a representative that someone would call him back. In the meantime, he did some research and discovered CG Consulting and Design’s accreditation by the Better Business Bureau is currently suspended.

According to BBB files, there has been a history of customer complaints regarding large deposits of money given to CG for projects, and either the work wasn’t finished or never started.

In October 2016, Grimm, operating under a different business name, was arrested on charges of grand theft after customers said he accepted thousands of dollars for work that was never completed.

“Honestly, I would like to get the money that we don’t have invested in the project back and go a different route,” Doug said.

After interviewing the Holders, the Ask Anthony team received the following statement from a CG Consulting and Design representative:

“There has been a misunderstanding and communication. CG Consulting and Design is committed to finishing the Holder’s project as quickly and efficiently as they can. The completion and start of their project has been slow due to the availability of quality craftsmen, permitting and them having third party entities that they don’t have complete control over. CG Consulting and Design completes close to 500 jobs a year. Not all go according to CG Consulting and Designs plans and schedules.  The larger the project the more complicated the job can become.”

Anthony asked the representative about the BBB accreditation suspension and the previous arrest of Grimm. The representative said they are working with the BBB to resolve the issue. As for as the arrest of Grimm, they said everyone deserves a second chance.

After Anthony made phone calls, a crew did show up at the Holders home.

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