$147,000 in question after Raleigh deck, fence business shuts down

More customers. More money gone. And more questions for a Raleigh-based fence and deck company at the center of a 5 On Your Side investigation.

Robco Fence and Deck suddenly shut down late last week. Trucks are parked at the Gavin Street location in Raleigh. Construction debris is piled high, gates are locked, and word is spreading.

The list of complaints to 5 On Your Side from customers who paid deposits for projects that never started keeps growing. Customers say they paid at total of $147,000 for work the company didn't do.

One of the latest, Justin Church, says he is out more than $61,000.

Church hired Robco earlier this year to install a fence, redo his deck and add a screened porch.

The company has not done any work!

Church emailed 5 On Your Side saying he was "stunned" to see our story that Robco Fence and Deck closed. Adding he feels "disappointed, upset and violated."

Another customer paid $44,219 for a project she says was "partially completed." She says after many delays, the company reached out late last week asking for more money.

Katy Claggett is out $15,000 for her project in Raleigh.

"It is just completely mind blowing that they have gone completely dark," she told 5 On Your Side.

Again Tuesday, we reached out to Robco Fence and Deck CEO Jay Robinson, his brother and Vice President of Operations Andrew Robinson, Vice President of Finance Annie Fehm and Sr. Project Coordinator Wes Venable.

We got no answers.

We did learn about an 8,000-square-foot home currently for sale on Birnamwood Road in Raleigh. It turns out, it was built by a sister company to Robco Fence and Deck, Robco Design Build. It's listed for sale for more than $2 million.

5 On Your Side's Monica Laliberte asked Jay and Andrew Robinson, via text message, if the home is where customers' money went. Again, no reply.

But Robco customers are talking about it.

Church emailed saying if that's where customer money went, the home should be sold with proceeds going to the people they owe..

Since 5 On Your Side began looking into Robco Fence and Deck, three of the customers who complained to us got refunds. Others were told the company is reviewing pending contracts. Monica Laliberte heard from other customers in Raleigh, Durham and Smithfield.

We did speak with a former employee today who told us several employees were let go three weeks ago.

In an email to customer Alyssa Duke of Durham, a Robco representative wrote due to "economic factors, we will be forced to close our doors and discontinue operations."

Robco wrote the company "will not have the crews or support necessary to begin or complete ... jobs" adding they're reviewing contracts ... and will send another update.

Duke was later told a check was in the mail.

Limit down payment to limit exposure

While most of the customers did their research to vet the company, one takeaway for viewers is deposit amounts. Monica's rule of thumb for any contractor is no more than 10% down, then make payments as work is completed.