Owner Apologizes For Not Making Fence

A local business owner apologized Wednesday after one of his customers came forward and told Channel 4 he didn't get the fence that he paid for.

The owner of the fence company said he's not trying to rip the customer off, he's just a victim of the slumping economy.

"It's starting to seem like it's a scam," customer Troy Reagan said.

Reagan said he gave First Coast Fencing a $1,300 deposit for the company to put up a fence in his backyard.

Months later, he still doesn't have a fence for his two dogs.

"They haven't installed a fence, haven't showed up," Reagan said. "It doesn't have a telephone number where you can reach anyone."

Channel 4 wasn't able to reach the business owner, either, but after the story aired on the morning show, Michael Cummings called Channel 4.

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"We're sorry. We're very sorry for this," Cummings said. "It was not a fraud. It was not a scam. It wasn't. It was never intended to be that way."

Cummings said he's had hundreds of satisfied customers over the years, but the slump in the housing market really took a toll on his business.

He said a contractor and some homeowners didn't pay him, and that meant he couldn't pay his workers or buy the supplies for the jobs.

"Everybody is going through this because of the economy," Cummings said. "I'm not the only one but, of course everyone's going to make me the bad guy. I took your money and ran. I didn't do that on purpose. That's not how I am."

Cummings said he's returned money to many of his customers, but Reagan is one of five people he admitted he can't pay. And he's filing for bankruptcy.

"I'm not a person out to take anybody's money, to be a criminal," Cummings said. "It's just not who I am."