CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A man turns to Troubleshooters claiming he hired a local mover to move his furniture into a storage facility, but it never happened.
Eight months later, the man still doesn't have his furniture, but admits he hasn't paid the mover either.
Steve Norman's story is that he hired Lupe Martinez and American Movers to move some furniture into a storage facility in April.
He showed us pictures of some of the items to be moved.
Norman admits he was going to sell most of the items to be moved.
And further, he says there was no contract signed.
Nor did Martinez ask for any money down or a deposit.
Nor has he, Norman, paid Martinez any money.
It was just a late night handshake agreement on a 4-5 hour job at $95.00 an hour, according to Norman, who offered his opinion on what's happened.
"So he already knew that I was gonna sell it, but he decided he wanted to sell it. I think. This is my opinion."
The Troubleshooters contacted Lupe Martinez and American Movers.
"The name of the customer is Steve Norman. Steve Norman ? I know Mr. Norman. He did not pay us," the person who answered the phone said.
American Movers provided us with what they claim is the contract between them and Norman.
Total cost for the move $2329.18.
But, Martinez told us he gave Norman a $580.00 credit for two pieces of furniture, making the new balance $1748.18.
To which norman countered "him keeping all my furniture, and me owing him $1,700.00 when I hired him for a specific job. I felt I was being extorted for $1,700.00, and he keeps the furniture, ya know ?"
As for the furniture, Norman estimates Martinez owes him $5000.00 for it.
If Martinez pays him that amount, then Norman says he'll pay Martinez what he owes him.
Martinez told us the furniture sat in one of his trucks for a long time, and he lost business because he couldn't use that truck.
So where's the furniture, 8 months later?
Martinez told us Norman's girlfriend sold some of it, then Norman told him to give it away to Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, and the VFW since Norman is retired military.
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