I-Team: Wyoming Homes Undercover

Pocono News Section

I-Team: Wyoming Homes Undercover - Monday, July 21, 2008 at 5:46PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Monday, Jul 21, 2008 @ 05:46pm EST
PLAINS TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY -- The I-Team goes undercover in our continuing investigation of a mobile and modular home dealer. We told you more than a month ago, that Wyoming Homes can no longer order homes because manufacturers have stopped doing business with the company. But as I-Team reporter Jeff Chirico found out, it's not forcing the business to close its doors.

Since Wyoming Homes can't order homes, we wanted to know what prospective customers are told when they walk in. What we found has an angry customer reaffirming his mission to picket until Wyoming Homes shuts down.

A WBRE production assistant walks into Wyoming Homes sales office in Plains Township posing as an interested home buyer. Will he be told the company can't order homes? We'll tell you in a minute.

But this couple wishes they were told. Mike and Wendy Agolia have been picketing the Honesdale sales office since they learned the home they paid $57,000 for was never ordered. They've been living in a camper without electricity or running water for months.

Wendy Agolia said, "He could sell personal affects to reimburse everyone and close the deal, close everything but he chooses for us to picket."

Mike and Wendy's home wasn't ordered because manufacturers won't do business with Wyoming Homes. Nevertheless, the office doors in Honesdale and Plains are still open. In fact, when the salesman sat our undercover employee down to talk, he gave him brochures of Skyline Homes. That's a manufacturer that stopped building for Wyoming homes more than a month ago.

"We are selling lot models," says Cindy Blair, who works in the Honesdale office. She says she's not accepting any orders. When asked if the businesses are only open to sell off lot models she said, "I don't know if that's what Dave would say, he's the owner. That's what my goal would be. To sell what I have."

Dave Valenti told the I-Team over the phone, he's trying to strike a deal with another manufacturer. But for now he's selling used and lot models. Meanwhile Mike has been picketing for 59 straight days --and still waiting for his money. "I told Dave it's all gone on top but you see the hair growing in back. By the time I leave here, it'll be down to my butt and I'll be here that long if it takes," he said.

Dave Valenti faxed Eyewitness News a statement saying he offered to pay for temporary housing for the Agolia's. He says he offered a repayment plan and offered a similar lot model. Mike's attorney advised him not to accept the repayment plan --and Mike tells me the lot model he was offered is in bad shape and some walls are rotted.

Comments:

NamelessConfused - Sunday, January 11, 2009 [21:31:07] EDT
Man how is this place still in business, somebody is friends with somebody in a powerful position. For small crimes PA, a Commonwealth state is hard on criminals, but if you have $$$ it's lenient. If this happened in NY state, the place would have been shut down promptly. What a shame.....