Five On Your Side Helps Generate Refund For Parkton Man

Lowell Bell says he did not mind spending $3,600 for a new generator if he got what he paid for.

In September, thieves broke into Bell's storage buildings.

"They got the generator out of here, a lawn mower out of there," Bell said.

He quickly replaced the lawn mower, then ordered a new high-end generator from Fayetteville Saw and Mower.

Bell wrote a check for almost $3,599.48. He expected to get the generator by October. He did not and says he was told the generator was on back order.

"This went on until the first of January," he said.

Bell decided he wanted his money back and went ahead and bought a different generator.

"I was thinking that I wasn't going to get my generator and that I needed to have one if something happened," he said.

Bell says he left repeated messages for owner Brian Watson, but his calls were not returned. In early February, he went to Fayetteville Saw and Mower. Watson wrote him a check and it bounced.

"I gave them reasonable time to return the money and everything and then the check bouncing -- it really frustrated me," Bell said.

Bell called Watson again and again, but his calls were not returned.

"At that time I decided it was time to take a little more action and that's when I called your office," Bell said.

Five On Your Side left several messages for Watson.

A "John Darby" called back and told Five On Your Side that Watson no longer worked for Fayetteville Saw and Mower. He said the whole thing was a misunderstanding and immediately sent Bell a cashiers check.

"I felt a lot of relief at that time," Bell said.

As for Bell, he says he will never pay up front again.