The company owner says they have not received any payment and are now thousands of dollars in debt because of the unpaid bill.
TUCKER, Ga. — A Tucker-based construction company says a local homeowner has refused to pay more than $30,000 for completed work, allegedly demanding to see the workers’ green cards before releasing payment.
Mario Aguinada, owner of Sun Dry Waterproofing, told 11Alive that his company performed foundation and waterproofing work at a home in Tucker in July under a $31,000 contract.
Aguinada said he has not received any payment and is now thousands of dollars in debt due to unpaid bills.
“This has cost me a lot of money,” Aguinada said. He said he paid $17,000 to $18,000 for the materials.
According to emails reviewed by 11Alive, the homeowner raised concerns about the quality of the work, citing cracks in the concrete and a hole near the side of her home.
However, Aguinada said what disturbed him most was the homeowner’s request to see the immigration documents of his workers.
In an email dated July 31, the woman asked to see the “green cards” of the non-English-speaking workers who performed the job.
Aguinada said the next day, she threatened to call federal immigration authorities if he did not provide the documentation.
“It’s very sad in this day that people take advantage of this and say that, ‘I don’t want to pay you because you have an accent,’ or ‘ don’t want to pay you because I don’t think you have a green card,'” Aguinada said.
Aguinada said he attempted to meet with the homeowner to address her concerns and make any necessary repairs, but she refused. He also said the woman questioned whether he was the true owner of the company.
“The business registration is in my name,” he said. “I gave her my business card. She has my business card. I don’t know why she’s not believing—because I’m Latino? I’ve been doing this business for 25 years.”
Court records show that in September, Aguinada and his attorney filed a lien against the homeowner’s property for the $31,000 he says he is owed.
11Alive reached out to the homeowner multiple times for comment.
She later responded by phone and text, declining an on-camera interview. She denied Aguinada’s allegations and said her emails referencing Immigration and Customs Enforcement were taken out of context.
Aguinada maintains that both he and his employees are authorized to work in the United States and have the proper documentation to prove it.
