Hot Springs contractor facing new complaints about work
A contractor who had previously performed work in Malvern and surrounding areas and had his contractor’s license revoked in 2018 is now operating a Hot Springs-based business without a license and racking up new complaints, according to the state licensing board.
Mark Curtis was operating under the business name Mac Fence and Deck LLC back in late 2017-early 2018, when his contractor’s license was revoked due to three customer complaints that were filed against him with the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board.
“He was not a home builder or even a remodeler, he had a series of specialty classifications,” said Gregory Crow, director of the Arkansas Contractors’ Licensing Board.
Crow and other related officials had a hearing at that time to address the complaints raised against the company, but Curtis was a no-show.
“He didn’t respond to any of the complaints that we had,” Crow said. “He did not appear, and we revoked his license.”
The ACLB only has three employees to monitor the business licensing and operations of all companies throughout the entire state, and they rely on public input and customer complaints to alert them to any issues.
Crow said the licensing board next became aware of an issue surrounding Mark Curtis when a complaint came into their office in August 2022 against Curtis, who was operating under the business moniker MAC MC Construction.
Susie Sexson, owner of Dream Mountain Kennel in Royal, hired Curtis to complete fencing and building enhancement projects on her property in late 2021. Sexson received several increasing quotes on various aspects of the project and ended up giving Curtis close to $70,000 before Curtis allegedly abandoned the project entirely.
“He didn’t have a license, so the complaint was turned over to the unlicensed activity investigators,” Crow said.
Other online conversations point to other dissatisfied customers, but the complaint filed by Sexson in August 2022 is the only one the ACLB currently has on the books for the offending company.
A hearing scheduled in January did not take place because investigators were unable to serve Curtis at that time with notice of the hearing. Curtis could not be located at the address he had
“We will have a hearing once we get him served, right now it’s scheduled for March,” Crow said. “Of course, we do have to prove our case.”
If Curtis is found guilty of the allegations, he will be expected to pay any penalties assigned to him and will likely receive an order to cease and desist all operations. Curtis could be ordered to pay up to $400 per day of unlawful activity and face a Class A misdemeanor charge, but any criminal charges would have to stem from the Prosecutor’s Office.
Anyone who has hired Curtis since 2018 and been dissatisfied with the work done through his company should contact the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board online at www.aclb. arkansas.gov or call 501372-4661.