Surf City Homeowner Alleges Yearlong Pool Project Delays; Contractor Faces Fraud Charge
SURF CITY, NC (WWAY)– A Pender County pool builder is headed to court, accused of taking money from clients and not finishing the job. We speak to one customer who confronted the builder.
A coastal North Carolina homeowner says a backyard pool project that was supposed to take weeks has stretched into a yearlong ordeal, leaving her with an unfinished installation, mounting concerns about safety, and little communication from the contractor she hired.
Meredith Todaro, a Surf City resident, recorded a confrontation on her phone with contractor Christian Villa, owner of Sunrise Pools, after she says the project stalled for months.
“It started right out the gate with delays,” Todaro said.
Todaro said she hired Villa in early 2025, expecting the pool to be completed within about a month. Instead, she described repeated no-shows and long stretches without updates.
“There would be days of no shows, delays, and when nobody would come, no communication,” she said.
She said the problems extended beyond scheduling delays. Todaro alleges damage to her fence, an unfinished paver patio and what she described as unsafe electrical work tied to the project.
“When I say no aspect of this pool installation went as it should have, there were issues with everything along the way, I’m not exaggerating,” she said.
Todaro said she has since learned of other homeowners in the area who report similar experiences, including unfinished pools and unfulfilled promises. Some of those complaints have appeared on the company’s social media pages.
The situation has also drawn the attention of law enforcement. According to authorities, Villa was arrested by the Pender County Sheriff’s Office and charged with obtaining property by false pretenses. Investigators allege he accepted more than $42,000 from another resident for a pool project that was never completed, later ceasing communication and falsely claiming a refund would be issued, according to court documents.
In a statement posted to the company’s Facebook page in late March, Sunrise Pools said it is working to address customer concerns.
“If you’re currently waiting on a project or have concerns, please reach out to us directly. You are a priority, and we are committed to getting your project completed the right way,” the statement read. “We appreciate the patience from our customers who have stuck with us, and we’re working hard every day to earn back the trust of our community.”
Todaro said she has filed complaints with law enforcement and the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office but has not seen a resolution.
She is now encouraging others facing similar issues to come forward.
“For those people out there with unfinished projects, I’d encourage them to file a report with the State Attorney General’s Office,” Todaro said. “Perhaps that way, there’ll be some accountability.”
Villa has a court hearing on May 13th.
