Families Upset Over Scrap Metal Business...Did They Get Scammed? - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

Families Upset Over Scrap Metal Business...Did They Get Scammed?

SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. -  Many families in Spokane have lots of old scrap metal on their property looking for ways to get rid of it. But there is a company that many say is a scam. The Cerenzia's have owned property near Deer Park for over 100 years.

When Brenda Cerenzia's father-in-law passed away this past summer the estate decided it was time to get rid of some old farm equipment valued in the thousands of dollars. She says a man from the company Metal Movers came to the house. "I can move the stuff for ya and we are going to offer you $100 a ton and then he came back and said metal prices went down and we will do $70 a ton," the worker said.

Brenda Cerenzia says John Knight with Metal Movers promised to take the metal off the property and recycle it in Moses Lake. The family took photos the day Metal Movers hauled away 3 truck loads, including about 30 tons of machinery at the uncle's property across the street. Cerenzia says weeks went by and the company never paid them. "Oh yeah I'm mad Oh I'm furious," says Cerenzia.

The Cerenzia's aren't the only family going through this. KHQ received several emails of folks complaining of the same company. Cindy Guerard from Airway Heights emailed: "My elderly father and about 3 of his friends just got scammed by a company called Metal Movers. They got away with I'm thinking at least $9000.00 of these poor old retired farmers money. My dad has spoken to an attorney and the sheriff. Where else can I go for help?"

Metal Movers is based out of Pendleton, Oregon. They are not BBB accredited; in fact the company has a "F" rating.