RYAN HOMES RIPOFF $10,000.00 EARNEST MONEY AND STILL NO HOME ..Home builder Rip-off

I GAVE RYAN HOMES $10,000.00 APRIL OF 2001 TO BUILD A RAVENWOOD MODEL WITH A DELIVERY DATE OF SEPT/OCT 2001. AS SEPTEMBER APPROACHED THEY STILL HAD NOT BROKEN GROUND. I WAS TOLD BY THE SALES REP THE LOT WAS NOT REALLY REALEASED. I THEN SWITCHED MY LOT FOR A DELIVERY DATE OF APRIL 2002. I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH CHOICE BASED ON LOTS AVAILABLE. AS DECEMBER APPROCHED, I AGAIN SAW "NO WORK" BEING DONE. I FINALLY GOT AGGRESIVE AND DEMANDED THAT RYAN HOMES GUARENTEE MY NEW HOME BE READY IN APRIL OR SIMPLY GIVE ME MY $10K BACK. I WAS TOLD BY THE DIVISION MANAGER (PAUL MOCK) "RYAN HOMES IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF REFUNDING MONEY"

I THEN HIRED AN ATTORNEY TO ADDRESS THE SITIUATION. RYAN HOMES DID RESPOND BY SAYING THEY HAD UNTIL 4/25/02 (1 year mark from original contract date)TO COMPLETE THE HOME.

IT IS NOW ALMOST MARCH 1, 2002 AND RYAN HOMES STILL HAS NOT BROKEN GROUND. THEY STILL HAVE MY $10,000 DOLLARS AND I HAVE NO NEW HOME. THEY HAVE BEGUN TO WORK ON THE COURT. SEWER & UTILITY LINES HAVE BEEN LAID.

DO THEY REALLY EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE THEY CAN BUILD A 3300 SQ FT HOME, FINISHED BASEMENT, ALMOST 65k IN UPGRADES, ON A 1/2 ACRE IN 2 MONTHS TIME. DON'T FORGET THEY STILL HAVE NOT BROKEN GROUND.

IN SUMMARY I FEEL "RYAN HOMES" HAS TIED UP MY LIFE FOR ALMOST ONE YEAR. I HAVE A TOWNHOUSE TO SELL. THANK GOD I DIDN'T PUT ON THE MARKET BASED ON THE ORIGINAL DELIVERY DATE. I STILL HAVE NOT LISTED IT. HOW CAN THEY HOLD MY MONEY LIKE THIS? RYAN HOMES AS PRODUCED NOTHING BUT REFUSES TO GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK.

WHAT CAN I DO? WHO SHOULD I CONTACT? WHAT ARE THE LAWS?

AFTER READING SOME OF THE "HORROR STORIES" ON THIS WEBSITE I'M NOT SURE I WANT A RYAN HOME AT ALL.

ANYONE WHO CAN HELP, PLEASE POST YOUR SUGGESTIONS HERE FOR EVERYONE TO SEE. THANK YOU.