The Clarendon County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a Johns Island company that has offered to install water systems for double the market price and then allegedly harassed potential customers when they've declined.
Sheriff Randy Garrett said Thursday that he has made phone contact with the owner of the company, who has refused to cooperate with law enforcement.
"I told him that if he'd come talk to me here in Clarendon County, then we could take care of this," Garrett said. "He's refused. He says he doesn't need to come meet me in person. I told him that he's the one who brought this to Clarendon County. I didn't go to Johns Island, nor did any of these residents he's hit up for these systems."
Garrett said the company tacked a plastic bag containing a sample bottle and a paper explaining how to test one’s water to local mailboxes. Instructions told residents to put a sample of their tap water in the bottle, return it to the plastic baggy and tack it back to the mailbox.
"He then showed up and told them how bad their water was," said Garrett. "He was telling them their water was flat nasty and that it had all these things wrong with it. He then said he could put in a system that would help filter the water for $4,000."
Garrett said a suspicious 58-year-old Summerton woman who knew someone in the water quality testing business called in a favor.
"She had he come test her water, and he said, 'What this guy is trying to sell you is bull,'" Garrett said. "He told her the only thing in her water was a bit of iron, but that's common in this area. She can get a simple filtration system. He also said the system (the Johns Island company wanted to sell her) would cost between $1,400 and $2,000, maybe. And this guy was trying to put it in for double."
Garrett said after the woman told the Johns Island company she was not interested in doing business, the owner called her no less than 20 times.
"He was overbearing and rude and cursed this lady, each time demanding that she let him put the system in," Garrett said. "I know that if he's done this to her, he's done this to other people. I just hope and pray that no one has given him any money to put in a system, because they wouldn't have needed it."
According to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, residents receiving water at home from public utilities should be provided a water testing quality review before July 1 annually.
“However, it is up to home owners with well water to have their water tested, and it is suggested they test for bacteria and other contaminants at least annually,” DHEC’s site on water quality states.
"Companies like this prey on the elderly especially," said Garrett. "They hear that something is wrong with their water, and it preys on their emotion."
Garrett said anyone who has had contact with the company should call the Sheriff's Office at (803) 435-4414.
