In Lake County, some homeowners say they are paying for home repairs that exist only on paper. They signed up for on-the-spot financing, watched the money go straight from fintech lender Momnt to a contractor, and then watched the contractor disappear.
Borrowers told local investigators that loans arranged through Momnt were funded directly to merchants, even when the jobs were never started. The bills, however, kept coming.
One of those homeowners is Arthur Mueller, who says he was charged more than $12,000 for a bathroom remodel that never happened after the loan proceeds went directly to a merchant. As reported by WFTV, Mueller said Momnt continued collection efforts until he persuaded Equifax to flag the account as fraud.
Customers In Georgia Report The Same Pattern
The complaints are not stopping at the Florida line. In Georgia, consumers describe a similar playbook, with quick approvals on a salesperson’s tablet, instant payments to a local merchant and then months of silence from the contractor.
Reporting from WSB-TV names customers who say Momnt kept trying to collect even though they never received the windows, gutters or other work they had financed. According to that reporting, the FBI is gathering information from affected customers.
Momnt’s Legal Filings And Company Response
Momnt has gone to court over at least one of the merchants involved. The company has filed suit against a Georgia contractor, alleging the business pocketed loan proceeds that were supposed to pay for customers’ projects. Court-related records show Momnt received hundreds of complaints tied to that seller.
WFTV reports that Momnt’s filings cite roughly 269 customer complaints, more than half of the loans connected to that merchant. The company says it has pursued refunds for some customers while also pursuing legal remedies against the contractor.
Holder Rule And Legal Angle
Homeowners are not entirely powerless in this kind of mess. A federal protection known as the FTC’s Holder Rule preserves consumers’ claims and defenses against whoever is collecting the loan, not just the contractor who vanished. That can give borrowers leverage when a merchant fails to do the work.
The practical impact of that rule, and how it might apply in cases like these, is spelled out by the Federal Trade Commission and consumer-protection attorneys. Their consistent advice is to document every interaction, keep every scrap of paper and digital message, and consider asserting lender-liability or fraud claims when the project never materializes.
What To Do If You Financed Work Through Momnt
If you took out financing and the work never showed up, the first step is homework. Collect your contracts, invoices, photos, emails, texts and any other messages from the seller. Then contact the company that services your loan and dispute any charges tied to work you did not receive.
Homeowners are also advised to reach out to the credit bureaus and challenge any inaccurate reporting connected to the account. You can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau through its online complaint portal and with your state consumer office, in Florida through MyFloridaLegal and in Georgia via the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. Borrowers can also raise the issue through Momnt’s own support and payment channels listed on the company’s website.
How Widespread Is The Problem?
The full scope is still coming into focus, but local reporting and business records suggest the number of affected homeowners is well beyond a handful. WSB-TV and other investigations point to filings that list hundreds of complaints tied to at least one merchant, and the Better Business Bureau shows dozens of unresolved complaints involving companies connected to these contracts.
Consumers who suspect they were cheated are urged to preserve every document and screenshot, and to avoid stopping payments without getting legal advice first, since that can trigger its own set of problems. Many local investigators say the cases are a blunt reminder of the risks of on-the-spot financing and the need to vet contractors carefully before signing anything, no matter how friendly the salesperson or how shiny the tablet.
