Official Investigation Coordination & Consumer Clearinghouse

Documenting Alleged Unfulfilled Shutter Contracts & Retained Deposits: US Discount Shutters & US Discount Contracting

Were you promised custom hurricane or plantation shutters, paid large upfront deposits (exceeding 10%), and experienced uninstalled projects, absence of permits, or unreturned funds? This portal serves as a neutral community documentation clearinghouse to assist law enforcement agencies and facilitate prospective legal counsel.

Unperformed

Reported Contracts & Uninstalled Shutters

> 10% Deposits

Subject to Fla. Stat. § 489.126 Requirements

Active Police Case

Volusia County Sheriff's Office Case #VP260020263

Submit Incident Documentation Active Law Enforcement Case

Official Public Record

Active Criminal Investigation: Volusia County Sheriff's Office

Case File: VP260020263

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office has initiated a formal criminal investigation into alleged contractor fraud, unfulfilled shutter contracts, and unreturned deposits involving US Discount Shutters, LLC, US Discount Contracting LLC, and principal Kurt Anthony Wiltshire. Affected consumers are encouraged to reference this case number when filing individual police reports.

Investigating Agency

Volusia County Sheriff's Office (VSO)

Case / Incident Report #

VP260020263

Assigned Investigator

Deputy Buettner (Unit 1862)

Governing Criminal Statute

F.S. § 817.034 Scheme to Defraud

Contractor Deposit Presumption

F.S. § 489.126 10% Deposit / 30-Day Rule

Corroborating Testimony

Former employee testimony regarding non-fulfillment

→ Volusia Sheriff's Office Online Reporting → Florida Attorney General (FDUTPA) → Florida DBPR Licensing Board → Florida Sunbiz Corporate Filings

Factual Intake

Consumer Incident Documentation Intake

All submitted information is aggregated into factual case summaries to assist investigating law enforcement agencies, state regulators, and prospective litigation counsel representing affected consumers.

1. Consumer Contact Information

Full Legal Name *

Phone Number *

Email Address *

City & State *

Postal / ZIP Code

2. Contract & Transaction Details

Entity Named on Agreement *

Contract / Invoice Number

Date Contract Signed *

Sales Representative / Contact Name

Promised Installation Date

Did Contractor Apply for Building Permit?

3. Financial Out-of-Pocket Loss

Total Contract Amount ($) *

Deposit Paid ($) *

Payment Method Used *

4. Summary of Facts & Allegations

Describe what occurred (Dates, representations, missed promises) *

CRITICAL EVIDENCE ADVISORY: Please preserve all unedited original records (emails, text message threads, voicemails, cancelled checks, and bank statements). Do not alter or delete contemporaneous records; unedited timestamps are essential for law enforcement (F.S. § 817.034) and judicial proceedings.

Evidence Currently in Your Possession (Check all that apply):

Signed Contract / Purchase Order / Estimate Proof of Payment (Bank statement / Front & Back of Cancelled Check) Text / SMS Communications with Sales Rep or Owner (Kurt Wiltshire) Emails / Written Promises from Company Photos of Unfinished, Defective, or Unstarted Work

5. Truthfulness Certification & Collective Action Consent

Truthfulness Certification: I certify under penalty of false reporting that the factual statements, dates, and loss amounts provided in this submission are true, correct, and complete to the best of my personal knowledge. * Collective Action & Disclosure Authorization: I am an affected consumer of US Discount Shutters / US Discount Contracting. I authorize the group organizers to include my contact information and factual summary in an aggregated case summary to be submitted to investigating law enforcement agencies (including the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, Case #VP260020263) and prospective class-action/consumer-protection law firms for collective review. I understand that the organizers are not attorneys, do not provide legal advice, and cannot accept representation on my behalf. Any eventual legal representation will require a direct agreement between myself and a licensed law firm. * Keep me updated by email on law enforcement developments, regulatory filings, and potential restitution or collective legal proceedings.

Action Guide

Official Reporting Steps

Take these immediate actions to establish formal records and preserve your legal rights.

Dispute Credit Card or Financing Charges

If you paid by credit card or consumer financing (Synchrony, GreenSky, etc.), immediately contact your card issuer's fraud/dispute department. Cite "Services Not Rendered / Breach of Merchant Agreement".

Fair Credit Billing Act & FTC Holder Rule protect unrendered services.

File Police / Sheriff Report (Ref: Case #VP260020263)

Request an incident report for "Contractor Theft by Deception / Scheme to Defraud (F.S. § 817.034 & § 489.126)". If reporting in or near Volusia County, Florida, reference active Volusia Sheriff's Office Case No. VP260020263 (Deputy Buettner, Unit 1862) to link your complaint to the ongoing criminal investigation.

Volusia Sheriff's Office Portal →

File State Attorney General & DBPR Complaints

State Attorneys General have statutory authority over deceptive trade practices. In Florida, file with the Florida Attorney General (FDUTPA) and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) for contractor violations.

Florida AG Consumer Portal → • Florida DBPR →

Submit a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Report

The FTC tracks nationwide patterns of contractor deception and fraudulent business practices to initiate federal enforcement.

ReportFraud.ftc.gov →

Volusia County Small Claims Self-Help

Under Florida Small Claims Rules, claims up to $8,000 (excluding fees and interest) can be filed in County Court without an attorney at 101 N. Alabama Ave., DeLand, FL 32724 or via the Florida E-Filing Portal.

Florida Courts E-Filing Portal →

Self-Help Tool

Statutory Demand Letter Generator

Under Florida Statute § 489.126, sending a formal certified demand letter is a required statutory step to trigger the legal presumption of intent to defraud. Fill out your details in the form above and select your format.

⚖️ Informational Notice: This template is provided as an informational self-help resource. It does not constitute legal counsel or representation. Print two copies: mail one via USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt Requested and keep one for your records.

Demand Format:

Tip: Send via USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt Requested. Save the tracking receipt and signed green card as trial Exhibit A.

Legal Disclosures

Legal Compliance & Anti-SLAPP Disclosures

This platform operates under strict compliance with Florida and Federal law to protect affected consumers, maintain evidence integrity, and respect all regulatory boundaries.

1. Non-Lawyer Coalition & No UPL (Fla. Stat. § 454.23)

This website is created, maintained, and operated by an independent grassroots coalition of affected consumers. The organizers and administrators are not attorneys and do not provide legal advice, case evaluation, or legal representation. All resources provided are self-help informational templates.

2. No Referral Fees / No Solicitation (Fla. Bar Rule 4-7.18)

The organizers receive no referral fees, financial kickbacks, or remuneration of any kind from any lawyer or law firm. This portal does not solicit clients for any specific attorney. Consumers retain absolute autonomy to select their own legal counsel, file pro se in small claims court, or pursue administrative resolution.

3. Florida Anti-SLAPP Protection (Fla. Stat. § 768.295)

Florida's Anti-SLAPP Act prohibits retaliatory lawsuits against individuals for exercising their constitutional right of free speech in connection with public issues and petitioning governmental entities. Reporting factual experiences to law enforcement and regulatory bodies is protected speech under the U.S. and Florida Constitutions.

4. Consumer Review Fairness Act (15 U.S.C. § 45b)

Federal law protects consumer rights to post honest, factual reviews and communicate with regulators regarding contractor performance. Non-disparagement or gag clauses in standard consumer contracts are void and unenforceable under federal law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding Your Legal Protections & Next Steps

What is Florida Statute § 489.126 and why does it matter?

Under Florida Statute § 489.126, a contractor who receives deposits exceeding 10% of the contract price must apply for building permits within 30 days. Failing to perform or refund money within 30 days of receiving a written certified demand creates a statutory presumption that the contractor received the funds with intent to defraud.

Can I get a refund if I financed through GreenSky or Synchrony?

Yes. Under the FTC Holder Rule (16 C.F.R. § 433), consumer credit contracts are subject to all claims and defenses that the debtor could assert against the original contractor for failure to deliver goods or services.

Who manages the case records CRM?

Authorized case managers and reviewing legal counsel utilize the secure Case Records CRM to index submissions, aggregate loss amounts, and coordinate evidence for law enforcement.

Can an individual officer be held liable for LLC contracts?

Under Florida law, corporate shields do not protect individual officers who personally commit or direct intentional torts, such as fraud in the inducement or violations of criminal statutes (§ 817.034 / § 489.126).