COMPLAINT: Jan Mitchell, St. Petersburg, Fla.

"I hired Affordable Roofing Systems to do a screen enclosure and soffit work on the roof. I signed a contract and paid a $1,000 deposit. Their worker told me they had somebody who works with them on screens. Two days later, I hadn't heard back from them.

"The gentleman they used for screens went out of business. Affordable Roofing called and told me I might need to find someone to do the screen and soffit work myself, even though they originally told me they would do this. I called and got two people out by the weekend.

"No other roofer had issues doing this. I told Affordable Roofing Systems that I couldn't afford to do both the screen enclosures and the roof, and asked for my deposit back. They told me I had three days to get out of the contract and I tried to explain that I had tried to get things set up in those three days and I kept getting the runaround.

"They told me I could extend the contract, cancel the contract and forfeit the deposit, or pursue legal options. They never had to order any material for the job and kept giving me the runaround."

DESIRED RESOLUTION: "I would like to receive my $1,000 deposit back."

RESPONSE: James (Rick) Mellette, president, Affordable Roofing Systems

"She signed the contract on 7/6/09, and I spoke to her on 7/14/09. I do not believe this is a legitimate complaint. She broke the contract, not us!"

STATUS: Stalemate