Lancaster Dock and Pier

I hired “Lancaster Custom Dock & Lift Systems Inc.” to build me a new dock/pier on Lake Norman. I sent them a $2,500 deposit which was meant to be a design fee, which would be contributed to the dock build if we moved forward with the actual build. The check I sent was cashed by the Lancaster business on Oct 30th, 2020. Upon this receipt I received notification from Donna Blackwell, assigning me a project manager for the build and another person assigned to assist with the design. After several attempts to contact these individuals via email, phone call, voicemail and text I received zero correspondence. On February 19th, 2021 I emailed Donna Blackwell requesting a refund, specifying that no one had worked with me on any part of scheduling or designing my dock and had been non-responsive. This was roughly four months into our potential work agreement. Mark Lancaster immediately called me and I explained the situation to him. He told me over the phone at that time that he could send my deposit back today. He then made several excuses as to the lack of follow up and suggested that he could move me to the front of the line. I told him I had simply asked when my projected start date would be for a build, and also how to go about beginning the design process. Mark then told me he needed to check his calendar and would call me right back. About eight hours later he called me and said he could potentially build in August of 21’ or possibly fit me in for July. I told Mark that I had someone else coming out for an estimate this week and that I would get back to him shortly on sending of the refund. Over the next week Mark sent me a text message saying he had 3 options. I assumed he meant 3 options for how to go about working on a design. I asked him what the three options were and he told me to come into his office. At the time I was at the hospital with my wife having our first child. I messaged Mark back on March 10th telling him that I had decided to go with another builder and would like him to send the deposit back to my address. Mark refused telling me that he had completed the design! A design which he was not assigned to work on per emails I have with his staff. He also has allegedly completed my design without my input!? I could only laugh really at the attempt here to keep my deposit. I asked him to send me the designs immediately. The Lancaster business refused and demanded that I schedule a meeting at his office to review and receive said designs. Mark also called me and told me to sue him, stating he had been to court 3 times already and called me some names. When I told him that I would file claims and review his business he told me he would sue me for slander. On top of all of that, the Lancaster contract states that I will receive my engineered designs within 14 days. It has been roughly four and a half months now since my initial deposit. Update: 1 day after this battle to receive my refund began Mark is flying a drone over my property. I would not recommend this business ever to anyone.