SAN ANTONIO — The Marin family hired Joe Munoz with San Antonio 24 Hour Glass in February, inquiring about hiring him to replace a cracked glass countertop in their kitchen. The family said Munoz showed up the same day they called and collected their full payment of $1,537.
But then Munoz didn't come back to finish the job.
Bertha Marin said the contractor did at least answer his phone after he came out the first time, but he then missed multiple appointments to actually install the glass.
"He just keeps scheduling, we reschedule and he's just a no-show," Marin initially said.
Marin said she asked Munoz for a refund a month later in March, but he just responded by assuring the family he would finish the job. After two months went by, the family called KENS 5.
"I said, you know what, I think we need some help," Marin said.
KENS 5 contacted Munoz on the phone and told him the family would like their money back. The contractor initially agreed agreed to give the family a check on April 16.
Again, he didn't show up.
KENS 5 then looked into the contractor and discovered that he's been convicted of theft-related charges at least 12 times. KENS 5 contacted Munoz again last week to inform him of our impending story and to ask him if he would provide that refund.
Munoz didn't have an answer for KENS 5 last week. On Monday afternoon, the family said he finally provided them with a full refund.
"Thank you to KENS 5 for all the help!" Marin said.
Repeated thievery
When KENS 5 started researching Munoz, we couldn't find a store location for the contractor. But we did find he had a suite in a building on San Pedro Avenue.
Additionally, according to Texas Department of Public Safety records, Munoz has been arrested and convicted on theft-related charges at least 12 times since 1993.
Munoz pleaded no-contest to property theft charges in 2022 in Bexar County. Earlier, in 2021, he pleaded guilty to property theft in Fort Bend County in 2021. Going back further, he pleaded guilty to theft by check in Matagorda County in 2019 and to property theft in Bryan in 2019.
Previous to that, he was also found guilty of theft-related charges in Conroe, Brazos County and Houston multiple times, as well as in Tarrant County.
When KENS 5 contacted Munoz again last week, he would not say exactly when or how he would pay the family back. The family later told KENS that Munoz had again promised to pay them on April 22.
Marin told KENS 5 they have called SAPD about the situation as well. While Marin doesn't yet know if she'll get the money back, she hopes this doesn't happen to anyone else.
"We need people to see that," Marin said. "If you look up this business, San Antonio 24 Hour glass, don't hire him."
Anyone looking to hire a contractor should search for that contractor on the Better Business Bureau's website, check reviews, and make sure the business has a local address.
Editor's Note: A previous version of this video incorrectly identified the name of the business. It is San Antonio 24 Hour Glass.