Contractors, beware.
The City of Chicago is urging consumers to report potential home repair scams as part of its “Know Before You Begin a Home Repair Project” campaign.
Meantime, investigators with the city’s department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) are making an example out of business with a trail of unhappy customers.
Linnett Ramos of Chicago paid Thomas Roofing & Masonry $4600 last year to build a patio in her home’s backyard. She said the result is an uneven surface that often puddles with water.
“You have to be very careful when you’re walking through, because you can stumble,” Ramos said.
The work came with a ten year guarantee. Ramos said she notified Thomas Roofing & Masonry of her concerns the day after the work was completed. However, she said the company stalled until her last payment cleared the bank and never responded to her after that.
“To repair this, I have to gut this whole thing out,” Ramos said. “That will cost me another four to five thousand dollars, possibly.”
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Ramos filed complaints with the Illinois Attorney General and the BACP. A spokesperson for the BACP said the city has received four complaints about Thomas Roofing & Masonry. While Ramos said she has yet to receive any money back, the BACP took the business to administrative hearings court. A BACP spokesperson said owner Thomas Montes is unlicensed and did not appear in court. He subsequently lost the case involving Ramos’ patio project.
Combined with the result of losing another administrative hearings case based on a consumer complaint, Montes owes the city $117,944.01 in holds.
“He promises the world and delivers nothing,” said BACP assistant commissioner Sherri Cianciarulo. “Basically, he takes people’s money and they can’t reach him.”
Montes did not return our requests for comment.
Montes has also been incredibly difficult to locate, according to city officials.
BACP investigators recently used a decoy in an attempt to lure Montes to an alleged roof repair estimate. Instead, a man named Tony Kean showed up.
“I have nothing to do with Thomas Roofing, whatsoever,” Kean told NBC 5 Investigates.
Kean said he used to work for Thomas Roofing & Masonry, but left over a payment dispute.
City officials said Kean uses the same cell phone number that was listed on the Thomas Roofing & Masonry website. The website has since been taken down.
“This is my personal number,” Kean said. “So when I worked there, it came back with me as my personal phone.”
Kean said he is currently is an estimator working for another roofing company. However, BACP officials issued Kean a cease and desist for operating as an unlicensed roofer and home repair contractor.
When Ramos was shown a photo of Kean, she immediately recognized him and said he was the person who did not return her calls after her check cleared.
Kean, however, told NBC 5 Investigates that at the time he would have forwarded Ramos’ concerns to his boss. He insisted he currently has nothing to do with Thomas Roofing & Masonry.
Ramos said she is speaking out to help consumers.
“The next time, I would definitely check the company out,” Ramos said. “I would definitely find out that they are licensed, that they are insured.”
Businesses operating in city limits must have a current City of Chicago-issued Home Repair or General Contractor license. The license number is a requirement on business fliers, advertisers and vehicles used by the business. Also, the business must have insurance up to $300,000 and consumers have the right to see the insurance certificate.
“We want our citizens, who are our eyes and ears, to call us if they have been a victim of a scam,” Cianciarulo said.
The city urges anyone with concerns about a home repair business to contact 311. City officials also recommend consumers contact the BACP to research a business before hiring a home repair contractor.
