Atty. General Sues Downers Grove Business For Deceptive Practices

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit against a home improvement business in Downers Grove for allegedly using deceptive practices on its customers. The lawsuit alleges that hundreds of customers were misled by American Dream Home Improvements, Inc. (ADHI) into paying for home repairs "they did not realize they agreed to and may not have wanted," a press release from Madigan's office states.

ADHI allegedly targeted customers throughout Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Knox, Lake, McHenry, Peoria, Rock Island, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago counties after severe thunderstorms. The company sent salespeople door to door to offer "free property inspections, home repair services and public adjusting services," allegedly pressuring residents into signing various forms.

Customers reportedly signed these forms under the impression that they were for the free inspection and were taken aback when crews appeared at their homes to do repairs they didn't know they had authorized.

Multiple residents who went forward with the roofing repairs contacted Madigan's office to report "shoddy or incomplete work," the press release states, adding that some homeowners were charged more than their insurance policy could cover.

The release says that in total, Madigan got more than 100 complaints from customers who were victims of this alleged scheme, which lasted more than three years. The Better Business Bureau got upwards of 250 calls.

Madigan said of these practices, "American Dream Home has been more of a nightmare for hundreds of Illinois homeowners," adding that homeowners should be especially cautious when dealing with door-to-door salespeople.

In the suit, Madigan seeks restitution for impacted homeowners and aims to impose civil penalties on ADHI and ban the company from doing business in Illinois.

If you believe you have been defrauded by ADHI, contact Madigan's consumer fraud hotline at1-800-386-5438 .

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