La Grange Family Out $95K To Contractor: Police

LA GRANGE, IL – A La Grange family told police they are out more than $95,000 to a contractor that they hired to install a saltwater pool in the backyard.

The project remains unfinished, with a hole and exposed pipes as evidence, police said.

The family, who lives in the 200 block of South Spring Avenue, filed a report on April 13. Patch obtained the police report through a public records request.

Last summer, the couple entered a contract with the company, whose name was blacked out in the report. A neighbor referred them to the firm.

The couple told the police that the contractor would constantly call them for more money, saying they needed it to buy materials. The salesman constantly wanted to upsell them on more costly and upgraded products, police said.

When they called for installation updates, the salesman would give excuses about needing more money for unexpected expenses and blame warehouses for not having the required products, according to the report.

The family called one of the warehouses, where an employee said the contractor never placed an order, police said.

On April 17, an officer spoke with a representative of the contractor, who said he no longer worked there.

The person indicated a bankruptcy is pending and that the work most likely would remain incomplete. The person said the family would likely have to hire another company to finish the job, police said.

The family last communicated with the company March 20 and was told that it was waiting on material to complete the work. The company has not answered calls since then, the family told police.

The investigation continues, the report said. Police are listing the case as home repair fraud.