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Homeowners
Nailed by
Repair Fraud
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Senior
citizens
aren't only
ones falling
victim.
BY DAVID GIALANELLA
Staff Writer
For $8,500, the West Dundee couple was supposed
to get a whole lot more than a mound of gravel
and a torn-up backyard.
That's how much the couple paid Bartlett-based
landscaper William R. Sippel to install a patio
and walkway behind their home, on the 1300 block
of Maple Circle. When the work was never finished,
they called Sippel's company, Bill's Landscaping,
to complain, but were told the company had gone
out of business, according to court records.
So the couple sued and won. On Oct. 29, a judge
entered a default judgment against Sippel and
his wife, Gloria J. Sippel, also of Bill's Landscaping,
after they failed to appear for the hearing,
records indicate.
"He knew he was going out of business," said the husband,
whose asked that his name be withheld. "He knew he
was hurting for money. I know there's worse things
in the world that can happen to someone, but to this
day I don't know how you can look someone in the eye
and take their money."
Home repair fraud is an ongoing problem, and
growing residential areas provide plenty of targets.
It may seem like an easy way to make a buck because
many of these incidents go unreported, according
to police. But getting caught could lead to more
than a lawsuit; a criminal conviction could mean
up to seven years in prison.
Not only does William Sippel owe the couple $8,500
plus attorney's fees, he now is charged with
felonies in connection with another alleged scam
that took place in Elgin.
Sippel, 44, of the 200 block of Butler Drive,
Bartlett, is charged with one felony count each
of aggravated home repair fraud and theft. He
filed for bankruptcy months ago.
According to court records, on July 16, Sippel
agreed to install a patio for an elderly resident
living on the 2900 block of Shamrock Drive in
Elgin. Sippel accepted payment from the man but
did not complete the work or have the means to
do so, prosecutors say. He is free after posting
$600 bond on the charge. His wife is not criminally
charged.
Well known in area.
Many who attempt home repair fraud move from
community to community to avoid being recognized
as swindlers, but it appears Bill's Landscaping
was fairly well known. The West Dundee couple
was told -- after the incident -- that Sippel
shortchanged another area family and had a deteriorating
reputation among other local contractors, they
said.
The couple, aged 37 and 39, live in a part of
West Dundee where many homeowners were having
outside improvements done, they said. They received
Sippel's brochure, and heard from a neighbor
that he did good work.
The couple admits they ought to have checked
with the Better Business Bureau -- a search of
the Web site shows an unsatisfactory record for
Bill's Landscaping due to unanswered complaints.
But even experts wouldn't peg them as easy targets;
people in their 30s aren't commonly victimized,
one local expert said.
Much like ruse-entry scams -- where thieves pose
as utility workers in order to gain entry to
a house -- home repair fraud often strikes the
elderly. There are many reasons why seniors make
perfect marks, according to Elgin Police Elderly
Service Officer Cherie Aschenbrenner.
"They're usually home during the day," Aschenbrenner
said, adding that scam artists will tell residents
that they can perform the home improvements immediately.
"They talk real fast. They don't give them a chance
to think," she said.
Aschenbrenner said driveway repaving is one common
scam. Swindlers will offer to do the work right
then and there, using dyed water to coat the
driveway, taking the payment, and disappearing.
Scam artists are opportunistic and the schemes
are always changing. After the late-August storms
and flooding in the Fox Valley, it's particularly
important right now for residents to keep an
eye out for scammers who pose as government representatives,
the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently
warned citizens.
Tough cases to build
Perhaps another reason home repair fraud is prevalent
is it's often difficult to build a case against
suspects, said Elgin Police Detective Jim Roscher.
"Number one, you've got to track them down," which
is very difficult when they migrate, Roscher said.
Also, sometimes authorities must prove the suspect
didn't have the crews, equipment, time or money to
do the job, he said. Bankruptcy is another factor.
As with any kind of scam, the best way to avoid
wasting your money is to do your homework, experts
say. Residents are encouraged to research contractors
and get a number of estimates. Prices well below
the market value automatically should raise suspicions,
authorities say.
Just like Mom used to say: if it seems to good
to be true, it probably is. |
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