On March 22 signed contract for landscaping work to start in Spring, total job was $6000 - paid in check $4000 - was not provided proper pamphlet required by Il (know your rights) and no address was on contract (also required in IL) - we did not hear from them but contacted them several times until by the end of June they decided to start the job. They tore down a retaining wall and never showed again - left a dam that caused water damage into our house and damaged our siding and door - they gave every excuse in the book to not return -

the day they were their we decided to change some of the work to be done and they wanted more money - so we mistakenly gave then $1875 more - they returned the next day advising their was a car accident and could not case our check because of a missing driving license - asked for cash which we would not give and then wanted a check in the wifes maiden name (we stupidly gave) - since the end of June they had $5875 our our money and our house is now in worse condition than it was. We wrote a letter advising we would be suing - they signed for it.

We summoned through their agent - they signed and never showed up for court - we now have a judgement on our behalf and they told us that since we sued them they do not want to pay us - they are game playing with our money. After all this, we have looked into these 2 individuals and they have a long history of this - not showing up in court, owing several people due to lost law suits - they were formerly incorporated under the landscape artist which was involunatarily dissolved last year.

We would like to know how individuals who continue to fraud against people are still making a living this way - how are consumers protected and what can we do properly to collect what they owe us and prevent them from doing this to others - their is currently a pending lawsuit in the housing department of cook county illinois against them by the States Attorney - is this a class action suit and can our information from Lake County add to this to show more fraud against these 2 individuals - anything you can tell us will help - we are desperate - the money they stole from us was borrowed and we are facing hard times due to this. Please help - Thanks in advance