Sad clients say Frankfort contractor Aaron McMann and his firm Chi-Line Development took hundreds for unfinished work

FRANKFORT, Sick. (WLS) — A number of sad clients reached out to our I-Group a few south suburban contractor who, they are saying, took their cash and did not correctly end the roles.

Now the I-Group has realized this contractor is just not allowed to work within the suburb the place he as soon as had an workplace.

Amy O’Donnel’s dream of a reworked basement in Frankfort is much from a actuality. Practically a yr after her husband signed a contract with Chi-Line Development, the challenge is much from full.

“So just about all it’s, is simply the body with drywall on it,” she stated of her basement.

O’Donnel stated she paid $75,000 to Chi-Line Development and proprietor Aaron McMann. Of their contract, McMann stated he would do nearly all of the work and provide supplies, and O’Donnel would do some installations.

“Your complete bar is unfinished, it is solely framed, so we’re lacking our home equipment and cupboards that we paid for, counter tops,” O’Donnel stated.

Eight clients instructed the I-Group they employed McMann and Chi-Line Development and obtained incomplete jobs or poor workmanship after paying wherever from $2,000, to greater than a $100,000.

“Completed one factor and he did not end it, then it wasn’t carried out proper anyway,” stated Frank Drozd who paid greater than $38,000 on a $51,000 job with un-matched siding on the entrance of his house.

He stated that holes in a caulking job of the home windows and doorways and poor set up brought about water harm. And he has leaking in his basement ceiling.

“These boards have been moist and moldy so I needed to reduce them out,” he stated.

“It seems like a pace bump between my eating room and lounge in my workplace,” stated Chi-Line buyer Stephanie Tabak.

“They by no means insulated the second ground and my pipes froze and it got here pouring down the primary ground,” stated home-owner Christine VanByssum.

Ken Nading took video of McMann and fired Chi Line, he stated, after ready two months for a basement entryway to be completed. He’s now attempting to get a $15,000 down cost again.

Subcontractor Enrique Montes stated Chi-Line owes him greater than $2,000.

“Subcontractors, we go in there, we get every part carried out. We anticipate to receives a commission,” he stated.

The I-Group uncovered 15 complaints filed with the Illinois Legal professional Common in opposition to Chi-Line Development. Seven are from the individuals on this story. Some shoppers have filed police experiences.

The Village of Frankfort stated after getting “a number of complaints” about McMann, his contractor license was suspended however that his “license is eligible for reinstatement if the problems are corrected.”

Will County stated McMann’s license within the unincorporated a part of the county expired in December 2022 and was suspended in December 2023. A spokesperson instructed the I-Group, “There was an allegation in opposition to this firm that they walked away from initiatives and didn’t end the work to code for 3 permits in unincorporated Will County.”

We emailed and talked on the telephone with McMann, however he declined to remark to the I-Group. After we went to his listed enterprise tackle in Frankfort, it was empty.

Some individuals obtained a reimbursement. Tiffany Hill-Moore obtained a partial refund on her bank card and Denise Kelly obtained a full refund from her bank card after disputing prices. However they stated they needed to rent new contractors.

“Unfinished work, the standard of the work was extraordinarily shoddy,” stated Hill-Moore

“Somebody did come and begin the challenge, ripped out all of the concrete, tousled every part and deserted the challenge,” Kelly stated.

The Illinois Legal professional Common stated it is reviewing all complaints in opposition to Chi-Line Development, and added that customers ought to at all times get multiple estimate in writing. Get a selected cost schedule with a down cost, mid funds, and remaining funds which ought to coincide with completion of the work.

You must also verify and see how lengthy a contractor has been in enterprise.

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