Handyman company scam accused, also examines the state police

Kalamazoo, MI - customers complained KBC improvements took the deposit money at home, but as promised not perform.

Now charges were brought on site and Michigan State Police begin a wider investigation.

"We are to open an investigation, investigates complaints against the KBC in western Michigan to coordinate," Sgt. Detective Carey Casperson said the anti-fraud unit of the Michigan State Police, headquartered in Kalamazoo.

Casperson said on May 5, when the MSP investigation in its "infancy" is, was aware of the complaints in Portage, South Haven, Allegan and East Grand Rapids. Some cities have begun to press charges, he said.

South Haven police who on April 4 indictment of Stephen Lewis, president of the company allowed by the Better Business Bureau. Lewis is facing a lawsuit from contractor fraud, crime, according to records of the District Court in Van Buren County. A hearing test probably preliminary and have planned for later in May.

Lawyer Allegan County Frederick Anderson said, a separate charge of fraud contractor is waiting in the town of Allegan. A probable cause hearing was postponed in the District Court and the matter is now in the circuit court, says Anderson

The maximum penalty for fraud Contractor is three years in prison, he said.

Lewis lawyer and KBC Home Improvement, did not respond to telephone messages or e-mail seeking comment for this story. A website of the company, www.kbchomeimprovements.com, was down Thursday and a former shop was empty.

Many complaints to the Better Business Bureau, the company introduced the note "F" of a consumer protection group Mlive previously reported. Currently, a total of 32 complaints on the Office's website, most of them are exceptional.

Complaints from the Better Business Bureau practices are divided into three categories, Casperson said: Those who assert deposits paid work that was never started, they say pays deposits, but the work was never completed, and those who claim that, Materials were not paid by KBC, put the leading provider of materials left in their homes.

In an unsolved case on the BBB website, a customer complains a deposit in the amount of $ 2.770 payable - Total cost half of the estimated project - but the windows were not delivered or installed in the next six months.

"I would call the office, it sounded like 10 times and then a fast busy signal," according to the complaint of the Office.

KBC said in its reply to the part of the side of the problem lies with the customer.

"KBC has and attempts to schedule an installation date many times this client window. The customer says that they are waiting to see how this complaint resolved by the BBB," he said. "Obviously, KBC wants to complete the work in accordance with the contract ... .The customer will each phone does not recall KBC is difficult to reach an amicable settlement."

Casperson said that the national police information from complaints to the local police collect, to see whether it makes sense to pursue the charges as a group by the Attorney General of Michigan. If the case does not reach this level which would be processed locally, he said.

Victims who wish to submit a formal complaint against KBC should contact the local police, Casperson said.