Complaint Review: SJN Electric - Swansea Illinois

Hello Sylvianne.  I am a resident that lives in O'fallon, Illinois.  I am going through similar problems with Mr. (Mister used very loosely) Neumeyer.  His employee came to my home just to verbally explain the work he did in my house to my husband as my husband was not home when the work was done.  We had paid that bill day services were rendered.  My husband did not ask the employee to come out, the employee offered to come out.  He did not, of course, say there would be any charges to come out.  When he arrived at my house, my husband was on the phone with our home warranty company, SJN employee told my husband there would be no charge so not to worry about the warranty company.  One week later we get a bill for $150.  I told Steve I would not be paying that bill because we did not ask for any services rendered.  Steve then yelled at me, using profanity and told me I would pay it.  One week later I received paperwork that he had put a lien on my home!  We are now trying to refinance our home so we can rent it.  My husband is in the military and we need to move.  We caved so we could get the refinance done and finally agreed to pay the bill plus the monies to put the lien on and to take it off.  Well, Steve's secretary called me to today and now not only does Steve want us to pay the for the lien to be put on and off he now wants upwards of $140 for his TIME that he took to put the lien on!  We have 4 weeks before we move and do not have time for this!!!  What about MY time.  The time and stress I've had to endure dealing with a loser who is trying to steal money from me and my family of 5 kids and ruining my good name?  Maybe we could meet up to discuss this?  Please contact me.

Thank you for the information regarding the Remodeling Act. I did file my final answer to the court referencing this Act. I also stated how Steve Neumeyer lied under oath when he stated I showed him an Inspection Report. I did not have any such report at that time, only a copy of the Appraisal, as I had not closed on the house until the following month. In addition, I purchased the house as a foreclosure and AS-IS, thus no formal inspection. With this information and the extensive list of damages (with receipts of repair), I lost the case. Neumeyer was granted a judgment against me, but for only 1/2 of what he claimed on his bill. I lost on a Technicality-I filed the answer to the court 8 days late. I can appeal this, however I do not have the finances to continue. I will continue to fight for the removal of his electrical license and warn everyone I can about this very unscrupulous contractor. Steve Neumeyer is a liar, a thief and not to be trusted. For anyone having to go to court against SJN Electric, please have a copy of the 2000 Remodeling Act. If you do not have an attorney, as I represented myself, then be aware of any and all required filing dates.

In case you don't already know, there is a Home Remodeling Act that was passed in 2000 in Illinois. That act states that any contractor doing work costing over $1000 must provide a contract signed by both parties, before starting work, that stipulates work required, cost, competion dates, etc, as well as a "Know Your Rights" brochure. You can find information about this Act by either going to the IL Attorney General's website or Googling "Home Repair and Remodeling Act." He didn't provide this to me and I'm guessing not to you either or you wouldn't be in this position - all the perfomance and payment requirements would be laid out in the contract so there would be no dispute. My attorney argued this point in arbitration but it didn't make much of an impact. It may make more of an impact in front of a Judge. Best of luck to you.

Thank you for your response. I am glad to see that I am not alone. I had the Adjudication Hearing and the amount was dropped to $3800.00 or there about. I have to go before the judge again on Thursday the 28th of February and still file an answer to this result (another $200). I have written my mortgage company for any and all receipts that I had to submit for my 203(k) construction loan to show the amount I had to incur to correct, rectify and repair my house to a live-in condition after the damages made by SJN Electric. I have learned that he is not longer licensed in Belleville IL and I wish I could have his license pulled for the State of Illinois. I shall continue to fight this case until the last breath because of the lying, the unscrupolous attitude, the deceit of Steve Neumeyer and what he has done to so many people. Court records show that he has at least 50 court cases against his clients. Do this not send out a signal to the court system that something is wrong? Unfortunately he has enough money, now with his father's death, to continue to these court cases. Makes me wonder how he does business and gets his finances. My expenses to correct his error far exceeds the amount he thinks he can collect. Continue to fight him. I will post an update once the hearing this Thursday is over no matter the outcome.

I just recently found your report on SJN Electric and will be filing my own report on this website. Your experience if very similar to mine; inspections failed, property damage, using profanity towards me; trashing the house. Just had my arbitration hearing and being under oath did not keep Steve Neumeyer from lying.

I went to court on 07 August 2007 and was furious to find out the case will go to arbitration on 16 January 2008. I have to wait another 6 months to settle this ridiculous matter. I did file a response with the court as required, providing documentation to prove his lies. I am now waiting to see what his present attorney is going to do. Arbritration is testimony under oath, so this should be extremely interesting. I have checked with public records and have found out that he has had 103 cases so far in the St. Clair County IL Circuit Court since 1999 to include misdemeanor charges and domestic battery. He also owns a shop - Swansea Electrical Co., 200 North Belt East (Rt. 161), Swansea, IL. (618)234-3314. Be extremely cautious when buying from or selling to this company. His electrical service company is run out of his home - Catawba St, Swansea, IL.