Advance Payment Scam Results in Better Business Bureau Warning

By Dave DeWitte & Nadia Crow, Reporters

Tools

By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Sep 11, 2012 at 6:37 PM CDT

Story Updated: Sep 12, 2012 at 3:54 PM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - A consumer alert has been issued regarding a transient contractor that has collected 50 percent advance payments from at least six Iowa and Missouri households without performing agreed-upon work.

The Better Business Bureau issued the alert for companies operated by Shane Grayling under the names All About Construction and S & A Quality Contracting.

The contractor has also gone by the name Shane Groebel.

The bureau said the asked for advance payments from $4,000 to over $13,000 after its bids to perform work were accepted. After the company received the payments, the company did not return to perform the work or respond to efforts to contact it.

Consumers were told that the company has locations in Winthrop, Iowa, or Carlyle, Ill.

Chris Coleman of the Better Business Bureau of Iowa said an investigation indicates that the contractor originally surfaced in Carlyle, Ill., and it's now believed he scammed Iowans while staying with an in-state relative.

Efforts to contact All About Construction were unsuccessful. The business name is a relatively common one, used by contractors in several states.

Chris Coleman of the Better Business Bureau of Greater Iowa advised consumers who are asked for advance payments for materials on work under contract to go with the contractor to the supplier, and pay for the materials themselves. That way, Coleman said, the materials will be the property of the customer. They can either hire another contractor to perform the work or return the materials if the original contractor disappears.