Great Expectations Home Improvements, aka Great Expectations Windows Doors and More, LLC Home Improvement - take the money and run Ripoff victimized many consumers Lakewood, Princeton, Brick (or Bricktown), NJ New Jersey

In late October, I signed a contract with Great Improvements, whose main office supposedly was in Princeton, New Jersey. As a deposit against a replacement roof, they asked for $1170.00. Ralph Ruggiero, the salesman, promised that the materials would be delivered in five weeks and the work would start shortly thereafter. My check was cashed on November 1.

In late November, I e-mailed them and asked when the work would start. They promised to get back to me within a week. Dozens of e-mails and phone calls followed. No work was ever done. Their phones are permanently manned by answering machines. By January, they stopped answering the e-mails completely. Their website disappeared.

Shortly after I filed suit in Small Claims Court against the company and one of the partners, I received notice that the partner, Jeremy Stigler, had filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 13. (Mr. Stigler signed and cashed my check). Since the company is NOT out of business, I pursued the claim and was awarded a default judgment. In trying to find their assets, I've learned a lot about their background.

1. They were referred to me as Great Expectations LLC (limited liability company). Their letterhead merely states Great Expectations. No evidence that these are the same organizations.

2. Great Expectations Windows Doors and More LLC filed with the State of New Jersey, listing partners as "Jeremy J. Stigler" and "Walter Michael Keaton".

3. The contract lists headquarters as 24A Jefferson Plaza, Princeton. That address is not listed anywhere else -- not with Servicemagic.com and not with the state.

4. The state filing lists the headquarters as 720 Millbrook Avenue, and it states that the company owns the property. Not true: A property search shows this property is actually owned by Janet and Robert Malkemes. Residing at the address is a "Michael Keeton".

5. A trade certificate was filed with the state using 747 Coral Avenue, Lakewood, NJ as the address. That seems to be Jeremy Stigler's home address. The second parties listed on this filing were "Jeremy Stigler" and "Walter M. Keeron".
6. Another trade certificate was filed in Barnegat, New Jersey, listing Great Expectations as the first party and "Ann Marie Keeton" as a second party.

7. The Better Business Bureau is now giving Great Expectations an unsatisfactory rating. However, the Millbrook Road address in Bricktown is listed with the BBB as a Dating Service! All of the contact info is identical to that of the so-called home improvement business.

Mr. Stigler has filed for personal bankruptcy under Chapter 13 which allows him to reorganize and continue to do business. It also allows him to keep funds that he obtained through fraud.

This group uses internet sites such as Servicemagic.com and others to make contact with consumers. They do business throughout the tri-state (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) area. Their multiple company names and the aliases of at least one partner make it clear that this group are professional thieves who should not be allowed to continue in business.

Mary Ann
Lodi, New Jersey

Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Great Expectations Home Improvements

STOP! ..before you think about using the Better Business Bureau (BBB)... click here to see how other consumers were victimized by the BBB's false or misleading information. Don't be fooled! It has been reported, when there are thousands of complaints and other investigations underway by authorities, the BBB has no choice but to finally give an UNsatisfactory rating to a BBB member business that is paying the BBB big membership fees every year. When a business is reported that is NOT a BBB member, BBB files WILL more likely show an UNsatisfactory rating, then reportedly shake down that company to become a member of the BBB. One positive thing about the BBB is, either way, if a business has an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB, you can be sure, the business is bad. But what about all those BBB member businesses that had complaints filed against them? Consumers never get to hear about them. What about the BBB advertising to the public? Is this a false and misleading perception they are giving about consumer confidence when dealing with a business? Click here to understand more of what consumers and business alike are saying about the BBB. You decide. ..Remember. The BBB membership is not earned, it's paid for!