Midwest Alert (NE, IA, KS) - fraud in steel buildings

[hokiebird]

Just wanted to warn folks there is a guy named Dan Miller who is going around eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, and Kansas selling steel buildings. He has used the company name of Double Diamond Construction (don't know if he's changed it lately). He talks a great talk, takes a deposit for materials, and then never does anything.

He has done his research - he knows steel buildings, building systems, and what customers need and want. He is technically savvy. He is a great talker. He just never follows through with anything once he cashes the check.

Unfortunately, I have first-hand knowledge of how he operates. Don't want to revisit old wounds, but I wasn't hurt nearly as bad as what others have been.

Yesterday I received a call from the Sheriff's Dept in Mills County Iowa. They are trying to prosecute him for several felonies - he has bilked many people out there for tens of thousands of dollars.

His mother is a business partner. They are actively advertising steel buildings on Craigslist (as of Dec 3).

I've talked with some local construction guys around here, and they said the business was legitimate earlier. Not sure what the deal is now, but the Deputy told me that he is going around taking money from lots of people now. He was in Iowa a few months back, and the Deputy said he is now operating in Kansas.

I'm just trying to spread the word here - you don't want to have any dealings with this guy. If you have - get in touch with the Mills County Sheriff's Office so they can document your situation for their case. I am hesitant to post something like this on a public forum, but the size and scale of fraud that the Deputy told me is going on - that makes my blood boil. It's gotta stop.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Deceitful, deceitful, deceitful...

 

[mjncad]

Bernie Madoff must be Dan Miller's hero.

 

[LarryD]

I still wonder why people continue to pay contractors in advance. There is no way I'll do business with a company who can't get a 30 day line of credit with his vendors.
I know it happens a lot but for me I won't pay for anything I haven't received. The crew that did my roof wanted cash in advance for the shingles and I said as soon as they were on the property I would write a check (show me an invoice). If the project is going to take a long time, have the contractor provide a schedule of values and progress payments can be made based on percentages of the value of the work in place. And keep at least 2% or more for punchlist work. If there is nothing left to bill for it is hard to get the contractor to finish the little things.

 

[SandburRanch]

I still wonder why people continue to pay contractors in advance. There is no way I'll do business with a company who can't get a 30 day line of credit with his vendors.
I know it happens a lot but for me I won't pay for anything I haven't received. The crew that did my roof wanted cash in advance for the shingles and I said as soon as they were on the property I would write a check (show me an invoice). If the project is going to take a long time, have the contractor provide a schedule of values and progress payments can be made based on percentages of the value of the work in place. And keep at least 2% or more for punchlist work. If there is nothing left to bill for it is hard to get the contractor to finish the little things.

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Ditto on the above plus a lien release waiver too.

 

[Kramer]

Yeah I know all about Dan Miller and Double Diamond Construction. I used to work for a church that he ripped off. He was paid 14K up front to build a large building and he never built it past half of the frame. They were finally able to get ahold of him and he said that he had a brain tumor and would not be able to work on it for awhile but that he would finish it. never did. no refund either. Church just wrote it off as a learning experience.

 

[rsewill]

A Traveler?

 

[mjncad]

A Traveler?

A polite term for a gypsy.

 

[Western]

I still wonder why people continue to pay contractors in advance. There is no way I'll do business with a company who can't get a 30 day line of credit with his vendors.
I know it happens a lot but for me I won't pay for anything I haven't received. The crew that did my roof wanted cash in advance for the shingles and I said as soon as they were on the property I would write a check (show me an invoice). If the project is going to take a long time, have the contractor provide a schedule of values and progress payments can be made based on percentages of the value of the work in place. And keep at least 2% or more for punchlist work. If there is nothing left to bill for it is hard to get the contractor to finish the little things.

Ditto:thumbsup:

A polite term for a gypsy.

More polite than I would be able to muster. Sadley, there are many "cons" that operate this way

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Sadly, often times it is the people who can least afford the loss that get taken.