Home remodeling contractor charged after customers say he took their money, never finished jobs

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The ABC7 I-Team is investigating multiple claims against the same man who promised to finish remodeling jobs.

The contractor, Guy Landmeier, is now facing felony charges, including some related to passing bad checks and new ones connected to one consumer who reached out to ABC7. The I-Team talked to customers who said they paid for jobs and were left with unfinished work.

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Nora Waliczek says Landmeier, of G and L Decorating, approached her husband in a paint store to take on a paint and wallpaper job in their Elgin home in August 2024.

"He was supposed to wallpaper all of that," Waliczek said. "He never painted any of this."

Waliczek paid Landmeier $2,000 for a $3,000 job.

"And then, we had to pay someone to put up all the wallpaper and paint," Waliczek said.

Waliczek says all she got was wallpaper in the wrong room and sloppy or incomplete work.

"And he did very little, I'd say less than 20% of what the contract called for. He put the wrong wallpaper in the wrong place. The quality was terrible," Waliczek said.

Waliczek says Landmeier only showed up on three days.

"And he said he'd be back the next day. He didn't show up. I texted him. He said his wife was sick and he'd be back the next day, if I recall correctly, and he didn't show up," Waliczek said. "But we never saw him again."

Waliczek filed a police report with the Elgin Police Department.

"And to us, $2,000 is a big sum," Waliczek said. "We had to pay $600 to take the wallpaper down. And then, I think, it was $2,000 to do what we had contracted Guy to do."

The Better Business Bureau gives G and L Decorating an F for five similar complaints in the last three years.

And consumers have connected on this Facebook page.

"Facebook had, 'I've been scammed by guy Landmeier,' the Fakebook page, you saw it. I saw that, and I commented on there, and Dedra and I connected," Waliczek said.

Dedra Pfeiffer says she paid Landmeier $6,900 in March 2025.

"I hired him to remodel my bathroom," Pfeiffer said.

She says only electrical work and plumbing was done, but that work stopped, she says, after subcontractors said they were not getting paid.

"This man came to my home and took my money and left. That's what I'm upset about," Pfeiffer said. "We made an agreement."

Pfeiffer filed a report with the Sleepy Hollow police, and four charges were filed just last week. Those charges include three felonies for theft by deception, theft control intent, and home repair fraud. There is also a misdemeanor charge for home improvement company false name. The Illinois Secretary of State's website shows that G and L decorating Inc. was dissolved in 2017.

"I paid him $2,500 in cash," said Sharon Castelli.

Castelli paid that down payment for a $5,300 job to replace a leaky roof in March of last year.

"I was usually, I'm very careful. I just was very vulnerable, and it just backfired in my face. I gave up that money, and I had to get somebody else to do the roof," Castelli said.

Castelli says Landmeier would text her with excuses but never started the job. She filed a report with Bartlett police, where she lives.

"It makes me feel terrible because it took me a long time to make it. I'm not a young chick, and I work very hard for my money, and to be scammed out of it, that's very hurtful," Castelli said.

ABC7 I-Team Consumer Investigator Jason Knowles caught up with Landmeier after court in Kane County. Landmeier faces 12 felony counts of theft by deception and for bad checks connected to separate allegations, which he is fighting in court.

When asked about those who say they paid Landmeier for jobs that he did not finish, he said, "I have no comment" and "You'll have to talk to my attorney."

His attorney's office told ABC7, "No comment," as well.

"I don't know why you did this to me," Castelli said.

"He takes advantage of people and hurts them terribly," Waliczek said.

"I don't know how he sleeps at night," Pfeiffer said.

Experts say before hiring a contractor, you need to do extensive research online.

Always pay in thirds, at the beginning, middle, and end of job, and have a specific schedule of completion in the contract.

And use a credit card. It is easier to dispute charges, and that money is not cash from your checking account.