SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced on Wednesday that she has filed a lawsuit against a home repair contractor.

Contractor Michael Maddox allegedly scammed consumers by offering driveway repair services for little to no fee and then billing them for thousands of dollars once the work was completed.

"Consumers should be skeptical of any contractor going door-to-door to offer repair work on the spot," Madigan said. "Before contracting home repair work, consumers should thoroughly check out contractors' references and request written estimates."

Maddox allegedly never provided exact quotes for his services and often did more work than the consumers signed up for. If homeowners didn't pay, the suit alleges, Maddox harassed and intimidated them.

The lawsuit alleges consumers reported losses totaling $36,000 since January 2010.

Madigan is seeking a court order against Maddox prohibiting him from engaging in the home repair trade in the state. She also wants all of Maddox's pending contracts to be cancelled and restitution for all past clients.

Additionally, Madigan wants a civil penalty of $50,000 and additional penalties of $50,000 for each violation found to be committed with the intent to defraud. She also seeks an additional $10,000 for any violation committed against a senior of 65 years of age or older.