We all know that contracters and constructors can be slippery. Heck, I once had my roof fixed, and the invoice was about twice as high as was agreed beforehand! However, the rule is that the bigger the client, the dodgier the dealing can be.

That's exactly what happened in Chicago with the US's largest data center operator being the fat singing lady. Apparently, Digital Realty Trust play a key part in the downfall of a Chicago construction company. During the renovation of their most famous Chicago location in 2008, DRT found out that the company (Krahl) was using dodgy invoicing to obfuscate money flows.

At the start of this year, the FBI raided Krahl's offices, effectively sealing that company's fate. It has to be said that the data center renter was overcharged a neat 4,7 million dollar by this Krahl company, so being a whistle blower is not that much of a conscience cringer. The whole project was worth almost 24 million dollars. Digital Realty wants that 4,7 million back, and all the costs it made on lawyers and paperwork.

Seriously, what is it with construction like firms? How hard can it be to operate normally on big contracts like these?

Anyway, any of your stories about your dealings with this lot is very very welcome.