On 8/8/2022, Ohio Attorney General, Dave Yost, had filed a lawsuit against the owner of CLE Garage Door Company. The garage door company accepted nearly $182,000 in deposits and down payments from consumers but failed to deliver the required garage doors, openers, and springs, as well as failed to fulfill repair and installation contract agreements.

The attorney general claims that CLE Garage Door Co. violated both the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act and Ohio Home Solicitation Sales Act, and said: “This is not how we do business in Ohio. This lawsuit should serve as a deterrent to other contractors who play fast and loose. We’ll come down on them harder than a garage door with a busted spring.”

According to the lawsuit filings, the garage door company offered to issue refunds to the consumers but failed to do so. Some consumers even reported that the company declined their request for refund. The violations include 2 counts:

• Count 1: Violation under the Consumer Sales Practices Act includes one count of Failure to Deliver. The company violated the Failure to Deliver rule by accepting money from consumers for garage doors, equipment and repair services, without delivering the goods and services. The company failed to complete the contracts and refused to offer refunds to their customers even though 8 weeks had passed.
• Count 2: Violation of the Consumer Sales Practices Act includes a second count of Misrepresentation. The company misled consumers about their refunds, and failed to refund the funds for the unfulfilled garage door repair and installation contracts.

In addition to being prosecuted by the Attorney General, the company’s owners could also face criminal charges for the alleged scams.

What Considered to be Deceptive Sales Practices?

Any misleading action or statement made by a garage door repair company or other business that deceives a customer into making a purchase that otherwise they may not have made. This includes:

• False advertising: Claims about a product or service that are untrue, misleading, or cannot be delivered.
• Bait-and-switch: Advertising a product or service at a low price to lure in customers, only to then try to sell them a more expensive or lower-quality product.
• Misrepresentation: This involves misrepresenting the nature or characteristics of a product or service, or failing to disclose important information.

Some garage door repair and installation companies might use deceptive practices that are designed to take advantage of consumers and undermine their ability to make informed decisions about their purchases.

Learn more about the most common deceptive garage door repair practices in the bellow articles:

• Bait and Switch Garage Door Repair Tactics to Avoid
• Why Finding a Reputable Garage Door Repair Company is so Hard?
• Phony Garage Door Repair Companies Faking Their Way to Your Home

These practices are illegal in most counties and states in the U.S. Consumers are encouraged to report any suspicious or unethical sales practices to the relevant authorities and the FTC.

In California, including Orange County and Los Angeles, residents can file a complaint against a deceptive garage door repair company by contacting the Orange County Attorney General, the CSLB, and the DCA.