Jefferson City, Mo. – Attorney General Chris Koster announced in a media release today a series of lawsuits against companies for violating Missouri’s telemarketing and No Call laws. The actions announced today coincide with National Consumer Protection Week. Unwanted telemarketing calls and abusive treatment by telemarketers annually rank highest on the list of complaints received by the Attorney General’s Office.
Today, Koster announced a civil lawsuit against AAA Anytime Duct Cleaning, its owners, and a St. Louis manager for abusive telemarketing practices and fraud. In addition to hundreds of No Call complaints, Missouri consumers have complained to the Attorney General’s Office about abusive practices by Anytime’s telemarketers, including being cursed at or threatened for refusing to purchase the company’s air duct cleaning services.
Koster asserts Anytime engaged in various forms of consumer fraud, including a “bait and switch” scheme in which the company would advertise one price for air duct cleaning services but charge another. In several examples, Anytime advertised a price of $44.95 to clean air ducts, but attempted to charge consumers over $1,000. Consumers stated the company regularly lied to consumers about needing “super cleaning” services which cost thousands of dollars, or the need to install UV lights in their vents to kill mold, when neither service was actually needed.
Koster is asking the St. Louis County Circuit Court to permanently bar Anytime from telemarketing, advertising, or offering duct cleaning services in the state of Missouri. Earlier this week, the court issued a temporary restraining order barring Anytime from operating in the state until the next hearing in the case on March 12.
Koster also filed suit against two home improvement companies for calling consumers on the No Call list attempting to sell home improvement services. The cases are against Minnesota-based EZ Home Solutions, Inc., and Integrity Home Solutions of St. Peters, Missouri. In both cases, Koster is asking the court to impose up to $5,000 in penalties against the companies for each violation of the No Call law. Koster has further alleged that EZ Home Solutions falsely claimed to consumers that their registrations on the No Call list had become “inactive” or “expired.” Registrations on the Missouri No Call list have no expiration date.
Finally, Koster announced a settlement reached with Texas-based Touchstone Communications-II, LLC. Under the agreement, which was filed in Cole County Circuit Court, Touchstone has paid $18,000 and has agreed to stop calling any Missouri number on the No Call List without the express permission or a business relationship with the person being called. Touchstone sells a variety of products by phone, including home security systems and home financing.
Koster reminds Missourians they can register their telephone numbers with the Missouri No Call list online or by calling 866-No Call 1 (866-662-2551). To-date, Missourians have registered 4.5 million cell phone and landline numbers with the No Call list. Consumers who have registered for the No Call list but receive solicitation calls can file a complaint at 866-Buzzoff (866-289-9633) or online.
National Consumer Protection Week is a coordinated campaign that encourages consumers nationwide to take full advantage of their rights and make better-informed decisions. More information is available online at ncpw.gov.