Madigan sues air duct cleaner

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Madigan sues air duct cleaner

BY NICK REES

http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/230786-madigan-sues-air-duct-cleaner

Madigan

CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Madigan has filed a

lawsuit against a Chicago-area air duct and vent cleaning company that allegedly

failed to complete work it solicited.

The lawsuit against Moshe Kesem and his two business entities, Warranty USA Inc.

and Air Duct Cleaning Pros, both based in Schaumburg, also alleges that Kesem,

since November 2009, fraudulently charged consumers for expensive mitigation of

mold and mildew damage that did not exist in the consumers' homes.

Kesem allegedly showed fake pictures to consumers of extensive mold or mildew

damage in their homes in a scheme to charge them for clean-up and other

services.

Additionally, consumers who contracted with Kesem for work at advertised

discounts allegedly were later charged for additional services that they had not

approved. Kesem also allegedly regularly added fraudulent services that were not

needed to address fictional problems, adding as much as $1,000 to his bill.

" This company targeted vulnerable seniors and deceived homeowners into

purchasing services they didn't need, " Madigan said. " Consumers should know

illegitimate contractors are always scamming people out of their hard-earned

money. So homeowners need to investigate contractors before signing contracts

and beginning projects. Never get pressured to rush into a contract. "

Kesem is alleged to have violated Illinois' Consumer Fraud and Deceptive

Business Practices Act and the Home Repair and Remodeling Act. Madigan is asking

the court to prohibit Kesem from working in the home repair trade in Illinois.

Madigan's suit also seeks to cancel Kesem's pending contracts and to obtain

restitution for affected consumers. Additionally, the suit seeks a civil penalty

for Kesem of $50,000, penalties of up to $50,000 for each violation committed

with the intent to defraud, and penalties of $10,000 for each violation

committed against a person 65 years of age or older.

Filed Under: State AGs