Attorney General's News Release

February 26, 2008

Nixon forges resolution of consumer complaints involving sudden closure of Columbia Ashley Furniture store

Jefferson City, Mo. — Nearly 400 mid-Missouri consumers who paid for, but never received, furniture from a Columbia store that closed suddenly in January have had their complaints successfully resolved, thanks to the intervention of Attorney General Jay Nixon’s office. Nixon said today that, according to figures provided by Ashley Furniture, 383 consumers who paid for merchandise from the Ashley store located at 5710 Bull Run Drive have either received the furniture they paid for or have been issued refunds through the efforts of Ashley’s corporate headquarters. 44 of those consumers filed complaints with Nixon’s office.

“Mid-Missouri consumers should be commended for quickly filing complaints with my office last month shortly after the store closed, which allowed us to take the decisive action needed to get this problem resolved,” Nixon said. “Ashley Furniture’s corporate headquarters is also to be commended for working closely with my office to ensure that consumers who paid for furniture either received the merchandise or a refund.”

Nixon’s Consumer Protection Division got involved in the matter in mid-January, when news arose that the Columbia Ashley Furniture had suddenly closed its doors. The Attorney General urged consumers to quickly file complaints with his office, while working with Ashley’s corporate headquarters to get consumers either the furniture ordered or a refund. Shortly thereafter, Ashley’s corporate headquarters began shipping furniture to mid-Missouri for distribution to those consumers who had already paid.

“I appreciate that the individuals in this instance knew that the Attorney General’s Office was the right resource to contact when they had a consumer problem, and we are satisfied that the matter is now largely resolved,” Nixon said.

This is the second time in the past year Nixon’s office has moved to protect consumers in the wake of an Ashley Furniture franchise closing. In May, the Attorney General obtained a temporary restraining order against the local Joplin franchise after it closed suddenly, leading to complaints being filed by more than 200 consumers who paid for furniture but did not receive it. Due to Nixon’s aggressive action, and cooperation from Ashley’s corporate headquarters, trucks carrying nearly $600,000 worth of furniture traveled from Ashley’s Wisconsin headquarters to the Joplin area for delivery of the merchandise to consumers.

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Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

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