Attorney General's News Release

October 10, 2008

Nixon obtains settlement with Springfield appliance maintenance businesses; companies to pay $8,955 in restitution and costs

Springfield, Mo. - Three Springfield businesses and their owner who accepted payment from consumers to repair appliances but failed to complete the jobs or provide refunds will comply with state consumer protection laws and pay a total of $8,955 in restitution and costs under an agreement with Attorney General Jay Nixon. Nixon reached the assurance of voluntary compliance with Ron Bass and the three businesses he owns, Dependable Same Day Service Inc., America's Same Day Home Repair Service Inc., and America's Home Services Inc.

Complaints to the Attorney General's Office alleged that consumers paid over a hundred dollars on average to the businesses to have a major appliance repaired. The businesses took the payments and promised to repair such appliances as water heaters, air conditioners, hot tubs and water lines, or issue refunds if work wasn't completed. Consumers also were provided with dates when the work would be completed.

According to Nixon, the businesses failed to finish jobs they were paid to complete and failed to provide refunds to consumers, forcing the consumers, some of them elderly, to pay other companies to have the repairs completed. In addition, the Attorney General says, the businesses caused damage to the consumers' property and failed to repair or reimburse the consumers for those damages.

Under the agreement, Bass and his three businesses will comply with all state consumer protection laws in the future. Bass will also pay $8,235 in restitution to seven consumers who lost money because of the businesses' violations of Missouri consumer protection laws and $720 for the Attorney General's costs in investigating Bass and his businesses. In addition, if the court finds that the businesses violate any of the terms of today's agreement, Bass would immediately be ordered to pay a civil penalty of $7,000.

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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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