COLUMBUS — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed lawsuits against two contractors after they allegedly provided substandard services and shoddy work.
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Peter Ristich and Teneilla Stults, two Columbus area contractors, were sued for violating the Consumer Sales Practices Act and the Home Solicitation Act.
Ristich and Stults operated under the business name, Central One Paving, to accept money from consumers for driveway paving and resurfacing services, a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office said. After accepting the money, however, they performed substandard work and did not correct it.
They then violated the Home Solicitation Sales Act by “failing provide proper notice to consumers of the right to cancel their contracts within three days,” known as the “cooling-off” period, the spokesperson said.
The “cooling-off” period was enacted by the Federal Trade Commissions in order to protect consumers from high-pressure door-to-door sales. Under the law, customers were allowed three business days to cancel any door-to-door purchase of $25 or more and receive a full refund.
Ristich and Stults also ran their business under the names Top Seal and Alliance Paving, but changed their company’s name to continue operating.
“Sadly, the days of hiring a contractor with a handshake are over – consumers need to be aware of contractors like these who change their name to hide shoddy work from the past,” Yost said. “A good contractor will provide a cost estimate, a written contract and references. Don’t give away your hard-earned money to someone who won’t.”
The Consumer Protection Section of the attorney general’s office offered these tips to protect yourself:
- Check with the Attorney General’s Office and Better Business Bureau for any complaints against the contractor.
- Make sure your contract includes notice of your right to cancel a door-to-door sale. Contractors generally cannot start working until the three-day “cooling-off” period ends.
- Get written estimates from several contractors before making a final decision.
- Make sure that the written contract includes any oral promises made by the contractor; the project start date and end date; and an itemized list of all significant costs, labor and services.
- Be wary if the contract requires a large down-payment or requires you to write a check directly to the contractor instead of his or her company.
- Check with the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office to confirm that the business is registered properly.
Yost sought reimbursements for customers, and civil penalties and court costs for Ristich and Stults, the spokesperson said.
Ohioans who suspect unfair or deceptive business practices can contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioProtects.org or 800-282-0515.
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