Attorney General Sues Petersburg Furniture Company for Defrauding Customers

 

 

-Alleges HomeSpun Home Fashions Violated Consumer Protection  Act-

 

Consumers Report Losses of over $80,000 in Unfilled Orders

 

 

Richmond– Attorney General Bob McDonnell has sued HomeSpun Home Fashions for alleged violations of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. In the suit the Attorney General alleges that the Petersburg-based company has failed to ship over 100 orders to consumers in the time frame promised, or at all.  Consumer losses exceed $80,000.

 

 

HomeSpun is a web-based business that sells and delivers furniture and other home furnishings. HomeSpun formerly advertised on the Internet at Cratefurniture.com, but that site has been taken down.  The company ships products from various manufacturers to consumers. Consumers complained of placing an order, paying for it over the phone or the Internet, and then never receiving their shipment or not receiving it in the time that the company promised.

 

“A top priority of our Office is to protect consumers from unethical business practices by enforcing the Virginia Consumer Protection Act,” Attorney General McDonnell said. “Virginia is a great place to do business. But businesses must operate legally and fairly. Given the serious nature of the complaints received about HomeSpun Home Fashions legal action must be taken to provide relief to affected consumers.”

 

HomeSpun has generated 118 complaints to the Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs, including 10 complaints received in just the past month. Consumers have reported more than $80,000 paid to HomeSpun for undelivered furniture and other products. 

 

The Better Business Bureau has not certified HomeSpun, and gave the company an unsatisfactory rating due to 183 complaints received in a recent 36-month period.

 

The Attorney General’s suit has been formally filed in Petersburg Circuit Court. The complaint calls for injunctive relief, consumer refunds and civil penalties.

 

Any consumers who have a complaint  about HomeSpun Home Fashions should contact the state Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA).  They can contact OCA by calling the toll-free hotline at (800) 552-9963 or at (804) 786-2042.  They may also register a complaint by clicking on the Consumer Complaint Form on the OCA website at http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/consumer/index.shtml

 

Date Published: 2008-08-06 06:00:00

Section: Top Headline,