Florida AG Levels Civil Charges Against Upfront Fee Foreclosure Rescue Operator For Allegedly Violating State Deceptive & Unfair Trade Practices Act
In Clearwater, Florida, the St. Petersburg Times reports:
- State Attorney General Bill McCollum [last] Thursday sued a Clearwater foreclosure rescue operation, accusing it of engaging in deceptive and unfair business practices. The lawsuit alleges that Law & Associates pitched services to homeowners facing foreclosure in Florida and across the country through direct mail and various Web sites. Those who responded were charged an up-front cash fee of $1,500 to $2,000 for guidance and help negotiating with lenders, but the services never materialized, according to the suit.
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- The attorney general's office reviewed more than 65 consumer complaints about the company, which began operating in Clearwater in 2004. In none of those cases did the company actually prevent foreclosure of a home, the lawsuit says. [...] McCollum's lawsuit alleges six counts of violating the state's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
The Florida AG seeks to:
- shut down the company's foreclosure rescue operations,
- nail it for at least $10,00o in penalties for each violation of the law,
- recover its attorney's fees,
- force a return of all fees paid by the homeowners,
- among other things.
For more, see:
- Business duped homeowners facing foreclosure, suit says,
- Florida AG press release: Clearwater Company Sued for Deceptive "Foreclosure Consulting Services",
- View copy of the lawsuit - State of Florida v. Law & Associates LLC.
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