The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, through the Division of Consumer Affairs, conducts investigations and files suits on behalf of the state against various businesses alleged to have potentially committed acts in violation of New Jersey Law. As an example, there was a press release on June 5, 2009 indicating that the state filed suits against Air Duct Cleaning Services. The defendants, United Air Care, Inc. and Indoor Air Care, LLC were alleged to have advertised “whole-house duct cleaning” for $39.95 to $69.95. The Attorney General’s Office is then alleging that the businesses induced the consumers to purchase more expensive services. It appears also that these businesses were not licensed or registered as home improvement contractors with the Division of Consumer Affairs. The Attorney General’s Office, through the Division of Consumer Affairs, filed an eight-count complaint alleging violations of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, Contractor Registration Act and Home Improvement Practices Regulations. The Attorney General’s Office is alleging bait and switch advertising, failure to register, providing coupons of failing to honor those services, causing damage to consumer’s home and then failing to fix those damages, misrepresenting receipt of refunds or reimbursements, requiring consumers to sign estimates and not providing copies of those, and deceptive advertising.
This is but just one of various investigations and a complaint that the state has opened up in the last few years. Another example is on June 3, 2009, the state reached settlement with Rubin & Raine of New Jersey LLC. This pertained to certain collection efforts on behalf of Pascack Valley Hospital. Also, on April 14, 2009, the Division of Consumer Affairs issued a press release indicating that a tax preparation firm which was sued had reached settlement. The business involved was Malqui Financial Group, Inc. and Fast Tax Express Corp., both of which did business as Malqui Tax.
The Division of Consumer Affairs recently reached settlement with Rubin & Raine, Inc. and Rubin & Raine of New Jersey, LLC. There was no admission of any wrongdoing and they agreed to comply with the State Consumer Fraud Act and Collection Agency Statute and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
There is a federal statute prohibiting various actions of debt collectors. This is known as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. If you have any questions or concerns pertaining to any debt that Rubin & Raine, Inc. and Rubin & Raine of New Jersey, LLC attempted to collect or International Portfolio Inc. of Conshohocken, Pa., contact the firm of The Law Office of Jonathan Rudnick and we will answer all questions. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is a powerful federal statute which prohibits inappropriate and deceptive conduct pertaining to the collection of debt.