3 On Your Side: Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Furniture Sir-Plus
By Jim Donovan
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Authorities say customers paid for furniture that was never delivered and then were promised refunds that they never received. The operators of several Philadelphia furniture stores are in hot water tonight after customers claim they were ripped off. 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan finds that they operated under a number of different business names, but were commonly known as Furniture Sir-Plus.
Pennsylvania Chief Deputy Attorney General Basil Merenda says quite simply, "If you accept money from a consumer for merchandise, you either provide that merchandise to the consumer or provide them with a refund." But the Attorney General's office says Furniture Sir-Plus did neither.
Dozens of customers complaining to the state they didn't get furniture they paid for and instead were left high and dry. In addition, when the company closed up two of their 3 locations, including one on Roosevelt Blvd. and moved the leftover furniture to another business, they never told customers.
The Attorney General has now filed a lawsuit. Merenda, who heads up the division of consumer affairs, is taking action trying to get money back for consumers. He says, "We asked the court to freeze the assets to prohibit the defendants from disposing of assets, the inventory, any funds they have so that there is a fund of money there at the end for the consumer, so they receive dollar for dollar refunds and restitution. "
Customers who've paid Furniture Sir-Plus for items that they haven't received should contact the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555.
To read the lawsuit click here.
