C M SQ page 15rev Y K
Company accused of scamming seniors in Queens by Stephen Geffon Chronicle Contributor
South Queens seniors are being cautioned to be wary of so-called workers showing up at their homes and claiming they need to make unsolicited repairs. Arlene Brown, a representative of Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone park), told the members of the 106th Precinct Community Council at their meeting last week in Ozone Park that three seniors living on 107th Avenue allegedly had just been scammed out of $1,100 to $1,500 in cash each by employees saying they were from Brooklyn Union Maintenance, a company under investigation by state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. The number listed for Brooklyn Union Maintenance does not work, and company officials could not be reached for comment. Schneiderman has said he has frozen the company’s assets after he alleged the group scammed seniors for unneccessary and bogus repairs. The attorney general recently secured a temporary restraining order to freeze the assets and filed a lawsuit against the chimney cleaning company, who he alleged was swindling seniors in South Queens and Brooklyn. “Those who prey on vulnerable consumers will be held accountable,” Schneiderman said in a prepared statement. The attorney general said the lawsuit filed is designed to prevent the company from engaging in illegal business practices, injunctive relief, fines, restitution and damages. The company is due back in court on Jan. 25. Schneiderman alleged that Brooklyn Union Maintenance and two other companies completed unlicensed and often unnecessary services that subjected residents to further damage, like carbon monoxide leaks and poisoning. “This scheme exposed seniors to health risks and threatened their source of heat, just as winter weather begins to set in,” Schneiderman said. “Any scam that defrauds consumers will be stopped — especially those that prey on the most vulnerable New Yorkers.” Assistant Attor ney General Lois Booker-Williams said in court papers that the attorney general began investigating the chimney cleaning firm after receiving more than 30 consumer complaints alleging that the company engaged in deceptive, fraudulent and unlawful business practices. Booker-Williams alleged in an affidavit that their investigation revealed that Brooklyn Union Maintenance failed to provide consumers with written contracts for home improvement work costing $500 or more, did not notify consumers of their right to cancel work, and failed to complete contracted services in a safe or professional manner. Additionally, Booker-Williams said the company did not complete work for which payment was received, failed to
give refunds to consumers who were entitled to them; falsely reported that they were licensed and insured, and didn’t obtain a license from the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs to perform home improvement contracting in the city. Brown, Ulrich’s aide, urged residents to call their utility provider to find out if the individual at their door is legitimate before letting anyone in their home who says that they want to check your chimney or look for carbon monoxide leaks
in a home. Brown said the individuals generally work in pairs and drive a white van. She added that one individual will do the “inspection” and the other will act as the salesman. The alleged scam is not just limited to Ozone Park; they also include South Ozone Park and Howard Beach, according to Brown. “Please be careful,” Brown said. “They are preying on everyone.” The councilman’s off ice is working
with the attorney general on the residents’ complaints. Schneiderman advised that residents shop around and get written estimates for a project, get references and check them with the city Better Business Bureau, and look into the home improvement contractor’s city Department of Consumer Affairs license. If consumers feel they have been victimized, they are urged to contact the Attorney General’s consumer helpline at Q (800) 771-7755.
Page 15 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 22, 2011
Residents told to beware ‘workers’