AG sues Boardman Mr. Rooter

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has sued Mr. Rooter of Youngstown for unfairly upselling services and providing substandard work.

In the complaint, the attorney general accuses the company of violating Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act and seeks consumer restitution, injunctive relief and civil penalties.

“We’ve had a disproportionate number of complaints against Mr. Rooter of Youngstown, and we’ve found a pattern of problems. We’re seeking refunds for affected consumers and an end to any unfair or deceptive practices,” DeWine said of the suit.

Mr. Rooter of Youngstown, which offers plumbing and drain-cleaning services, is in Boardman. It is a franchise of the Mr. Rooter Corp.

Since 2013, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office has received about 25 complaints against the local company, the majority of them remaining unresolved.

According to one complaint, Mr. Rooter gave an elderly consumer an initial estimate of $5,200 for drain services, but then asked for an extra $8,000, claiming additional work was needed. In another complaint, an older couple contacted Mr. Rooter for a $95 drain-cleaning service. Within days, Mr. Rooter gave the couple six additional contracts totaling nearly $20,000.

The attorney general’s lawsuit, filed Thursday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, accuses Mr. Rooter of Youngstown, Mr. Rooter Corp., and Operations Manager Joseph Kijowski of failing to itemize parts and labor, failing to provide estimates, performing unnecessary repairs, understating or misstating estimated costs, failing to obtain authorization for increased costs, performing substandard work and starting work before a consumer’s cancellation period ended.

“We haven’t been served with the lawsuit and have not had an opportunity to read it, but it’s our position that our business practices are fully in compliance with all Ohio consumer protection laws and that any work we’ve done has been necessary and has been performed in a professional and workmanlike manner. And much of the work carries a warranty or guarantee, so that, if a consumer finds a deficiency, all they need to do is call us back and we’ll fix it,” said Atty. John Linkosky of Pittsburgh, who represents Mr. Rooter of Youngstown.