(TOLEDO, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced a lawsuit against a northwest Ohio home improvement contractor accused of failing to deliver promised services and performing shoddy work.
The lawsuit accuses Joshua Schnabel, operating as Schnabel Construction, of violating Ohio's Consumer Sales Practices Act and Home Solicitation Sales Act.
In the last two years, four consumers filed complaints against the business with reported losses totaling at least $26,000.
“We are seeking relief for affected consumers and an end to the violations,” Attorney General DeWine said. “Home improvement problems are regularly among the top consumer complaints reported to my office because of cases like this.”
Joshua Schnabel, of Perrysburg, solicited consumers at their homes offering roofing, window installation, painting, caulking, or other home improvement services. Consumers complained that the work was so shoddy it caused damage to their homes or that the work was never completed.
The Attorney General’s lawsuit, filed last week in the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, accuses Joshua Schnabel of failing to deliver goods or services without providing refunds, performing shoddy work, failing to give consumers proper notice of their right to cancel a door-to-door sale, and failing to properly register a business name with the Ohio Secretary of State.
In the lawsuit, the Attorney General seeks restitution for consumers, an end to the violations, and civil penalties.
Attorney General DeWine reminds consumers to take the following steps before signing a contract for home improvement services:
- Review any complaints filed with the Ohio Attorney General's Office or Better Business Bureau.
- Make sure you receive notice of your right to cancel a door-to-door sale. Contractors generally cannot start working until the three-day “cooling-off” period ends.
- Get written estimates from several contractors before making a final decision.
- Check to make sure that the written contract includes any verbal promises, the start and end dates, and an itemized list of all significant costs, labor, and services.
- Be wary if the contract requires a large down payment or requires that you write a check directly to the contractor instead of his or her company.
- Check with the Ohio Secretary of State to confirm that the business is registered properly.
Consumers who suspect an unfair or deceptive business practice should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at 800-282-0515 or www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov.
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Documents
Lawsuit (PDF)
Media Contacts
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Kate Hanson: 614-466-3840