AG Tom Horne Stops Abode Air From Soliciting Arizona Consumers

PHOENIX (Monday, September 12, 2011) -- Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne today announced that his office obtained a preliminary injunction prohibiting Abode Air, as well as owner Ron Dew, from soliciting any Arizona consumers by telephone. After a two day hearing in which approximately 26 consumers testified, the court specifically found that Abode Air violated the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act by repeatedly calling consumers after they asked to not be called, and by calling consumers who were on the national Do-Not-Call Registry. Testimony at the hearing established that thousands of consumers have filed complaints regarding Abode Air’s telemarketing practices with various law enforcement agencies. Also, the Registrar of Contractors revoked Abode Air’s Contractor license on September 7, 2011, for reasons other than telemarketing. The company is a Tempe-based air conditioning and heating service and installation company. The Attorney General’s Office and the Better Business Bureau have received hundreds of consumer complaints regarding Abode Air’s telephone solicitations, many from senior citizens.

Back in July, AG Horne warned consumers of Abode Air and their deceptive phone practices. Litigation is continuing in Maricopa County Superior Court.

This matter is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Cherie Howe of the Consumer Protection and Advocacy Section.

If you believe you have been a victim of consumer fraud, please contact the Attorney General’s Office in Phoenix at (602) 542-5763, in Tucson at (520) 628-6504, or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at 1(800) 352-8431. Consumers can also file complaints online by visiting the Attorney General’s web site at www.azag.gov. To file a complaint in person, the Attorney General has satellite offices throughout the state. Location and hours of operation are posted on the Attorney General’s web site.

For more information about the national Do-Not-Call registry, including information on how to file a consumer complaint, visit the official website at https://donotcall.gov/default.aspx