Nixon shuts down fraudulent St. Louis home repair business; consumers to receive $71,495 in restitution
St. Louis, Mo. — The owner of a St. Louis home repair business who accepted payment for services but then failed to begin or complete the work, used shoddy workmanship in the work performed and failed to provide refunds to consumers will pay $81,495 in restitution and costs in a settlement with Attorney General Jay Nixon. Nixon’s assurance of voluntary compliance with Eric Karl Moore, who does business as Moore General Contracting and Inspection Compliance Service, also permanently prohibits the defendants from advertising and selling home repair services in the state of Missouri.
Nixon says Moore contracted with at least 18 St. Louis-area consumers to provide home repair or remodeling services and took payments for the work that ranged from $425 up to $27,000. Instead of completing the work as contracted, Moore failed to begin work or began work before obtaining necessary permits; began work but failed to complete the job or provide refunds; or completed work on a project that was of a substandard nature.
“Consumers paid substantial amounts of money up front for these services, and received shoddy work or in some cases, no work at all,” Nixon said. “Others who paid the defendant were left with the inconvenience of having a portion of their homes torn apart for a renovation that was never finished. Someone who does business like the defendant in this case should not be in business any longer.”
Under the agreement, filed Thursday (Nov. 29) in St. Louis City Circuit Court, Moore is permanently barred from offering for sale or selling home repair or renovation services in the state of Missouri. Moore and his business must also pay $71,495 in restitution to nine consumers, and $10,000 to the state to cover the costs and expenses in the investigation, prosecution and enforcement of the case.
Additionally, they must pay another $15,000 to the state in penalties if they fail to comply with all the terms of today’s assurance of voluntary compliance.
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