BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney Brian E. Frosh on Thursday announced that the state’s Consumer Protection Division has filed charges against Patrick Michael Savage d/b/a Extreme Backyard’s.
The Middle River home improvement contractor collected illegal deposits from consumers for home improvement services, failed to provide the services, and refused to refund consumers’ money, according to the filing. The matter is also pending in the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings, and will be heard this summer.
The Division charged that Savage contracted with consumers across Maryland to install above-ground pools without a statutorily-required home improvement license, and that he collected substantial deposits – often thousands of dollars – before beginning any work. The Division alleges that Savage failed to complete the work, and in many instances, never even started. Both practices are alleged to violate the Consumer Protection Act. The Division seeks an order requiring Savage to return money improperly taken from consumers, to cease violating the law, to pay for the cost of the investigation, and to pay a penalty for his violations.
“If an unlicensed contractor takes deposits, doesn’t perform the agreed-upon services, and then refuses to refund those deposits, that contractor is violating the law,” said Attorney General Frosh. “Savage should pay restitution to consumers harmed by his illegal actions.”
Home improvement contractors are required to be licensed by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. Consumers can verify a contractor’s license through the Home Improvement Commission’s website, https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/mhic. In addition, in Maryland, it’s against the law for a contractor to accept more than one-third of the total contract price when they enter into the contract for the home improvement work.
Consumers with complaints against Patrick Michael Savage d/b/a Extreme Backyard’s may call the Consumer Protection Division at 410-528-8662, file a complaint online at https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov, or write to the Consumer Protection Division at 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202.
Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels
