BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has announced that the Consumer Protection Division (CPD) has filed charges against Optimum Construction, Inc. and its owner, Amr (Omar) Elrahimy.
The charges allege that Optimum Construction took large deposits from consumers for home improvement services, such as kitchen and bath renovations or repairs, but failed to provide the promised goods and services. Along with being charged with violating the Door-to-Door Sales Act for failing to include required notices in its home improvement contracts, Optimum Construction is charged with using unfair and deceptive trade practices to collect millions of dollars from Maryland consumers for work that was never performed.
“When making home improvement decisions, consumers should receive exactly the goods and services they paid for and expected,” said Attorney General Brown. “Consumer protection laws were created to protect against these types of situations, and there will be consequences for companies that deceive consumers in our state.”
The Attorney General’s lawsuit will seek the recovery of restitution to be paid to harmed consumers, as well as penalties, costs, and an injunction against the company and its owner.
The case is scheduled for a hearing at the Office of Administrative Hearings beginning on April 1, 2024. Consumers with complaints against Optimum Construction may call the Consumer Protection Division at 410-528-6569, file a complaint online, or write to the Consumer Protection Division at 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202.
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. In addition, in Maryland, it is against the law for contractors to accept more than one-third of the total contract price when they enter into home improvement contracts. Consistent with the requirements of the Door-to-Door Sales Act, businesses that sell goods and services in consumers’ homes must also give consumers the right to cancel their purchases.
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