Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS

OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION

DAVID Y. IGE

GOVERNOR

CATHERINE P. AWAKUNI COLÓN

DIRECTOR

STEPHEN H. LEVINS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug. 17, 2015

Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection Sues Local Appliance Repair Company

HONOLULU – The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’(DCCA) Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) is suing an appliance company for allegedly scamming Hawaii consumers out of thousands for unperformed repairs. The lawsuit was filed today in the First Circuit Court of the State of Hawaii.

OCP Executive Director Stephen Levins says Shane Mulleitner, who owns and operates Shane’s Appliance, allegedly took thousands of dollars from Hawaii consumers without performing repair services that were promised or agreed upon. Mulleitner operates out of a van and offers his repair services throughout Oahu.

OCP is seeking both an injunction that will prevent Mulleitner from further violating Hawaii law and an order requiring that he return all monies collected from consumers for unperformed or unwarranted repairs. OCP is also seeking civil penalties.

“Mr. Mulleitner repeatedly didn’t live up to his word. He took money upfront and failed to perform the work, which he said he was going to do,”said Levins. “This kind of conduct should never be tolerated.  If someone says that they are going to repair something, they shouldn’t misrepresent their intentions.”

OCP encourages consumers to check out a business before calling them for home repairs and urges everyone to be especially cautious if a repairman demands payment upfront, prior to performing any services.

To check out a business online, and to research complaints history visit: businesscheck.hawaii.gov.

Consumers with complaints against Mulleitner, Shane’s Appliance can call OCP at 587-4272, or file online at: cca.hawaii.gov/ocp/consumer-complaint/.

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Media Contact:

Christine Hirasa

Communications Officer

Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Phone:  (808) 586-7582

Mobile:  (808) 286-9626

Email:  [email protected]