NEWARK – The Attorney General’s Office and the Division of Consumer Affairs have filed suit against Floor Superstore, including each of the six retail stores in New Jersey, alleging customers have experienced problems with product quality, delivery and installation, and have had difficulty obtaining refunds and returns of deposits, Attorney General Peter C. Harvey and Consumer Affairs Director Reni Erdos announced today.

"We have heard from over one hundred customers who allege these stores have treated them unfairly or did a poor job of installing their carpeting or flooring," Attorney General Harvey said. "We have filed suit to stop the alleged illegal business practices and obtain restitution for these customers. Our goal is to ensure that New Jersey consumers get what they pay for."

"The carpeting or flooring these customers purchased either never came, finally came after customers repeatedly complained following no-show delivery appointments, or was installed incorrectly," said Director Erdos. "To make matters worse, this company allegedly turned a deaf ear to customers who properly demanded a return of their deposits."

Consumer Affairs has received 112 consumer complaints from customers of the defendants. These consumers allege that they are owed approximately $125,000 in restitution.

The State’s complaint, filed in Bergen County Superior Court, alleges numerous violations of New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act, including unconscionable commercial practices, false promises or misrepresentations, and knowing omissions of material fact. The State also alleges violations of state regulations governing the delivery of household furniture and furnishings, merchandise advertising and home improvement practices.

The State alleges that these violations include:

• Collecting deposits and attempting to enter into contracts before measurements were taken or the actual flooring price was determined;
  
  
• Refusing to refund deposits to consumers who decided they no longer wanted to purchase flooring after they were informed by Floor Superstore that the actual purchase price exceeded the original estimate;
  
  
• Failing to deliver flooring or show up for installation appointments on the scheduled date;
  
  
• Failing to provide customers with written notice that they could cancel their order and obtain a full refund when their carpeting was not delivered on the scheduled date;
  
  
• Incorrectly installing flooring that resulted in holes, rippling in newly installed flooring and/or large gaps between the flooring and wall; and
  
  
• Refusing to schedule appointments or return telephone calls from consumers who, among other things, sought repairs of faulty or incomplete installations.

The six Floor Superstore retail stores are operated through separate limited liability companies, each of which has been named as a defendant in the State’s complaint. The stores are located in East Brunswick, Eatontown, Livingston, Paramus, Springfield and West Paterson.

Deputy Attorney General Geoffrey R. Gersten is representing the State in this matter. The investigation was led by Jared O’Cone of the Office of Consumer Protection.

Floor Superstore customers who wish to file complaints may contact Consumer Affairs at 1-800-242-5846 (within New Jersey) or at 973-504-6200.