A civil lawsuit filed by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office accuses a Valley plumbing and drain contractor of unfairly up-selling services and providing substandard work.

In the complaint, Mr. Rooter of Boardman is alleged to have violated Ohio's Consumer Sales Practices Act.

Since 2013, the Ohio Attorney General's Office says it has received approximately 25 complaints against the business. The majority of complaints are unresolved.

According to one complaint, Mr. Rooter gave an elderly consumer an initial estimate of $5,200 for drain services, but then asked for an extra $8,000, claiming additional work was needed.

In another complaint, an older couple contacted Mr. Rooter for a $95 drain cleaning service. Within days, Mr. Rooter gave the couple six additional contracts totaling nearly $20,000.

The Attorney General's lawsuit, filed in the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, accuses Mr. Rooter of Youngstown, Mr. Rooter Corporation, and Operations Manager Joseph Kijowski of failing to itemize parts and labor, failing to provide estimates, performing unnecessary repairs, understating or misstating estimated costs, failing to obtain authorization for increased costs, performing substandard work, and starting work before a consumer's cancellation period ended.

Mr. Rooter of Youngstown, located at 97 Karago Ave., Unit 1, in Boardman, is a franchise of the Mr. Rooter Corporation.

"We've had a disproportionate number of complaints against Mr. Rooter of Youngstown, and we've found a pattern of problems,” said Attorney General Mike DeWine. “We're seeking refunds for affected consumers and an end to any unfair or deceptive practices."

The lawsuit seeks consumer restitution, injunctive relief, and civil penalties.

A copy of the lawsuit is available here.

The Attorney General offered consumers the following tips to avoid problems with plumbing services and other home improvement suppliers:

Research a business.

  • Check for complaints on file with the Ohio Attorney General's Office and the Better Business Bureau. Also conduct an Internet search with the name of the business and words such as "reviews" or "complaints."

Get several estimates.

  • Be wary if one estimate is significantly lower (or higher) than others.

Get everything in writing.

  • Carefully review a contract before signing it. If a sales representative makes a verbal promise or claim that is not included in the contract, ask to get the information in writing.

Understand your cancellation rights.

  • You generally have a three-day right to cancel a contract that results from a door-to-door solicitation, and sellers generally should not start any work before this three-day period ends. 

Consumers who suspect unfair or deceptive practices should contact the Ohio Attorney General's Office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or 800-282-0515.