Pennsylvania’s conman industry has been shaken to its core by Attorney General Josh Shapiro who nabbed a second thieving company in the Seruya family, Your Content has learned.
“We believe Total Home Protection duped seniors and hundreds of other consumers from Pennsylvania and across the United States through misrepresentation and then by refusing to repair or place home mechanical systems and appliances, as promised, when they requested protection,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who also thanked the Better Business Bureau for sharing additional consumer complaints with his Office.
The lawsuit against THS Group LLC – better known as Total Home Protection, seeks to get money back for consumers and stop the business and its officers from operating any other type of warranty scam in Pennsylvania.
The company deceptively sold service contracts to seniors and hundreds of other citizens throughout the country.
Total Home Protection has a registered virtual office in Philadelphia and is operated by the father-son twosome of Ronald Seruya and David Seruya.
Ironically, the conmen hired a man known only as ‘Joe’ whose purpose was to trick critics into believing their phony operation was legitimate, according to a website that ranked the sneaks #5 in the region!
“When you sign up with a Total Home Protection Warranty Plan, you stick with the same rep.,” said the critic who fell for their sleazy trick.
“If we signed up, Joe would be ‘my guy.’ The personal connection matters. If anything broke at home, we’d just call Joe, who told us he sits a 30-second walk from the claims department where we’d call in.”
David’s brother and known conman Charles Seruya, was sued last month by the Office of Attorney General for operating the car repair scam Delta Auto Protect.
The revelation sent a shock wave across the state and put criminals on high alert.
To date, more than 80 consumers have filed complaints with the Office of Attorney General about Total Home Protection, and more than 680 consumers have filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau.
With Total Home Protection, the conmen are alleged to have advertised and sold home warranty service contracts to many elderly or otherwise vulnerable customers in Pennsylvania and dozens of other states. Among those scams:
» Falsely advertising coverage and services,
» Using creative and deceptive means to wrongfully deny covered claims,
» Failing to respond to consumer claims and inquiries,
» Refusing to reimburse or refund consumers in accordance with the terms of their written guarantees.
“We are seeking full restitution for consumers, civil penalties, and to stop this family from totally scamming consumers,” AG Shapiro assured.
The lawsuit contends that the suspicious corporate officers profited from their delinquency while consumers were left to pay hundreds and thousands of dollars themselves to replace or repair items that should have been covered under the company’s service contracts.
In addition to legal actions against Total Home and Delta Auto Protect, the Office of Attorney General won a permanent injunction and a $420,193 judgment in January against the now defunct Secure Home Warranty LLC and its former officers Alan Maleh and Elliot Ashkenazie, and Maleh’s company First Choice Home Warranty LLC.
If anyone believes they’ve been a victim of Total Home Protection, they should file a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection at 800-441-2555 or [email protected].
The lawsuit has been filed in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court by Deputy Attorney General Melissa L. Kaplan.
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