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NEWARK
- As consumers consider buying new furniture
with their tax refunds, the Division of Consumer
Affairs is stepping up its oversight of furniture
retailers. Five furniture retailers cited
for violations have paid $17,000 in civil
penalties in the past two months.
“Furniture-related
complaints traditionally spike in the spring
and furniture retailers will be under the
scrutiny of our investigators,” said
David Szuchman, Consumer Affairs Director.
“We expect full compliance with our
laws and regulations, including those that
require specific disclosures in consumer contracts
and those related to the delivery of furniture.”
The
Division has just produced a new Consumer
Brief for the public that provides an overview
of the laws and regulations governing the
sale and delivery of furniture. The Consumer
Brief can be viewed at http://njconsumeraffairs.gov/brief/buyfurniture.pdf
The
five stores listed below entered into Consent
Orders with the Division:
- JAS
Inc., Irvington
- Period
Furniture, Paramus
- Sofa
Bed Systems, Linden
(aka Room and Home Contemporary Furniture,
Room and Home Clearance Center and Room
and Home Furniture Gallery)
- Classic
Furniture, Union
- Crib
World, Morris Plains
The
retailers did not have the required “promise
statement” specifying the promised delivery
date in their consumer contracts. The retailers
also did not have the “choice statement”
that informs consumers of their right to a
refund or a new delivery date if the original
delivery date is missed. The retailers also
included prohibited statements in their consumer
contracts about no refunds or exchanges.
Under
terms of the Consent Orders, the retailers
agreed to resolve any consumer complaints
forwarded by the Division for 12 months, or
if a complaint cannot be resolved, to submit
the matter for binding arbitration.
The
Division received about 800 furniture and
home furnishing-related complaints in 2007,
making it the seventh largest complaint category.
Consumers
can find a complaint form on the Division’s
web site, www.njconsumeraffairs.gov.
Complaints also can be submitted by calling
the Division at 800-242-5846
(within N.J.) or 973-504-6200.
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