NEWARK
– Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa
and the New Jersey Division of Consumer
Affairs announced that, pursuant to a court
order, the Division has changed the locks
at The Red Carpet Pageant and Prom LLC in
Wayne, impounded all merchandise and records
in the store, and is prepared to return
prom dresses to consumers who can provide
documentation proving specific dresses belong
to them.
In
fact, Attorney General Chiesa noted, the
Division on Wednesday, June 6, already returned
one dress to a consumer who provided proof
that she had purchased the garment. Hours
earlier, Superior Court Judge Margaret Mary
McVeigh ordered a temporary freeze of the
defendants’ assets, and authorized
the Division and a temporary receiver to
impound the store’s merchandise.
“A
prom is a significant event in a teenager’s
life, and one for which many consumers deposit
significant amounts of money for the perfect
dress,” Attorney General Chiesa said.
“We will not tolerate businesses that
make false promises to consumers, then fail
to provide the goods or services consumers
have paid for.”
The
Division of Consumer Affairs filed suit
on June 5 against Red Carpet and its manager,
Patricia A. Dowling, of Deptford, and her
husband, Michael J. Dowling, after the store
closed its doors and ceased business operations
in the midst of prom season – allegedly
leaving many young women without their prom
dresses or a refund, after they paid in
full or in part for the dresses.
“The
Division of Consumer Affairs is working
to help the affected consumers reclaim garments
they paid for, with the hope to get them
their dresses in time for the prom,”
Eric T. Kanefsky, Acting Director of the
New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs,
said. “We urge consumers to gather
up any and all documentation that can prove
they purchased a specific dress, and to
contact us immediately.”
The
State accuses Red Carpet and its owners
of violating New Jersey’s Consumer
Fraud Act by engaging in unconscionable
commercial practices, false promises, misrepresentation,
and/or deception. The defendants allegedly
took payment for special-order dresses that
were to be provided at a later date, and
then failed to provide the garments; and
failed to provide refunds to consumers who
did not receive their garments. On at least
one occasion, the defendants allegedly took
a consumer’s deposit and told him
his order for a tuxedo would be placed with
a supplier – but then failed to place
the order.
At
least 16 consumers allegedly paid the defendants
in full or in part for dresses that have
not been provided, for a total amount of
$5,400. As late as the first week of May,
the defendants allegedly contacted consumers
and told them their dresses were ready for
pickup, but when consumers arrived at the
Red Carpet shortly thereafter, they found
the store closed and no one there.
The
State is seeking a permanent freeze of the
defendants’ assets, full restitution
for affected consumers, as well as the imposition
of civil penalties, costs, and fees.
Investigator
Donna Leslie, of the Division of Consumer
Affairs’ Office of Consumer Protection,
led this investigation along with Investigators
Oscar Mejia and Ediz Laypan. Deputy Attorney
General Nicholas Kant is representing the
State in this action.
Consumers
who are seeking garments or a refund from
Red Carpet should contact the Division immediately
at 973-504-6321.
Consumers
who believe they have been cheated or scammed
by a business, or suspect any other form
of consumer abuse, can file a complaint
with the State Division of Consumer Affairs
by visiting its website, www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov,
or by calling 1-800-242-5846
(toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504-6200.
Follow
the Division of Consumer Affairs on Facebook
at www.facebook.com/pages/NJ-Division-of-Consumer-Affairs/112957465445651,
and check our online calendar of upcoming
Consumer Outreach events at www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov/outreach/.
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