Colorado duct cleaners busted for bait-and-switch banned from business

Two men have been banned from advertising or performing air-duct cleaning services in Colorado after they advertised dirt-cheap prices Attorney General John Suthers says they had no intention of honoring.

The AG's office last fall filed a civil lawsuit against Andre Shatyko and Alexander Kurdyukov, claiming they used Internet companies Groupon and Living Social and direct-mailer ValPak to offer air-duct cleaning by Seabreeze Air, Quality Air or Fresh Air for as little as $34.95. But when the men arrived at the homes of customers some of whom had prepaid via Groupon or Living Social they would jack up the prices.

Last fall Suthers also said Shatyko and Kurdyukov performed shoddy work using inadequate tools that left dust and debris in consumers' ductwork and sometimes damaged their homes. According to the AG's office, 220 people filed complaints about the companies with the Consumer Protection Section.

In a settlement, Shatyko and Kurdyukov were ordered to pay the state $916,000 for charging more than they advertised and performing services that were often of little or no value. However the terms of the deal forgive $766,000 if the defendants pay $150,000 off over the next 147 months.

AG's spokeswoman Carolyn Tyler said the $150,000, if it is collected, is sufficient to compensate the people who filed complaints.

The lawsuit is the result of the Attorney General's ongoing efforts to combat air duct cleaning companies that misrepresent their prices and perform incomplete, unprofessional work that has the potential to cause damage to homes and incur health issues for residents.

"Consumers let us know there was a problem with this Seabreeze and after we investigated, it was clear that this company lied about its rates and capabilities," Suthers said. "Air-duct cleaning must be done correctly or dust and debris can be left or stirred up that can create a health hazard for homeowners."

With the change in seasons, the Colorado Attorney General's Office warns the public to be wary of air-duct cleaning companies whose promises seem too good to be true. If a scam is suspected, the public is encouraged to file complaints with the Office's Consumer Protection Section by calling 800-222-4444 or clicking: http://www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/complaint.

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Colorado duct cleaners busted for bait-and-switch banned from business