(CLEVELAND)— Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced a lawsuit against Ashtabula Driving School for failing to provide driving lessons to consumers who paid upfront for its services.
“This company accepted advance payment for driving instructions but shut down before providing the lessons,” Attorney General DeWine said. “In some cases, consumers said they had completed their entire driver’s education program but couldn’t obtain the certificate they needed because the business shut down and wouldn’t respond to their calls.”
Located on 2252 Lake Avenue in Ashtabula, Ohio, Ashtabula Driving School provided in-classroom and on-the-road training for student drivers, accepting payment from consumers throughout 2010 and 2011.
In July 2011, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office began receiving complaints from consumers who said Ashtabula Driving School closed without providing services. The Attorney General currently has 25 consumer complaints against the company. In the complaints, consumers said the school shut down without providing promised services and refused to provide refunds.
The Attorney General’s lawsuit charges the company with violating Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act by failing to deliver services, refusing to refund amounts to consumers, and failing to maintain a statutory agent with the Ohio Secretary of State.
The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief, consumer restitution, and civil penalties.
Consumers who believe they have been treated unfairly should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or 800-282-0515.
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Documents
Copy of Lawsuit/Complaint (PDF)
Media Contacts
Lisa Hackley: 614-466-3840
Eve Mueller: 614-466-3840