(CLEVELAND, Ohio) – Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced a lawsuit against Christopher Sydlo, of Cleveland, and his business, Bear Transmission Inc. In the lawsuit, the Attorney General charges the Newburgh Heights business and its owner with failure to deliver and seeks restitution for consumers.
“It’s unacceptable for businesses to take consumers’ money and fail to deliver the goods or to give refunds,” DeWine said. “By filing this lawsuit, our primary goal is to recover money for consumers harmed by this business. We also want to stop the owner from taking advantage of other Ohio consumers.”
According to the Attorney General, Bear Transmission and Sydlo offered motor vehicle transmission parts and repairs in Cuyahoga County. Consumers complained that the business was accepting deposits but failing to do the promised work. Seven complaints filed with the Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau report losses ranging from $335 to $2,800.
The lawsuit, filed in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, charges Sydlo and Bear Transmission with violating Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act by failing to deliver parts and services and then failing to refund consumers’ money within eight weeks. The lawsuit seeks consumer restitution, injunctive relief, and civil penalties.
Attorney General DeWine offers consumers the following tips:
- Research the reputations of businesses. Before hiring a business, research its reputation with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Better Business Bureau. Online searches are readily available.
- Be skeptical of businesses that demand large down payments before starting the work.
- If you will be dropping off your vehicle for repairs, get a written estimate with detailed information about when the work will be completed and how much it will cost.
- Remember your rights. In general, it is considered deceptive for a seller to accept money from a consumer and allow eight weeks to pass without: delivering the goods or services; or providing a full refund; or telling the consumer about the delay and offering a refund, if the consumer requests it; or substituting similar goods or services of equal or greater value, if the consumer agrees.
Consumers who believe they have been treated unfairly by a business should file a complaint with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or 800-282-0515.
Complaint:
Bear (PDF)
Media Contacts:
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Mark Moretti: 614-466-3840