Los Angeles County filed a lawsuit today against a Utah-based pest control company, Hawx Services, LLC, which does business in the County and across California as Hawx Pest Control, alleging illegal, fraudulent and unfair business practices that financially harm consumers.
The lawsuit alleges that Hawx engages in the following unfair and deceptive business practices and seeks injunctive relief to stop these violations:
- Engages in high-pressure, door-to-door sales tactics in violation of the law, and always with a “don’t take no for an answer” attitude.
- Uses bait-and-switch tactics to lure consumers into a long-term, automatically renewing contract. Consumers are misled to think they are signing up for a one-time treatment, and only learn after the fact that they have signed up for an ongoing service contract with automatic monthly payments.
- Fails to provide consumers with a simple method to cancel the service, as required by law; and when consumers finally jump through all the hoops Hawx puts up for those wanting to cancel, Hawx improperly imposes a punitive cancellation fee that violates the law.
- After locking consumers into long-term service contracts, Hawx fails to timely and regularly deliver the services as promised. When consumers attempt to stop the automatic charges and cancel the contract (because services are not being provided) the company imposes an exorbitant cancellation fee.
“Los Angeles County is dedicated to protecting our communities from unfair and unacceptable business practices like those revealed in this case,” said Los Angeles County Board Chair Lindsey P. Horvath. “Our Department of Consumer and Business Affairs along with County Counsel are working hard to stop companies that engage in unfair business practices and victimize LA County consumers for profit.”
“These misleading and unfair sales tactics harm consumers as well as businesses that comply with the law,” said Rafael Carbajal, Director of the County’s Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA). “When we are confronted by a company like Hawx Pest Control, that aggressively and blatantly takes advantage of its customers and disregards the law, we have a duty to act.”
Consumers who believe they have been harmed by Hawx Pest Control’s business tactics are invited to file an online complaint at dcba.lacounty.gov or call 800-593-8222.
The lawsuit, filed by County Counsel, Dawyn R. Harrison, on behalf of the People of the State of California in response to complaints from consumers across the County and the state, seeks injunctive relief to stop the company’s unfair and deceptive business practices, restitution for consumers who’ve been improperly charged but who have paid nonetheless, and civil penalties of up to $2500 per violation. County Counsel’s Affirmative Litigation and Consumer Protection Division will prosecute the case in civil court.
“The goal of this lawsuit is to stop the unfair and illegal conduct, to make victimized consumers whole, and to prevent unfair and illegal business practices in the County,” Harrison said. “My office is committed to protecting consumers and holding businesses accountable for violations of consumer protection laws.”
The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, and a copy of the complaint is available here: link
Contact: Scott Kuhn, Assistant County Counsel, skuhn@counsel.lacounty.gov or 323-719-9606.
For more information on County Counsel’s Affirmative Litigation and Consumer Protection Division, please visit: https://counsel.lacounty.gov/alcp/.
Since 1975, the County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) has been the local consumer protection agency serving County consumers, tenants, homeowners, immigrants and workers. DCBA provides a wide range of services that aim to foster a fair and dynamic marketplace and enhance the economic wellbeing of our communities. This includes investigating consumer fraud complaints, enforcing the County’s minimum wage, tenant and worker protections, and providing access to justice programs. More information can be found at dcba.lacounty.gov or by calling (800) 593-8222.
