BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a preliminary injunction on Friday against a moving company that allegedly inflated fees, demanded cash and held goods hostage.
Father and Son Relocation Services Inc., doing business as Father and Son Moving and Storage, allegedly violated the state's Consumer Protection Act by giving low estimates to consumers and hiking up the fees after loading the goods onto its truck, demanding payment in cash despite a lack of advance notice, and issuing threats to hold goods hostage and auction them off if consumers failed to pay higher fees.
The defendants also allegedly provided warehousing and storage services for goods without a license prior to August 30.
"We allege that this company lured customers by giving out low estimates they did not intend to honor, and then pressured them to pay higher fees in cash, or lose their belongings," Coakley said. "This court order protects consumers from further harm while we pursue this case and seek restitution."
Other defendants named in the case include Bryan Taylor, the company's president, Keith Taylor, the secretary, treasurer and director of the company, and PR Taylor Enterprises LLC, doing business as Father and Son Moving and Storage.
Coakley's office filed a lawsuit on Oct. 26 after receiving more than 80 consumer complaints about Father and Son.
Under the terms of a preliminary injunction issued by Suffolk Superior Court Judge Thomas Connors on Monday, the defendants are prohibited from engaging in deceptive and unfair practices described in the lawsuit and they must preserve records and assets.
Mass. AG Coakley obtains injunction against moving company
