SACRAMENTO – (INT) – California has filed a lawsuit against Curacao, a retail store chain that ranks among the 50 largest electronics and appliance retailers in the United States. It has nine locations in Southern California, including the Inland Empire.

Attorney General Xavier Becerra alleges that Curacao engages in numerous and pervasive unlawful, unfair, and fraudulent business practices.

The company actively markets its products to members of the Latino community – specifically low-income individuals, Spanish speakers, and immigrants – who lack credit history and have minimal experience with credit card and retail payment plans.

In the lawsuit follows an investigation carried out in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs.

The lawsuit contends that Curacao takes advantage of consumers through:
• Bait-and-switch advertising
• Product bundling
• Adding items and services to consumers’ contracts without their knowledge or consent
• Failing to provide notice that translated contracts are available to consumers who negotiate in Spanish
• Failing to tell consumers about return policies until after purchase
• Failing to honor return policies
• Selling warranties illegally
• Failing to tell consumers about important warranty terms
• Failing to honor warranties
• Harassing and threatening consumers who fall behind on their payments
• Failing to properly serve consumer defendants in small claims cases

Story Date: October 25, 2017