Court finds Gillece Services violated state consumer protection laws

A Bridgeville-based home heating and plumbing contractor accused of deceptive and unlawful business practices that cost customers money was found guilty in Allegheny County Court of violating the state’s consumer protection laws, the state Attorney General’s Office said.

Gillece Services was found guilty Tuesday, Aug. 1 of violating both the state’s Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act and the Pennsylvania Consumer Protection Law, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

An attorney for Gillece, John Linkosky, denied the allegations in the attorney general’s lawsuit and said Gillece has not violated any consumer protection laws.

The company has filed an appeal to the state Commonwealth Court, Linkosky said.

In the injunctions the court issued, Gillece and its owner were required to allow consumers to revoke their contracts within three business days and provide timely refunds, the attorney general said. Gillece had penalized those customers who cancelled their contracts, the AG said.

Linkosky disputed the accusation, saying the company does give timely refunds and permits customers to revoke their contract.

The state attorney general had accused Gillece of misrepresenting that consumers’ deposits are non-refundable unless that consumer signs a valid emergency work authorization form when there is a bona fide emergency.

Gillece also allegedly told customers it was prohibited by law from providing itemized invoices, from charging by parts and labor, and that Gillece is mandated to use flat-rate pricing.

The state’s lawsuit filed in 2020 resulted from a Bureau of Consumer Protection investigation that found Gillece’s technicians allegedly failed to make a good faith effort to unclog sewer pipes with a sewer snake before recommending costly excavation work to clear up any clogs.

Gillece allegedly made false statements in its advertisements that its technicians were “certified,” “licensed,” and “background-checked.”

Linkosky said the advertisements were about 9 years old and are no longer valid.

There were a handful of consumer complaints every year from some 5,000 service calls, Linksosky said.

“We feel it is blown way, way out of proportion,” Linkosky said.

The remaining issues in the lawsuit, including allegations that Gillece has recommended unnecessary work and utilized scare tactics, will be tried at a later date, according to the Attorney General’s Office.