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Fight Back Friday: Electra Lighting

Link: AttorneyGeneral.gov

(KDKA) It can be one of the most frustrating problems for consumers.

You order merchandise, you pay and then you wait and wait, often for months after the promised delivery date.

More than 60 consumers who have ordered lighting fixtures from Electra Lighting in Monroeville and North Huntingdon are getting their day in court.
That will come as great news to a White Oak man who wants to turn the lights out on Electra Lighting.

"It's been an absolute nightmare," said Tom Gwillim.

He and his fiancée are building a new home. They ordered a chandelier from Electra Lighting in Monroeville on February 13 and paid in full. The chandelier cost $812.

Gwillim said they were assured the chandelier would be in by his construction deadline on April 1.

The deadline came and went, but no chandelier.

Gwillim said they called several times, heard many excuses and even got hung up on, so he decided to call it quits.

Gwillim and his fiancée decided to cancel the credit card charge.

Electra Lighting had the charge reinstated because the receipt clearly says orders can take up to 16 weeks to arrive.

"Okay," said Gwillim. "That would be June 3 so we waited until June 3 and still no product."

Again, a frustrated Gwillim said he asked to have the charge removed from his credit card.

"He (Michael Free, owner of Electra Lighting) shouldn't be allowed to continue to do what he does to people," Gwillim said.

Many consumers agree and have complained to the Better Business Bureau. The BBB gives Electra Lighting an unsatisfactory rating because the company failed to respond to complaints, mostly delivery complaints.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office had so many complaints that it filed a lawsuit against Michael Free, the owner of Electra Lighting in Monroeville and North Huntingdon.

Free is accused of violating the state Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection law.

According to the lawsuit, 60 consumers complain that Electra Lighting ignored their requests for refunds on merchandise that was either damaged, not as ordered or delivered significantly after the contracted time period.

Michael Free, owner of Electra Lighting, says he is frustrated too. He says the chandelier ordered by Gwillim and his fiancée is in his store.

The only thing standing between the customers and their lighting fixture is confirmation that the money charged onto the credit card, then uncharged, charged and uncharged, is charged again and in Free's bank account.

In the meantime, those 60 consumers who have already joined the Attorney General's case will have their day in court. Hearing dates are scheduled for November, December, January and February.

If you have had trouble with this company, fight back. Just call the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office at 1-800-441-2555 and ask for your day in court.

More Information:  AttorneyGeneral.gov

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