Pavers ordered to repay Leavenworth County consumer, banned from doing business in Kansas

A paving company has been ordered to repay a Leavenworth County consumer and has been banned from doing business in Kansas, Attorney General Derek Schmidt said today.

In an order entered last week in Leavenworth County District Court, Judge David King ordered Carl Bailey and Mike Gaede, doing business as Bailey’s Construction and CTC Construction, to repay a Leavenworth County consumer $17,500 he had paid the company for paving his driveway.

The court found that the defendants committed five violations of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act in the transaction. The judge also ordered the defendants to pay a $100,000 civil penalty and refrain from engaging in business activity in the State of Kansas.

In March 2012, the defendants solicited the consumer at his residence to perform asphalt paving services. The defendants told the consumer he was getting a good deal because the asphalt materials were left over from a previous job. Before the paving was complete, the defendants demanded payment of $1,750, which the consumer agreed to. Because the consumer could not write very well, he requested the defendants write the check out for him. The defendants then wrote the check for $17,500.

The court found that the defendants presented the consumer with an invoice that contained no business address or notice of the consumer’s right to cancel. The defendants also failed to inform the consumer verbally of his three-day right to cancel. The defendants then cashed the check before waiting the required five business days. The court found these actions violated the Kansas Consumer Protection Act.

“Consumers should be especially cautious when dealing with door-to-door solicitors,” Schmidt said. “Scam artists promise a deal that sounds too good to be true, and it usually is. Consumers who are in need of home repairs or driveway paving should seek out local, reputable companies and get multiple written estimates before having any work done.”

More tips on staying safe from rip-offs are available on the attorney general’s consumer protection website at www.InYourCornerKansas.org.

Storm located south and east of KCK

Skies were partly cloudy Thursday afternoon with a temperature of 71 degrees in Kansas City, Kan.
Wyandotte County was not under any watches or warnings as of Thursday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. There was a 60 percent chance of rain or storms on Thursday afternoon. Winds will pick up Thursday evening and night, according to the National Weather Service.
Areas of central Missouri, including Cass County, Mo., and Johnson County, Mo., were under a tornado watch on Thursday afternoon.

A severe thunderstorm was about 6 miles north of Clinton, Mo.
Additionally, a flood warning was in effect for portions of central Kansas and central Missouri. Among areas that might experience flooding are Warrensburg, Mo., and Sedalia, Mo.

Revolve KC accepts donations

Art Gough, who has been a volunteer since 2011, and Liz Bejan, the founder of Revolve KC, attended a recent Earn-a-Bike fundraiser at Whole Foods Market. (Photo by William Crum)

by William Crum

Revolve KC recently accepted donations in connection with a fundraiser at Whole Foods Market, 91st and Metcalf, Overland Park, Kan.
Five percent of the store sales on a recent day was donated to the Earn-a-Bike program sponsored by Revolve KC. According to Liz Bejan, the founder of Revolve KC, it was a huge success.
“We got a lot of donations and this will help us out greatly,” she said.
Revolve KC is the only program where youths may take a bike safety test and receive a reconditioned bicycle. With the summer months coming and the many bike trails that there are in the Kansas City area, bicycling would be a great way to get fit and a way to save gasoline as well.
Revolve KC has an office at 554 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan.
For more information on how to volunteer or get free bikes, go to the website www.revolvekc.org.