Attorney General’s Office Reaches Settlement with Florida Building Companies

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – March 27, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — More than 500 consumers will receive approximately $500,000 in restitution under a settlement agreement between Attorney General Pam Bondi and several Florida metal building companies. This week, the Attorney General’s Office reached an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with U.S. Metal Buildings Corp., U.S. Building Systems Corp. d/b/a U.S. Buildings; International Buildings, LLC; and their principals. The metal building businesses manufacture and sell custom-made or prefabricated steel and metal buildings from their South Florida offices, which consumers then assemble themselves. According to complaints received by consumers, the businesses engaged in deceptive high-pressure sales, unilaterally canceled consumer contracts, refused refunds to consumers and misrepresented material facts pertaining to the sale.
The metal building businesses cooperated fully with the Attorney General’s investigation. By agreement of the parties, U.S. Metal Buildings Corp., U.S. Building Systems Corp. d/b/a U.S. Buildings, International Buildings, LLC and their principals will refrain from;

· Making misrepresentations and false statements in any communication with consumers;
· Providing terms in telephone sales calls different from those in written agreements;
· Unilaterally canceling consumer contracts;
· Reporting consumers to, or using collection agencies; and
· Violating consumers’ three-day right of rescission.

In addition to the agreement to adjust its ongoing business practices, the companies and their owners will pay restitution to consumers who have lodged complaints against U.S. Metal Buildings Corp. and its related entities.

Contact: Whitney Ray
Phone: (850) 245-0150