The Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Central California is joining the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) in reissuing a Consumer Alert against American Fire Protection after a judge suspended the company’s licenses after continuing its questionable business practices.
The BBB is also warning consumers and businesses across California to be on alert for anyone coming to their offices, stores or restaurants to service their fire extinguishers, to perform service on the hood and duct systems over cooking areas, or to conduct maintenance on automatic sprinkler systems.
Last Thursday, July 16, 2009, Tulare County Superior Court Judge Kathryn T. Montejano suspended the state contractor license for American Fire Protection (#726110), as well as the company’s business license and the fire extinguisher service licenses of Danny Victor Williams, 45, of Camarillo and Ken Gordon Speck, 46, of Exeter.
Consumers should be aware that there are other companies with a similar name. These companies are not the subject of this investigation. This Consumer Alert only involves the American Fire Protection franchise located in Camarillo, CA., which has a “F” rating with the BBB serving Santa Barbara.
Williams and Speck each face more than 50 counts of failure to maintain a proper fire suppression system, theft, diversion of construction funds, conspiracy and violations of the state fire code. It is believed that company representatives have been using high-pressure sales tactics and deceptive methods to convince business owners to buy their services. Their targets include minority and immigrant businesses, where they have even threatened deportation if not allowed to do work. Other methods include:
- Wearing uniforms with patches similar to those worn by fire department staff, giving the impression that they are from the fire department.
- Claiming they are fire marshals and authorized to close the business if not allowed to do an inspection of the fire protection systems and make subsequent repairs.
- Claiming they are authorized to do an inspection of the fire protection systems, fire extinguishers, hood and/or duct systems and make subsequent repairs prior to the actual service date
- Claiming they are at a business to provide service on extinguishers or hood duct systems that have previously been serviced by another company.
In some cases, the “inspector” will only make a brief examination and put a sticker on the fire extinguisher and then send the business a bill ranging from $500 to $1,500 for multiple inspections.
Only representatives of local Fire Departments are authorized to conduct inspections of fire extinguishers and other related equipment.
Any one contacted or approached by these companies should refuse to do business with them and notify their local police department. Businesses also have the right to dispute any bills for work they did not authorize or that was performed under false pretenses.
Consumers and businesses can also contact the BBB at 800.675.8118 to check on companies before they authorize any work. Anyone who has contracted with "American Fire Protection" is urged to contact the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office at (559) 624-1054.