By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon says a chain of local appliance stores took more than $100,000 from customers, then went out of business.
He got a court order that freezes the assets of Cohen Appliance. The company operated stores in University City and Chesterfield.
Nixon said customers who bought appliances from Cohen found the stores closed when they went to pick up their merchandise.
"We have very real concerns about the circumstances involved in this closing," Nixon said. "Particularly because one of the consumers who complained to my office reportedly purchased their appliance the day before the doors were shuttered. It was pretty clear to us that they were taking money knowing they were going to close."
The court also froze the assets of Douglas Kolker. His position with the company is not known. But Nixon says Kolker is involved in its day-to-day operation.
Attempts by KWMU to contact Kolker and Cohen Appliance were not successful.
Nixon says the next step is to get a court order that forces Cohen to deliver customers' merchandise or refund their money.
The Attorney General is urging other customers of the chain to contact his office if they have similar claims.
The Missouri Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline number is 1-800-392-8222.