Arlington Heights-Based ABC Plumbing Sued By Illinois Attorney General

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — An Arlington Heights-based plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical company is being sued by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, who alleges the business used deceptive practices to pressure homeowners into costly and sometimes unnecessary repairs.

Raoul filed the lawsuit against ABC Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric, Inc., accusing the company of violating the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act, Deceptive Trade Practices Act and Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act.

ABC is based at 220 W. Campus Drive in Arlington Heights and provides residential plumbing, sewer, heating, cooling and electrical services across the Chicago area.

According to the attorney general's office, the lawsuit alleges ABC technicians would enter homes to address an initial repair issue before inspecting other parts of the property without permission.

The complaint claims technicians would then identify additional problems and present them as emergencies or potentially life-threatening hazards requiring immediate repairs.

ABC Plumbing sent the following statement Thursday night following an inquiry from Patch:

"ABC Plumbing, Sewer, Heating, Cooling and Electric has become aware through media reports of a complaint reportedly filed by the Illinois Attorney General's Office. We have not yet received the complaint nor have we had an opportunity to review its allegations, and we will respond at the appropriate time.

"For more than 70 years, ABC has served Chicago-area homeowners and earned their trust by operating with integrity. We value the relationships we have built with hundreds of thousands of clients and the more than 25,000 five-star reviews they have shared about their experiences with ABC, and we continue to serve them faithfully every day."

Raoul's office also alleges consumers were presented with digital contracts on tablets without being given an adequate opportunity to read what they were signing. In some cases, according to the lawsuit, customers did not realize they were signing a contract or waiving their three-day right to cancel.

The attorney general said those practices were frequently directed at senior citizens who relied on the company to handle urgent repairs they could not perform themselves.

The lawsuit further alleges some work was overpriced, unnecessary, incomplete or performed by unlicensed technicians.

"ABC Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric's deceptive business practices are not only illegal but also disheartening because those practices target senior citizens," Raoul said in a statement.

The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction aimed at stopping the alleged practices, cancellation of contracts entered into through unlawful conduct and civil monetary relief.

Patch has reached out to ABC Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric for comment on the allegations.

The lawsuit remains pending.