Ohio's legal challenge to home warranty provider First Premier Home Warranty and its owner has escalated. Attorney General Dave Yost files a lawsuit accusing them of duping consumers through deceptive business promises. In a statement obtained by the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Yost articulated the contention that Ohio residents are entitled to the services they are promised and paid for, asserting, "Ohioans deserve reliable services when they pay a company their hard-earned money," and adding that "Honest businesses do what they say they're going to do – false promises won't hold up."

The suit doesn’t just casually accuse Albert Sayegh, Brooklyn resident, and operator of First Premier, but aims to squarely hold him accountable for alleged misconduct stretching back over two years. This period saw 31 complaints arise, 13 of them filed directly with the Ohio Attorney General's Office and 18 captured by the Better Business Bureau in New York. The plaintiff's grievances range from insufficient claim coverage to unsatisfactory reimbursement amounts, barely covering the costs needed for repair or replacements. This reveals a conflict between what customers expected to receive and what they encountered.

The multitude of consumer complaints underscores a pattern where First Premier's obligations rarely align with their delivered results. Customers, who have dutifully paid annual fees in the ballpark of $400 to $650, along with extra charges for services, articulate a frustration towards the contract that appears to largely favor the company, failing to deliver on the benefits promised. This has sparked concerns about trust and fair trading among Ohioans who pursued these home warranty services.

Beyond service negligence, the lawsuit also claims that First Premier actively manipulated its online image. They are accused of willfully violating the Consumer Sales Practices Act by, not simply stating, coercing dissatisfied consumers to retract negative feedback as a condition for canceling service and manufacturing fraudulent positive reviews. Yost's investigation revealed deceptive moves trying to skew public perception of the company, a strategy devilishly aligned to maintain a facade of customer satisfaction where it allegedly does not exist.

Lastly, the business is under fire for purportedly flouting the Telephone Solicitation Sales Act by failing to register properly with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, a requirement under Ohio law. With the legal action underway, Yost seeks not only a transformation of First Premier's business practices to be compliant with state regulations but also reimbursement for affected consumers, civil penalties for the defendants, and cover for court costs, a full redress aiming to deter such alleged deceptive practices and afford some measure of justice for the aggrieved customers.