BELLEVILLE – A woman is suing Tiger Services, claiming the company tricked her into buying a water heater at an excessively inflated price.
Plaintiff Pearle Phillips filed a lawsuit in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Tiger Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical Services, doing business as Tiger Services, Tiger Plumbing Services, LLC, Tiger Heating and Air Conditioning Services, Tiger Electrical Services, LLC, Jeff Gamblin and Ally Bank, citing fraud.
According to the lawsuit, on Feb. 26, 2021, Phillips was experiencing issues with her hot water heater at her home. She alleges she decided to contact defendant Tiger Services, which owned and operated by defendant Gamblin, based on advertisements that it was an honest repair company.
A Tiger Services employee allegedly determined that the plaintiff's hot water heater had failed and needed to be replaced. The employee allegedly insisted that the defective unit needed to be replaced immediately or it could potentially explode and cause serious damage. The lawsuit adds that during this initial solicitation meeting, the employee did not disconnect the supposedly dangerous water heater and also convinced the plaintiff to install a soft water conditioner. The plaintiff claims that the cost to complete the agreed upon work would be $9,462.20. She allegedly entered into a loan agreement, which would require her to pay $14,998.95. The price included finance charges, the suit states.
Phillips alleges the employee misrepresented that that the water heater was dangerous and needed to be replaced immediately in order to induce her decision to buy a water heater at an excessively high price.
Ally Bank is is named as a defendant because it is the holder of the alleged fraudulent loan agreement, the suit states.
The plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus court costs and any other relief the court deems proper. She is represented in this case by the attorneys of Wendler & Zinzilieta, P.C. in Edwardsville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 22LA0883