An appliance repairman who works out of a van is accused of bilking customers on Oahu of thousands of dollars, which the state is trying to recover as it seeks to block the owner from doing business.

The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ Office of Consumer Protection said Monday it filed a lawsuit in Circuit Court against Shane Mulleitner, who owns and operates Shane’s Appliance, for allegedly, “taking thousands of dollars from Hawaii consumers without performing repair services that were promised or agreed upon,”

Consumer Protection Office executive director Stephen Levins said in a press release the state is seeking an injunction against Mulleitner and a court order for return of all money he collected from customers for repairs he never completed or that were unwarranted.

The state is also seeking civil penalties.

“Mr. Mulleitner repeatedly didn’t live up to his word. He took money upfront and failed to perform the work, which he said he was going to do,” said Levins. “This kind of conduct should never be tolerated. If someone says that they are going to repair something, they shouldn’t misrepresent their intentions.”

Consumers are being asked to check the background of businesses before calling for home repairs, and be cautious of repairmen demanding payment upfront.

To check out a business online, and to research complaints history visit: businesscheck.hawaii.gov.

Consumers with complaints against Mulleitner and Shane’s Appliance can call OCP at 587-4272, or file online at: cca.hawaii.gov/ocp/consumer-complaint/.