TX AG To Stop Austin Business From Exploiting Vulnerable Texans

AUSTIN—Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced that an enforcement action has been filed in the Travis County District Court to prevent a business run by Jean Perez from violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act (DTPA). 

According to state investigators, Austin-based Gestoria Bolaños & Asociados deceived Spanish-speaking consumers in Texas by making misleading claims that it was authorized to obtain the customs and title documents necessary for exporting vehicles to Mexico.

Perez’s company charged an upfront fee of $1,750 in cash for its services, required the vehicle titles, and frequently demanded additional payments from consumers, even though it failed to perform any of its advertised or promised services.

When customers complained, the business accused them of breaching their contract and refused to refund money or return the vehicle titles.

Attorney General Paxton is seeking a permanent injunction to stop Perez’s deceptive advertising, and his office is also seeking civil penalties for violations of the DTPA along with restitution for victims. 

The Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division (CPD) is charged with enforcing a variety of state and federal consumer protection laws.

Consumers in the state have received hundreds of millions of dollars in refunds, services, debt forgiveness or loan restructuring because of the work of the division.

In addition to penalties and restitution, CPD has collected millions of dollars in attorneys’ fees, which have saved taxpayer dollars by helping to replenish funds allotted to the division’s mission to protect consumers.   

CPD also receives and reviews complaints submitted to the office by consumers; while the attorney general is prohibited from representing such individuals, these complaints are used by the office to help shape priorities and identify issues affecting Texans.

Consumers can file complaints by visiting: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/cpd/file-a-consumer-complaint

To view the petition, click here:

https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/files/epress/attach01_10_27_16_POP_Bolanos.pdf?cachebuster:90