By RC BALABAN, Courier Staff Writer
WATERLOO — The Iowa Attorney General’s office has issued subpoenas to Evans Furniture regarding the closing of its stores, including one at 4045 Hammond Ave. in Waterloo.


Bob Brammer, spokesman for the attorney general’s office, said so far, the subpoenas have not been served.

“We still are working to serve them through the Scott County Sheriff’s Office,” Brammer said.

Brammer said the intent of the subpoenas are to find out what happened and what the company’s plans are regarding customers who have paid deposits or made payments on furniture, but not received the merchandise.
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“We’re looking at the situation to see what they have to say,” Brammer said.

Phone calls to the Waterloo location went unanswered, and the number for Evans Furniture’s corporate office has been disconnected.

The store’s abrupt closing upset many customers who were waiting on furniture. Dairiel Perkins and his girlfriend purchased a queen-size bed for $250, ordering it on May 31. Perkins said they were told the bed would be delivered in a few days, so the couple slept on an air mattress while waiting for its arrival. They waited three weeks for the bed before buying another one.

“We changed our mind because it was taking so long,” Perkins said.

The couple tried to get a refund on their purchase from Evans Furniture, but to no avail. “We’re trying to be patient with them,” Perkins said.

Vince Larson found out the store had closed when he stopped by on Friday regarding his couch and love seat. Larson had one final payment to make on his items before he could have them delivered to his house. Seeing the store closed, he went in to the Super Goodwill store nearby to ask if anyone there knew what was going on.

“She looked at me kind of funny and said it should already be open,” Larson said.

Now, Larson is left without his furniture and few options. “Financially, I’m not in a position where I can turn around and go somewhere else,” Larson said.

Brammer said customers who have purchased furniture from the company with a credit or debit card but have not yet received it can dispute the charges through the card issuer, even if the purchase is already paid off. Customers are covered under the Fair Credit Billing Act.

Larson and Perkins may have a tougher time with their purchases. Both paid in cash for their furniture. Brammer said those customers who paid for furniture with cash or a check and did not receive it are especially encouraged to contact the attorney general’s consumer protection division.

The company was leasing its Waterloo location from Lockard Cos., based in Waterloo. Officials with Lockard said the company has not had any contact with Evans Furniture.

Contact RC Balaban at (319) 291-1418 or rc.balaban@wcfcourier.com.

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For more information on the Fair Credit Billing Act, visit www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fcb.htm.

To file a complaint with the Iowa attorney general’s office, call (888) 777-4590 or visit www.iowaattorneygeneral.org/consumer/file_consumer.html.

To contact the Better Business Bureau, call (800) 222-1600 or visit www.desmoines.bbb.org.