ORLANDO,Fla. — Action 9 has a warning about some electronics repair companies that have collected big deposits then disappeared.
Larry Grimes found a repair service online for his big screen TV.
He said someone from Itech came to the house and collected $158 to order a new part, but never came back.
"I had no reason to suspect someone would be laying out there for me," said Grimes.
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Selina Dawkins checked online for a flat screen repair. Up popped Sean's TV Repair near Millennia Mall. At her house, its technician said she needed a new $280 part.
Dawkins paid the money so the part could be ordered.
"What did they do with your money?" asked Action 9's Todd Ulrich.
"I have no idea," replied Dawkins.
Both consumers contacted Action 9.
Sean's TV Repair could not be found at the listed address.
Itech uses a Winter Garden address that's actually a convenience store. Ulrich found Hud Thompson is behind both companies.
Larry Grimes said he discovered that when checking the tech's name online.
"And up pops your story about Hud Thompson and the cracked screen scam story," Grimes said.
Action 9 investigated a couple dozen complaints against Thompson and his company, then called Computer Controllers.
It charged for cellphone, computer and TV repairs, then many times didn't do the work.
Ulrich confronted Thompson last year. Thompson was hiding behind a wall, trying to avoid Ulrich and the Action 9 camera.
"Can we get their phones back Hud?" Ulrich asked.
"Hud's not here. No comment," Thompson.
"I saw you out back," replied Ulrich.
That company closed. But he's using fictitious company names to find new customers online.
Ulrich showed Thompson's picture to Selina Dawkins.
"This is the guy who took my money," said Dawkins.
Thompson didn't return Ulrich's calls.
Both consumers complained to Orange County's Consumer Fraud office.
"He's just going to hit person, after person, after person," said a frustrated Larry Grimes.
Action 9 told several customers to dispute charges with their credit card companies and that helped them collect refunds.
The latest consumers claim Thompson is insisting on checks or cash.
WFTV
