HARRISBURG – Attorney General Michelle Henry announced a lawsuit against Davis Communications Internet, Inc., and its owner, David Davis, for operating as an internet provider — but in reality were reselling internet services they purchased from a legitimate provider.
According to the Office of Attorney General’s lawsuit, the defendants subscribed to business internet plans, then advertised as a provider and resold the connections while specifically targeting consumers in rural York County where internet options are limited.
The lawsuit seeks to prohibit Davis Communications and David Davis from selling internet services in Pennsylvania, along with consumer restitution, civil penalties, and the forfeiture of profits.
“This sham business allegedly targeted consumers off the traditional internet grid and in great need of reliable internet connections,” Attorney General Henry said. “My office will always take a stand against businesses that target vulnerable Pennsylvanians.”
According to the lawsuit, Davis Communications advertised as a legitimate internet provider offering services like “LTE high-speed internet” and “Truly Unlimited Service.”
The lawsuit also alleges that the defendants misrepresented the reasons for interruptions and outages of internet service and did not provide refunds after consumers were automatically billed for those times. Instead, the Defendants allegedly ignored refund requests or baselessly accused consumers of engaging in “data abuse,” a vague and confusing term.
Pennsylvanians are advised to be aware of any other companies that may misrepresent themselves as legitimate internet service providers. Some steps that consumers can take to protect themselves include: checking for the company on the websites for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC).
Consumers who believe that they or someone they know have experienced similar unfair or deceptive practices should file a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection online at www.attorneygeneral.gov, by calling 1-800-441-2555 or by emailing scams@attorneygeneral.gov.
The lawsuit has been filed in the York County Court of Common Pleas by Deputy Attorney General Mark Wolfe.
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