Santa Ana : Solar Heating Salesman Arrested by State Agents

An Irvine man who is alleged to have conned Spanish-speaking people into signing contracts for solar heating units by reportedly lying about the price and potential tax rebates has been arrested by state Department of Consumer Affairs agents.

Harold Maridon, 44, was in the Orange County Jail Monday afternoon after his arrest on nine felony charges of fraud, a jail spokesman said. Bail was set at $100,000.

Filomena del Real, one of the 12 Santa Ana victims identified by Contractors State License Board officials, said he was pleased to hear that an arrest had been made. “It’s very hard to be tricked by someone who makes promises he won’t keep,” he said. “This way, they won’t hurt anyone else.”

Del Real, 66, said a Spanish-speaking salesman told him he would pay only $1,500 for his unit and had him sign a contract written in English. But when monthly $128 bills from the finance company arrived and his son read the contract to him, he realized the total charge would exceed $11,000.

A Community Legal Aid attorney is attempting to have the contract rescinded, and Del Real hasn’t made any of the payments yet, he said.

David Phillips, regional deputy for the Contractors State License Board, said Spanish-speaking people are some of the most frequent victims among the 22,000 complaints the board receives annually. He urged anyone hiring a contractor to follow some basic guidelines: get at least three bids, call the local board office (558-4720) to check the license and any infractions on the contractor’s record, have the agreement written out and always pay by check.