Water Firm Sued Over Sales Practices
The Ventura County district attorney’s office Tuesday accused a Ventura water treatment company of unfair business practices and misleading statements in the promotion of its product, officials said.
A civil lawsuit was filed in Ventura County Superior Court that alleges that employees of Coastal Cities Water Treatment Inc. of Ventura made misleading statements in selling Rain Soft water treatment devices.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Mitchell F. Disney said sales representatives lied about the quality of the local tap water and concealed the limitations of water test results they used to sell the $4,500 Rain Soft.
The suit alleges further that the company generates sales leads by mass-mailing flyers offering consumers $10 or a free case of Pepsi to answer a questionnaire.
A sales representative takes the questionnaire and calls the respondent with a sales pitch, promising an in-home sales presentation that lasts less than an hour.
But once in the door, sales representatives deliver a two-hour solicitation, the suit alleges.
Company representatives did not return telephone calls.
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