HUNTSVILLE, AL -
We've been warning you about the practices of a company called Pure Kleen. Last week, we exposed the tactics they use when they come to your home to convince you you have mold when you may not.
Since then, dozens of consumers have come forward, saying they're concerned they've been ripped off. And now, new details in this Taking Action Investigation are emerging.
Tuesday, Huntsville attorney Brent Jordan filed a lawsuit against Pure Kleen, alleging deceptive trade practices among other things. The lawsuit was served on Pure Kleen Tuesday afternoon. It was filed on behalf of a 64-year-old homeowner in Limestone County.
The details of the lawsuit mirror the complaints that have been coming into the Better Business Bureau WHNT NEWS 19 Consumer Action Line.
We've been digging in to this company and now we're revealing more dirt about the people behind Pure Kleen.
"We are trained to look for mold, find mold and even if we don't find mold we're told to call in write up a huge estimate and call in for a discount."
The man is a former employee of Pure Kleen. We are protecting his identity, because he is afraid of what could happen to him if Pure Kleen's management finds out who he is.
The man has first-hand knowledge of Pure Kleen's practices because he carried them out.
"We use false mold test kits that always turn up purple," the man said, referring to Pure Kleen employees. "Always turn up positive for mold."
"They come in to town, they rape the town, and then they leave," the man said. "They have their bags packed, they leave as soon as they get as much money as they can."
He says he followed his bosses' orders, or else. "They wanted an estimate over a $1,000 on every job," he told us. "If you didn't do that you were gone within a week."
Pure Kleen advertises air duct cleaning and mold remediation in local newspapers hoping to get calls from a certain clientele. Our whistleblower knows all about this practice.
"They preyed on the elderly because the younger people just were smarter and didn't didn't want to spend that kind of money," he said.
That's what happened to an 85-year-old Huntsville woman.
She didn't want us to reveal her identity either, but she wanted her story to be told.
"The first thing they said as I went to the door was 'you have mold and you need to take care of it. And we can do it.'"
Pure Kleen gave her an estimate of $6,050. Then she says they made a phone call. And in a matter of minutes, the price was knocked down to $5,000.
She's learned her lesson and hopes others do, too. And she has a warning for all to heed. "I would tell them don't be a sucker like I was," she asserts.
WHNT NEWS 19 rigged a house with multiple hidden cameras and set up an appointment with Pure Kleen. The two Pure Kleen technicians ask for a tour of the house so they can see where the vents are located.
Our undercover producer asks about the company's free mold test that's on their advertisement. And sure enough, the test swab turns purple.
Since then, dozens of consumers have come forward, saying they're concerned they've been ripped off. And now, new details in this Taking Action Investigation are emerging.
Tuesday, Huntsville attorney Brent Jordan filed a lawsuit against Pure Kleen, alleging deceptive trade practices among other things. The lawsuit was served on Pure Kleen Tuesday afternoon. It was filed on behalf of a 64-year-old homeowner in Limestone County.
The details of the lawsuit mirror the complaints that have been coming into the Better Business Bureau WHNT NEWS 19 Consumer Action Line.
We've been digging in to this company and now we're revealing more dirt about the people behind Pure Kleen.
"We are trained to look for mold, find mold and even if we don't find mold we're told to call in write up a huge estimate and call in for a discount."
The man is a former employee of Pure Kleen. We are protecting his identity, because he is afraid of what could happen to him if Pure Kleen's management finds out who he is.
The man has first-hand knowledge of Pure Kleen's practices because he carried them out.
"We use false mold test kits that always turn up purple," the man said, referring to Pure Kleen employees. "Always turn up positive for mold."
"They come in to town, they rape the town, and then they leave," the man said. "They have their bags packed, they leave as soon as they get as much money as they can."
He says he followed his bosses' orders, or else. "They wanted an estimate over a $1,000 on every job," he told us. "If you didn't do that you were gone within a week."
Pure Kleen advertises air duct cleaning and mold remediation in local newspapers hoping to get calls from a certain clientele. Our whistleblower knows all about this practice.
"They preyed on the elderly because the younger people just were smarter and didn't didn't want to spend that kind of money," he said.
That's what happened to an 85-year-old Huntsville woman.
She didn't want us to reveal her identity either, but she wanted her story to be told.
"The first thing they said as I went to the door was 'you have mold and you need to take care of it. And we can do it.'"
Pure Kleen gave her an estimate of $6,050. Then she says they made a phone call. And in a matter of minutes, the price was knocked down to $5,000.
She's learned her lesson and hopes others do, too. And she has a warning for all to heed. "I would tell them don't be a sucker like I was," she asserts.
WHNT NEWS 19 rigged a house with multiple hidden cameras and set up an appointment with Pure Kleen. The two Pure Kleen technicians ask for a tour of the house so they can see where the vents are located.
Our undercover producer asks about the company's free mold test that's on their advertisement. And sure enough, the test swab turns purple.
