State Consumer Protection Agency Investigating Furniture Deals & Steals

• Update: As of Friday morning, the number of complaints against Furniture Deals & Steals had increased to 107, including 35 from the Milwaukee area, according to the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau.

The state Bureau of Consumer Protection has opened an investigation into Furniture Deals & Steals amid growing customer complaints about undelivered furniture and the chain's abrupt closure.

"Consumers who are waiting for deliveries from Furniture Deals and Steals can assist in this investigation by filing a written complaint," including copies of contracts and proof of payment, said Sandy Chalmers, administrator of the state Division of Trade and Consumer Protection.

"Having additional complaints will help us get a handle on the scope of the problems," Chalmers said. 

Since Thursday the number of complaints filed with the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau about the Fort Atkinson-based chain has more than double from 36 to 81, said Susan Bach, BBB spokeswoman.

Neither the stores nor the company offices or owners have responded to numerous contacts by the BBB, Bach said. Customers also said they receive only voice mail saying the store was closed for the 4th of July holiday.

"We have tried for several days to reach anyone," she said. "We're still trying to reach the owners to find out what's going on."

Of the 81 complaints about 20 are from the Milwaukee area, including Brookfield, Waukesha, Pewaukee and Milwaukee, Bach said. Furniture Deals & Steals has stores in Baraboo, Brookfield, Fort Atkinson, Green Bay, Madison, Sheboygan and West Salem.

Customers said they paid for as much as $1,600 in furniture, some as long ago as January, but have not received their items.

Both the BBB and the state Bureau of Consumer Protection urged customers to immediately contact their credit card companies to challenge any credit payments made for undelivered furniture.

Time is of the essence because such challenges generally must be filed within 60 days of receiving the credit card statement containing that purchase, Bach said.

Even if the statement was received more than 60 days ago, she urged customers to contact their credit companies, banks and state Consumer Protection office.

Should Furniture Deals & Steals reopen under a new name, any complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau will transfer to the new name, Bach said.

No bankruptcy filing has been made. Should that occur, consumers would have 90 days to file claims for repayment, she added. More information on filing a claim, including downloadable forms, is available at www.uscourts.gov.

Customers can file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau on its web site, www.wisconsin.bbb.org or call 414-847-6000 for the Milwaukee office.