Oregon Department of Justice

The settlement is with APX Alarm Security.

Oregon Attorney General John Kroger today announced a $60,000 settlement with a security alarm company accused of misleading consumers.

"Targeting elderly Oregonians with misleading and high-pressure sales tactics is unacceptable," said Attorney General Kroger.

More than a dozen consumers filed complaints against APX Alarm Security, accusing company door-to-door sales representatives of various illegal sales tactics, including offering "free" security systems to consumers if they put an APX sign in their front yards. Many of the systems in fact cost the consumer an average of $39.99 a month and locked the consumer into a 60-month contract.

Consumers also complained that APX sales representatives used aggressive sales tactics, including falsely stating that a consumer's neighbor had just been robbed or burglarized; refusing to leave consumers' homes for hours; and claiming partnerships with fire or police associations in order to close the sale.

In addition to paying $60,000, APX must make significant changes to its sales practices.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Janelle F. Wipper handled the case for the Oregon Department of Justice with assistance from Assistant Attorneys General Eva Novick and Gene Ebersole.

Attorney General John Kroger leads the Oregon Department of Justice. The Department's mission is to fight crime and fraud, protect the environment, improve child welfare, promote a positive business climate, and defend the rights of all Oregonians.