Consumer Protection Division files charges against defunct Elkton company

BALTIMORE — The Consumer Protection Division of the Maryland Attorney General’s Office has filed civil charges against a now-defunct Elkton company because it allegedly failed to manufacture and ship goods to clients after accepting orders and payment from them, according to the MAGO.

Formerly based in the Triumph Industrial Park in the 500 block of Blue Ball Road, the erstwhile company known as Tiffin Athletic Mats manufactured and sold gymnastics and wrestling mats online to customers throughout Maryland and other states. Tiffin Mats’ customers included both individual consumers and nonprofit organizations, such as cheer teams and athletic clubs.

“When consumers did not receive the athletic equipment that they had ordered, the Respondents misled them regarding the cause of the shipping delays, failed to deliver the purchased equipment and failed to refund consumers’ payments,” according to the civil charging document that MAGO announced late last week.

A MAGO spokesperson reported that unsatisfied customers “routinely made multiple attempts” to contact the company to get update information about their undelivered orders or to request refunds. The spokesperson then alleged, “Tiffin Mats repeatedly offered false excuses for its delayed or unfulfilled orders to its customers.”

Headings that appear on the civil charging document filed against Tiffin Mats include Deceptive Trade Practices, Unfair Trade Practices and Violations of the Consumer Protection Acts.

The civil charging document does not specify the number of customers who purportedly did not receive orders and refunds from Tiffin Mats, not does it provide the sum of money that the company allegedly owes in reimbursements.

The MAGO spokesperson told the Cecil Whig that agency representatives are hopeful those questions will be answered during a July 5 hearing at the Office of Administrative Hearings in Hunt Valley. The Consumer Protection Division is seeking an injunction, in addition to the payment of restitution, penalties, and costs of the alleged violations of Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act, the spokesperson outlined.