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State accuses Largo man of commercial fraud
By DAVE SHELTON
Article published on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007 |
LARGO – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum wants to shut-down a Largo business accused of using deceptive advertising. In a civil lawsuit filed in state circuit court, McCollum accuses Nick Congleton of using deceptive advertising to coerce business owners to hire him as their registered agent.
Registered agents, usually lawyers, are paid to accept documents such as lawsuits on behalf of corporations.
The Attorney General’s Economic Crimes Division investigated the Largo company called “Registered Agent Division” which has an office on 65th Street and is licensed to conduct direct mail. Congleton is listed as the company “manager.”
In the complaint, the state asks to shut the business down until the lawsuit has been resolved. It contends the company has sent mail to small businesses throughout Florida offering its services as a registered agent for $149. The state says it is falsely alleging that the business receiving the letter is in violation of state law by not having an “outside agent”, someone from outside of the business, to act as its agent.
The message allegedly contends that the company receiving the message faces severe penalties by the state if Registered Agents is not retained.
“Companies should not be permitted to prey upon small businesses through false scare tactics,” McCollum said in a news release announcing the allegations.
According to the Attorney General’s information, Registered Agent has been retained by no business in Florida to act as its agent. Attempts to reach the company and Congleton have been unsuccessful.
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Article published on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007
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