Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge filed a lawsuit against Flowmatic Technical Solutions, LLC (FTS) and its owner, Joseph Michael Bradford, for scheming and failing Arkansans by not providing the reliable internet service they advertised and sold to customers in rural communities. FTS also failed to repair defective products, provide refunds to paying customers, and many consumers never received any internet service after purchasing from FTS. The complaint alleges FTS and Bradford violated the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (ADTPA) and seeks an injunction, civil penalties and restitution for affected consumers.
“Bradford exploited rural Arkansans who have been denied reliable internet service for too long,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “Arkansans need high speed internet access no matter where they are in the state and broadband companies can no longer swindle consumers out of their money by over promising and continuing to under deliver.”
FTS advertised reliable high-speed internet to Arkansas families at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic when most people were working and going to school from home. Bradford and his company advertised primarily on Facebook, offering unlimited high-speed internet service for an initial fee of $249 and $65 per month in rural areas in southern Arkansas. The products were offered as broadband services, completely unlimited and unthrottled; there was no contract, customers would never run out of data and it included a full money-back guarantee. These representations were misleading and deceptive in violation of the ADTPA.
Starting in November 2020, the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office started receiving complaints about FTS’s business practices. The complaints ranged from FTS failing to provide the services it advertised, not providing refunds when internet access was terminated and taking consumers’ money, but never providing any service.
The lawsuit is seeking restitution for the impacted consumers, damages, and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation under the provisions of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
To file a consumer-related claim with the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office, call (800) 482-8982, email consumer@arkansasag.gov or visit ArkansasAG.gov.
