The Missouri Public Service Commission regulates investor-owned electric, steam, natural gas, water and sewer and telephone companies. Its mission is to ensure Missouri consumers have access to safe, reliable and reasonably priced utility service while allowing those utility companies under our jurisdiction an opportunity to earn a reasonable return on their investment. The PSC also regulates manufacturers and retail dealers who sell new and used manufactured homes and modular units. The commission was established in 1913. The PSC is comprised of five commissioners, who are appointed by the governor.
Document Actions
PR-08-36 -- Complaint Filed Against Mid-Missouri Manufactured Home Dealer
Contact: Kevin Kelly, (573) 751-9300
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- SEPTEMBER 14, 2007
JEFFERSON CITY—The Director of the Manufactured Housing and Modular Units Program of the Missouri Public Service Commission (Staff) has filed a complaint against Amega Sales, Inc. (Amega) alleging housing code violations. Specifically, the complaint alleges that Amega sold or tried to sell damaged manufactured homes that did not meet the applicable federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) code.
The complaint includes three damaged homes that were allegedly sold by Amega’s Quality Preowned Homes and Columbia Discount Homes dealerships in Columbia, Missouri. Staff seeks a Commission order authorizing the PSC’s General Counsel to go to circuit court to seek penalties against Amega. Staff also seeks revocation of Amega’s registrations to operate as a manufactured home dealer.
Staff alleges Quality Preowned Homes offered for sale and sold a home that did not comply with the HUD code due to known damages to the structure. Staff also alleges the set-up of the home was improper or incomplete.
In addition, Staff alleges Quality Preowned Homes and Columbia Discount Homes violated Commission rules and regulations by offering to sell or entering into a contract to sell a new manufactured home that was damaged and did not meet code specifications. Staff says it conducted inspections on the two homes in question in June 2007. Due to damages, Staff placed prohibitive sales notices on both homes. HUD labels were also removed to further indicate that the home no longer complied with code.
In all three instances, Staff alleges the company misrepresented the condition of the home to the customer in violation of Commission rules.
Commission rules prohibit any person from selling or offering for sale a manufactured home unless the home complies with the HUD code and bears the proper seal.
As part of its filing, Staff contends Amega should also be required to pay a penalty of $10,000 for violating an agreement reached in a separate complaint case in October of last year.
Staff states that under an agreement in the previous complaint case, Amega and its affiliates, or an entity owned or controlled by Amega owner Greg DeLine, is to pay a $10,000 penalty in the event Amega sells any manufactured home that either has a prohibitive sales notice, does not have a HUD label or does not comply with code. Amega has until October 11, 2007, to file a response to the Staff complaint.
-30-
Case No. MC-2008-0071