-WJLA Script-

Anchor:
JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. A LOCAL COMPANY HAS TAKEN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FROM CONSUMERS AND LOCKED ITS DOORS.

SO TONIGHT ROSS MCLAUGHLIN TRACKS DOWN THE OWNER LOOKING FOR ANSWERS.

Ross McLaughlin:
WHAT A SHAME. BACK IN AUGUST FOREMOST APPLIANCES STARTED SHOWING UP ON OUR RADAR. I TALKED TO THE OWNER AND WAS ASSURED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE COMPANY CONTINUED TAKING MONEY FROM CONSUMERS AND THEN JUST DAYS AGO FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY. SO WE WENT LOOKING FOR THE OWNER BILL BRENNAN.

Story:
SOMETIMES WHEN 7 ON YOUR SIDE IS IGNORED

Ross:"Looks like that's his house there."

WE HAVE TO PAY A VISIT TO PEOPLE AT THEIR HOMES.

(nats walking up sidewalk)

Ross: "Hello Mr Brennan Ross McLaughlin 7 On Your Side. Like to talk to you about Foremost Appliances"

Bill Brennan: "Actually I need to refer you to my attorney."

HOW ABOUT TALKING TO HIS CUSTOMERS.

Ross:"Where are they going?

David Ensor:"Going right in here."

LIKE DAVID ENSOR WHO PAID NEARLY 18 HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR A NEW DISHWASHER HE DOESN'T HAVE.

David Ensor: "I'm looking for Mr Brennan to deliver the equipment that is in his inventory to my home so I get in for Christmas."

BUT...

Ross: "There's a lot of nice looking appliances in there but they're closed."

HE'LL HAVE TO GET IN LINE. A LOT OF CUSTOMERS ARE LOCKED OUT AND OUT OF MONEY. LIKE THIS WOMAN WHO SHOWED UP AT THE CHANTILLY STORE.

Liela Koshkin: "Miele appliances for the kitchen, washer and dryer for the landry room and it's like you know almost 40 thousand dollars."

Ross: "Wow."

Liela Koshkin:"Kitchen sink and all that."

AND SHE SAYS THEY PUT UNAUTHORIZED CHARGES ON HER CREDIT CARD FOR THE REMAINING BALANCE IN AUGUST.

Ross: "30 thousand dollars and no appliances ordered."

Bill Brennan: "I need to give you my attorney."

Ross: "Do you have David Ensor's dishwasher Miele dishwasher in the store room."

Bill Brennan: "Sir I don't know."

IT'S NOT A FLY BY NIGHT COMPANY FOREMOST HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE 1997 WITH TWO LOCATIONS, ONE IN CHANTILLY AND ONE RECENTLY OPENED IN THE WASHINGTON DESIGN CENTER.BUT ON NOVEMBER 29 FOREMOST FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY NOT LONG AFTER TAKING DEPOSITS FROM CONSUMERS. AND JUST LOOK AT THE LIST OF CREDITORS...NEARLY 300. ACCORDING TO THE BANKRUPTCY TRUSTEE CONSUMERS GET PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT.

Bill Brennan: "I tried to help whoever I could but the guys took the orders and operated that stuff I just simply tried to hold it together."

Ross McLaughlin:
SOUNDS LIKE HE'S BLAMING HIS EMPLOYEES ON THE ISSUE OF DEPOSITS. MR BRENNAN BELIEVES HE'S THE VICTIM OF THE DOWNTURN IN THE HOUSING MARKET, BUT SOME OF HIS CUSTOMERS AREN'T BUYING IT. WE WERE ABLE TO HELP ONE CONSUMER WHO CONTACTED US IN AUGUST AND AT THAT TIME MR BRENNAN GAVE US NO INDICATION HE WAS IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE.