A Florda hot tub company accused of scamming its customers has been permanently shut down this February by the state’s new attorney general, James Uthmeier.

Revive Spas and More, LLC, and its owners, Dylan and Chelsea Placker of Port Orange, were accused of scamming and deceiving buyers and mispresenting details about the products they sold.

From March 2, 2022, to January 31, 2024 (the relevant time period), the Plackers operated Revive as a business that advertised and sold used hot tubs to consumers in Florida and the U.S., primarily through Facebook Marketplace.

During this time period, they advertised and sold hot tubs that they claimed were operational and in good working condition but were defective, damaged, or non- functional, according to customer complaints. In addition, the company advertised new hot tubs but instead delivered used hot tubs to its consumers. Many consumers alleged that their two-year warranty was not honored and those seeking a refund were either ignored entirely, or if the refund was paid at all, half (at the most) was returned to dissatisfied customers.

The district attorney is aware of approximately 33 such consumer complaints for damaged, inoperable, leaking, or otherwise unusable hot tubs that total $114,500 paid by consumers.

And at least five consumers paid nearly $6,000 out of pocket to get their hot tubs fixed after their warranties were dishonored.

“This company and its owners scammed Floridians by selling damaged, defective, dangerous, and inoperative used hot tubs — causing consumers to lose hard-earned money based on the company’s lies,” Uthmeier stated in the press release. “Thanks to our Consumer Protection Division, Revive Spas and More and its owners are permanently banned from operating in Florida.”

The Plackers were also accused of similar behaviors in Oklahoma. In September 2022, they entered into a Final Consent Judgment, which required them to pay more than $33,000 in restitution to their customers and prohibited them from selling spas in Oklahoma for 10 years.

The current Consent Final Judgment in Florida permanently bans Revive and the Plackers from:

• Owning, operating, or managing any business or business interest in Florida. Revive

From page 6

• Receiving any consumer monies in Florida.

• Working with or for any person or business involving hot tubs, or any related good or service in Florida.

• Making any unsubstantiated or knowingly false or misleading statement.

• Restricting any consumer’s ability to share their honest opinions about Revive or the Plackers.

• Using or selling customer information acquired from the sale of any hot tub.

• Making any representation or engaging in any business in Florida that would violate the Florida Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

The full judgment amount against Revive and the Plackers is $471,095.50.

However, due to the Plackers’ inability to pay the full amount of the judgment, the Plackers are required to pay $10,849.50 in consumer relief, which will be distributed in payments to affected consumers once received.

Upon receipt of that full payment, the remaining portion of the monetary judgment will be suspended.