
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 16, 1991                   TAG: 9104160601
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG                                LENGTH: Short

SHOE COMPANY TOLD TO REFUND $750,000

A Lynchburg-based mail-order shoe company can stay in business on the condition it refunds nearly $750,000 to disgruntled customers, according to an agreement between the company and the government.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Postal Service asked the U.S. District Court to allow it to stop delivering mail to Hills Brothers. The Postal Service said it had received over 3,600 complaints from customers.

The mail was released Monday after the service and the company reached an agreement on how the complaints would be handled. The agreement covers some 15,000 customers.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Eckert said that under the agreement, Hill Brothers must deliver shoes or issue refunds to new customers within 21 days and pay off a minimum of $30,000 per month to customers owed money prior to March 1. Some of those customers have been waiting for up to one year for their money. Under the agreed-upon repayment schedule, the full amount would be paid back at the end of 25 months.

- Associated Press

by CNB