CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION ISSUES CEASE AND DESIST ORDER AGAINST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has issued a cease and desist order against a Frederick area wedding photography business that it alleges took payments from consumers for photography services but failed to provide the wedding photographs.

The Division has charged Albert Dalmau, doing business as Fine Focus Photography, with offering photography services and accepting payments from consumers without providing the services or refunds. Dalmau operated Fine Focus Photography at 23 W. Pennsylvania Avenue and 34 East Frederick Street in Walkersville, Maryland and in his home at 410 West Potomac Street, Brunswick, Maryland. He collected thousands of dollars from consumers for wedding photography services, but failed to provide the wedding photographs and portraits.

The Division’s order immediately bars Albert Dalmau and Fine Focus Photography from acting or offering to act as a photography business and collecting payments from consumers unless certain conditions are met. The order further requires Dalmau to repay all of the money taken from consumers as deposits or final payments for services that they did not receive.

“This company took advantage of consumers at one of the most important times in their lives,” said Curran. “Companies that offer wedding photography services and collect advance payments must provide the promised photographs.”

A hearing has been scheduled for March 29, 2005 at the Office of Administrative Hearings, 11101 Gilroy Road, Hunt Valley. Consumers who may have had problems with Albert Dalmau or Fine Focus Photography should call the Consumer Protection Division at (410) 576-6569.

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