Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett has sued 11 home improvement contractors, including four in Western Pennsylvania, and is seeking more than $660,000 in restitution for their victims.

Mr. Corbett said in a news release that the defendants include builders, general contractors and home improvement contractors who do room remodeling and room additions, concrete paving and repair, window replacement and other home repair services. The value of the projects ranged from hundreds of dollars to more than $40,000.

He said the defendants are accused of accepting payment from consumers but failing to begin projects, failing to complete projects, or performing the work in a shoddy or unsatisfactory manner.

Several are accused of failing to provide consumers with a legally required notice of their three-day right to cancel contracts signed in their homes, while others are accused of failing to register fictitious business names with the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Mr. Corbett identified the Western Pennsylvania individuals and businesses as:

Benjamin J. Seidel and Troy D. Shope, doing business as Home Pro Improvements, 50 W. Main St., Uniontown, Fayette County. He said the company is no longer in operation.

Harry W. Nash, doing business as Nash Construction and Nash Building & Remodeling, 1009 Sixth Ave., Altoona, Blair County.

Bryant Hammond, doing business as Windows Express, 1152 E. 28th St., Erie.

Christopher C. Stratton, doing business as Roof Pro+ Home Improvements, 19 Miller St., Bradford, McKean County.

In addition to restitution, the suits seek $1,000 for each violation of the state Consumer Protection Law or $3,000 for each violation involving a victim age 60 or older. The suits also ask for a court order prohibiting the defendants from operating in Pennsylvania until full restitution has been paid to all of their victims.

"Every year, thousands of Pennsylvania residents hire contractors for home repair and home improvement projects, and every year the attorney general's office handles thousands of complaints about incomplete or shoddy work," Mr. Corbett said. More than 2,000 such complaints were filed in the last year.

"Problems involving home repair or remodeling projects are typically the number one topic for consumer complaints, especially during the summer months."

For advice on hiring someone for home improvement or home repair projects, or to file a consumer complaint, go to www.attorneygeneral.gov or call 1-800-441-2555 during regular business hours.