Business ProfileforAlaska Motor Home, Inc

The following describes a government action that has been resolved by either a settlement or a decision by a court or administrative agency. If the matter is being appealed, it will be noted below.

On December 10, 2019, The State of Alaska, Department of Law filed a complaint against Alaska Motor Home, Inc. and its owners Peter Harkovitch and Cole Harkovitch in Anchorage Superior Court. The complaint alleges that Alaska Motor Home engaged in multiple unfair and deceptive trade practices. For example, the standard rental contract included terms such as a $300/hour charge for late returns, a $1,000 fine for putting fish in the RV refrigerator, and a $1,000 fine for leaving an RV excessively dirty. The complaint stated that Alaska Motor Home did not disclose these terms until after customers made a reservation and paid a deposit.

The complaint also alleged Alaska Motor Home charged some customers excess taxes, and in some cases, failed to return deposits of customers whose reservations were cancelled. Additionally, Alaska Motor Home allegedly rented out RVs that were older or in a worse condition than what had been advertised, charged customers for damage to the RVs that predated the customers’ RV rental, and offered customers a $25 Amazon gift card in exchange for leaving positive online reviews.

On June 25, 2021, in the Superior Court for the State of Alaska Third Judicial District at Anchorage, the State of Alaska entered into a Final Judgment with Peter Harkovitch; Cole Harkovitch and Alaska Motor Home, Inc.  The judgment was entered pursuant to a settlement agreement.

Alaska Motor Home, Inc., Peter Harkovitch and Cole Harkovitch, hereinafter “Defendants” were ordered to pay the State of Alaska $110,000.

The judgement includes the following terms: 

• Defendants shall not include unconscionable terms in an RV rental contract.
• Defendants shall provide all RV rental customers with a written contract containing all the terms and conditions of their RV rental within seven days of confirming a customer’s RV rental reservation.
• Defendants shall not accept a payment of more than $500 from an RV rental customer without first obtaining written confirmation that the customer agrees to all of the terms and conditions in the contract provided to the customers.  Written consent can by given through any written format, including but not limited to a signed contract, email or electronic signature agreeing to the terms.  The terms and conditions in the contract can also be modified by Defendants and customers upon mutual written consent by both parties
• Defendants shall provide a full refund to any customer who cancels an RV rental reservation within 14 days of receiving a contract.  Such refund will be paid within 10 business days of customers’ cancellation.  However, if before making any payment towards an RV rental, a customer signs an RV rental contract that includes clear and conspicuous language stating refunds are not available, that only partial refunds are available or that refunds must be requested within a certain period of time, the signed contract shall govern any refund requests.
• Defendants shall make reasonable efforts to avoid overbooking.  Defendants shall keep and maintain records of all RV rental reservations canceled by Defendants.  Reasonably detailed explanations for the cancellations, including RV damage descriptions, if applicable, are to be provided to the customer whose RV rental reservation was canceled.
• Defendants shall not charge any taxes to customers above and beyond those taxes that Defendants are required by law to collect from their customers.  Defendants shall not represent any charges as a tax, unless Defendants are required by law to collect such tax directly from their customers.  Defendants shall maintain records of all taxes charged to each customer and collected from each customer.
• Defendants’ will provide each RV rental customer with an RV that is in a condition and of a model year that is consistent with any advertisements or other claims posted on Defendant’s website at the time the customer makes the RV rental reservation.
• Defendant’s shall not advertise they are offering discounted rates unless either:
• The standard rate advertised by Defendants is the rate Defendants have actually charged for the majority of RV rentals that have been booked for the summer season for which the discount is being offered; or
• The standard rate advertised by Defendants is the rate at which Defendants reasonably expect to collect for the majority of their RV rentals during the summer season for which the RV rental is advertised.
• Defendants shall maintain records of all advertised discounts or sales
• Defendants shall provide documentation to any customer who is charged with damages to an RV. 

Please refer to the judgement for more details.

For more information, please contact the State of Alaska, Department of Law at www.law.state.ak.us/department/civil/consumer