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Preventing
Consumer Problems
Free Consumer Action Handbook
Consumer Protection In Maryland
Checking out the Company
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Rules
of Preventive Maintenance
- Find out what you can about a company Before
agreeing to purchase a product or service.
- Get It in Writing.
- Read the Writing.
- List All Complaints in Writing.
- When You Don’t Get a Response, Follow up in Writing.
- Act Promptly, or Risk Losing Your Rights.
- Respond Promptly, or Risk Losing Your Rights.
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The 2007 Consumer Protection
Handbook, which is published by the Federal Citizen Information Center,
provides consumers with information, advice and tips on topics such as car
repair, purchase and leasing; avoiding consumer fraud; using credit cards wisely
and much more.
You can get your free copy by
ordering online, or by
calling 1-888-878-3256 or by writing:
Handbook
Federal Consumer Information
Center
Pueblo, CO
81009
City, county and state consumer
protection offices provide you and other consumers with important services. They
might mediate complaints, conduct investigations, prosecute offenders of
consumer laws, license and regulate a variety of professionals, promote strong
consumer protection legislation, provide educational materials and advocate in
the consumer interest.
Start
at Your Local Consumer Protection Offices
Checking
out the Company
One of the best ways to prevent
encountering a problem is to know something about the business or service
provider that you are planning to deal with.
You can also contact the following are resources to investigate past
consumer problems with particular Maryland businesses.
1)
Check whether there have been complaints filed with the Consumer
Protection Division against the business you are dealing with. For specific
questions contact the Division’s Hotline at
(410) 528-8662 between 9 am and 3 pm.
2)
Check whether the plumber or electrician you want to hire is licensed
with the Maryland Department of Labor,
Licensing and Regulation.
Check
whether a business in the Greater Maryland area is registered with the Better
Business Bureau by searching the online database. The BBB also provides many online publications about consumer
issues including Scam Alerts, reports on charities and other soliciting
organizations, buying guides for consumers, and other general consumer tips.
Source: Maryland
State Law Library
(MSLL)
Last substantive
update 02/07/08 (PPL/M.A.J.)
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