The Consumer Action Handbook

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72 State, County and City Government Consumer Protection Offices State, county and city consumer protection offices provide consumers with important services. They 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. City and county consumer offices are familiar with local businesses, local ordinances and state laws. If there is no local consumer office in your area, contact your state consumer office. State offices, sometimes in a separate department of consumer affairs or the attorney general’s or governor’s office, are familiar with state laws and look for statewide patterns of problems. Consumer protection offices in the U.S. territories also are included. To save time, call the office before sending in a written complaint. Ask if the office handles the type of complaint you have or if complaint forms are provided. Many offices distribute consumer materials specifically geared to state laws and local issues. Call to obtain available educational information on your problem. This list is arranged in alphabetical order by state name. State, county and city jurisdictions also regulate banking, insurance, securities, utilities, Alabama State Offices Ellen Leonard, Assistant Attorney General Office of the Attorney General Consumer Affairs Section 11 South Union Street Montgomery, AL 36130 334-242-7335 Toll free in AL: 1-800-392-5658 www.ago.state.al.us Alaska State Offices Consumer Protection Unit Office of the Attorney General 1031 West 4th Avenue Suite 200 Anchorage, AK 99501-5903 907-269-5100 Fax: 907-276-8554 www.law.state.ak.us Arizona State Offices Robert Zumoff, Chief Counsel Consumer Protection and Advocacy Section Office of the Attorney General 1275 West Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-542-3702 602-542-5763 (consumer information and complaints) Toll free in AZ: 1-800-352-8431 TDD: 602-542-5002 Fax: 602-542-4579 www.ag.state.az.us and weights and measures. A listing of these offices starts on page 109. Also, many states and some cities and counties license or register members of professions such as doctors, lawyers and home improvement contractors, as well as certain types of businesses, including auto repair, debt collection and child day care. These boards issue rules and regulations, prepare and give examinations, issue, deny or revoke licenses, bring disciplinary actions, handle consumer complaints, and provide referral services or consumer education materials to help you select a professional or business. If you contact a licensing agency about a complaint, the agency will contact the professional on your behalf and might conduct an investigation and take disciplinary action, including probation, license suspension, or license revocation. To find an occupational or professional licensing board, check your local telephone directory for state, county and city listings under the profession or type of business. Your state or local consumer affairs office can also help you find the right agency. Noreen Matts, Assistant Attorney General Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection 400 West Congress South Bldg., Suite 315 Tucson, AZ 85701 520-628-6504 Toll free in AZ: 1-800-352-8431 Fax: 520-628-6532 County Offices Derick Rapier, County Attorney Greenlee County Attorney’s Office P.O. Box 1717 Clifton, AZ 85533 928-865-4108 Fax: 928-865-4665
State, County and City Consumer Protection Offices Terence Hance, County Attorney Coconino County Attorney’s Office 110 East Chernue Avenue Flagstaff, AZ 86001 928-779-6518 Fax: 928-779-5618 Robert Olson, Pinal County Attorney Pinal County Attorney’s Office P.O. Box 887 Florence, AZ 85232 520-868-6271 Fax: 520-868-6521 James W. Hazel Jr., County Attorney Gila County Attorney’s Office 1400 East Ash Street Globe, AZ 85501 928-425-3231 ext. 298 Fax: 928-425-3720 Melvin Bowers, County Attorney Navajo County Attorney’s Office P.O. Box 668 Holbrook, AZ 86025 928-524-4026 Fax: 928-524-4244 William Ekstrom, County Attorney Mohave County Attorney’s Office 315 North 4th Street P.O. Box 7000 Kingman, AZ 86402-7000 928-753-0719 Fax: 928-753-2669 Martha Chase, County Attorney Santa Cruz County Attorney’s Office 2150 North Congress Drive Suite 201 Nogales, AZ 85621 520-375-7780 Fax: 520-761-7859 R. Glenn Buckelew, La Paz County Attorney County Attorney’s Office 1320 Kofa Avenue P.O. Box 709 Parker, AZ 85344 928-669-6118 Fax: 928-669-2019 Shelia Sullivan Polk, County Attorney Yavapai County Attorney’s Office Yavapai County Courthouse 255 East Gurley Prescott, AZ 86301 520-771-3344 Fax: 520-771-3110 Kenneth A. Angle, County Attorney Graham County Attorney’s Office Graham County Courthouse 800 West Main Safford, AZ 85546 928-428-3620 Fax: 928-428-7200 Stephen Udall, County Attorney Apache County Attorney’s Office P.O. Box 637 St. Johns, AZ 85936 928-337-4364, ext. 240 Fax: 928-337-2427 Patricia A. Orozco, County Attorney Yuma County Attorney’s Office 168 South Second Avenue Yuma, AZ 85364 928-329-2270 Fax: 928-329-2284 City Offices L. Michael Anderson, Deputy City Attorney Consumer Affairs Division Tucson City Attorney’s Office 1501 N. Oracle Annex P.O. Box 27210 Tucson, AZ 85705 520-791-4886 Fax: 520-791-4991 Arkansas State Offices Shelia McDonald, Deputy Attorney General Consumer Protection Division Office of the Attorney General 323 Center Street Suite 200 Little Rock, AR 72201 501-682-2007 501-682-2341 Consumer Hotline Toll free:1-800-448-3014 Crime Victims Hotline 501-682-1334 Local Do Not Call Program 1-877-866-8225 In State Do Not Call Program Toll free: 1-800-482-8982 TDD: 501-682-6073 Fax: 501-682-8118 E-mail: consumer@ag.state.ar.us www.ag.state.ar.us Bermuda Marisa C. A. Sharpe, Inspector Department of Consumer Affairs Ingham and Wilkinson Building 129 Front Street Hamilton, Bermuda, BE HM 12 441-297-7627 Fax: 441-295-6892 E-mail: mcsharpe@bdagov@bm California State Offices Bill Lockyer, Attorney General Office of the Attorney General Public Inquiry Unit P.O. Box 944255 Sacramento, CA 94244-2550 916-322-3360 Toll free in CA: 1-800-952-5225 TDD: 916-324-5564 www.caag.state.ca.us Doug Laue, Chief Bureau of Automotive Repair California Department of Consumer Affairs 10240 Systems Parkway Sacramento, CA 95827 916-255-4565 Toll free in CA: 1-800-952-5210 TDD: 916-255-1369 www.smogcheck.ca.gov 73
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The Consumer Action Handbook 2002 E
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ii September 2001 Dear Consumer: As
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Department of Agriculture The Coope
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Part I - Before You Buy This sectio
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● Make sure that the company has
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and options.This is what the manufa
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generally are not included in servi
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-What is the annual percentage rate
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esponsible for sending you an annua
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● a warning to kids under 18 that
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Credit Cards Choosing a Credit Card
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If you follow these requirements, t
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Insurance When buying insurance of
Page 27 and 28: ● provide the seller’s name, di
Page 29 and 30: ● Keep track of your order. If it
Page 31 and 32: Placing Your Order To help make sur
Page 33 and 34: How Financial Service Companies Sha
Page 35 and 36: To avoid problems, read and follow
Page 37 and 38: KCTV-5 Call For Action Kansas City,
Page 39 and 40: ● state problem ● give history
Page 41 and 42: Adaptec 691 South Milpitas Blvd. Mi
Page 43 and 44: Lancaster, PA 17604 717-396-3040 To
Page 45 and 46: 201-434-3000 Toll free outside NJ:
Page 47 and 48: Chattem, Inc. 1715 West 38th Street
Page 49 and 50: Toll free: 1-800-998-1000 (customer
Page 51 and 52: 203-796-4304 Toll free: 1-800-551-2
Page 53 and 54: 500 Forbes Blvd. South San Francisc
Page 55 and 56: Chicago, IL 60606 312-263-4663 Toll
Page 57 and 58: Toll free: 1-800-962-1516 Fax: 616-
Page 59 and 60: Toll free: 1-800-356-9866 (in Canad
Page 61 and 62: Milton Bradley See: Hasbro, Inc. Mi
Page 63 and 64: TDD toll free: 1-800-328-2298 (rese
Page 65 and 66: Dover, DE 19903-0631 302-674-6000 3
Page 67 and 68: Winston Salem, NC 27105 Toll free:
Page 69 and 70: Stop & Shop Supermarket Co., Inc. T
Page 71 and 72: Tripp Lite Office of Consumer Affai
Page 73 and 74: Fax: 614-792-6901 E-mail: info@wilk
Page 75 and 76: Car Manufacturers and Dispute Resol
Page 77: Car Manufacturers and Dispute Resol
Page 81 and 82: State, County and City Consumer Pro
Page 85 and 86: Toll free in KY: 1-888-432-9257 Fax
Page 87 and 88: Protection Unit 1230 Washington - C
Page 93 and 94: Oregon State Offices Cheryl Pellegr
Page 97 and 98: Ed Gonzaga, Consumer Affairs Inspec
Page 99 and 100: P.O. Box 2054 1010 Richards Street,
Page 101 and 102: Harrisburg, PA 17101-2290 717-787-6
Page 103 and 104: Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Insu
Page 105 and 106: Puerto Rico Juan Antonio Garcia, Co
Page 107 and 108: E-mail: securities@sos.state.ga.us
Page 109 and 110: Oklahoma Irving L. Faught, Administ
Page 111 and 112: State Utility Commissions State uti
Page 113 and 114: Missouri Sheila Lumpe, Chairman Pub
Page 115 and 116: Alabama Steadman Hollis, Director W
Page 117 and 118: P.O. Box 1609 Jackson, MS 39201 601
Page 119 and 120: Architectural and Transportation Ba
Page 121 and 122: E-mail: askncbe@ncbe.gwu.edu www.nc
Page 123 and 124: Toll free: 1-800-368-1019 TTY: 212-
Page 125 and 126: www.dol.gov/dol/wb/ The Women’s B
Page 127 and 128: Toll free: 1-888-STAR-YES (1- 888-7
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help consumers spot, stop, and avoi
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Surface Transportation Board (STB)
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300 Gault Avenue North Fort Payne,
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Hawaii 1132 Bishop Street Suite 150
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P.O. Box 21269 Reno, NV 89515-1269
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Fax: 931-503-2234 E-mail: bbbclarks
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National Consumer Organizations The
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Families USA Foundation 1334 G Stre
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standing among business, government
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American Council of Life Insurers 1
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advertising, including complaints f
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Washington, DC 20004 202-347-1210 F
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Army and Air Force Exchange Service
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A AARP 135 Accountants 141 American
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Consumers Union of U.S. 2 Contracto
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Alliance Against Fraud in Telemarke
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National Community Reinvestment Coa
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