consumer protection agency online
tommyThe Consumer Protection Agency of Hillsborough County unveiled a new online service to help all of us consumers:
Need to find a reputable auto repair shop? Are you worried the charitable donation you just made isn’t really benefitting [sic] the organization or people you want to help? What is your credit score? Is that credit card transaction you just made over the internet safe and secure? These are just a few of the questions you can get answered on Hillsborough County’s new Consumer Protection Agency web site.
You can get to the site by logging onto www.hillsboroughcounty.org/consumerprotection.
The Consumer Protection Agency brochure, the Consumer Protection Ordinance, and complaint forms are available on the site in both English and Spanish. You can also find out about community consumer education programs available for adult audiences and high school students.
This web site will help citizens find out how to resolve their problems. The best protection is to be an informed consumer.
For more information, log onto www.hillsboroughcounty.org/consumerprotection or call the Consumer Protection Agency at 903-3430. For information on scheduling a program for your school, call Debbie Brown at 903-3424.
The Consumer Protection Agency wants to:
enforce consumer protection laws and to protect and educate Hillsborough County consumers, in the marketplace and business community, against economic losses resulting from unfair, deceptive and illegal business practices.
The site includes tips on credit reports, identity theft, and disaster awareness. They also walk you through steps to take if you’ve been jammed up by the auto industry, home improvement or moving companies, investment scams, and even landlord - tenant disputes.
I couldn’t find a list of businesses, so it doesn’t appear you will be able to get any sort of evaluation before you get involved. But the general tips and things to look out for are helpful.
There is a Professional Responsibility Section, too. That will come in handy if you come across any underhanded County Employees:
The Professional Responsibility Section (PRS) strives to ensure the integrity and ethical standards of Hillsborough County employees under the jurisdiction of the County Administrator. PRS is a neutral fact-finding investigative office. The purpose of a PRS investigation is to develop information which is sufficient to support a finding that the allegations are “sustained” or “not sustained.”
But I’m sure every county employee is of the highest integrity, wouldn’t you think?
Tags: business, county, for you, online
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July 27th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Hillsborough County is to be congratulated on this aggressive, con-artists-fighting move. But, there are some shortfalls. The differences between illegal crime, and “legal” crime are never spelled out. Anywhere. Also, the innerworkings of business that create all these opportunities for con men are never explored. And, the mindset of the con man is not understood, in depth, as it must be in order to properly protect consumers.
Big step in the right direction, though. Perhaps these next steps will emerge as time passes.
–Jack Payne
http://www.sixhrs.com