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Consumer Protection: Advice from The Bucks County Consumer Advocates

October 2008

Q.  I needed to get a lot of dental work done, but didn’t have the money.  I was offered a credit card so I could put the $3500.00 worth of dental work on it.  It was explained to me that there would be no interest for a year.  I figured I would have no problem paying this off within a year, but was unable to pay the last $1000.00.  I thought if I paid off a large part of the debt in that time the interest wouldn’t be that bad.  After the year passed I received an invoice with the $1000.00 that I still owe plus the interest on the full amount of the $3500.00 total, which increased my balance to $1785.00.  When I confronted them concerning the interest I was told that the interest free was only for the first year.  It was stated to me that I signed the agreement, but I never saw the fine print, it was way too much to try and read. Can they get away with that?  P.D., Warrington   

A.  Your agreement did in fact say that if you didn’t pay the full amount you would be obligated to pay all interest retroactive to the purchase date.  It is very important to read and understand all the terms and conditions of the agreement before you sign.  Consumers should be very careful of the promotions that offer interest free offers for a limited time because most of them have a hitch.  They are counting on you not being able to pay the full amount in the time that is allotted.   It is no longer a deal in the end if you have to pay all the interest.  Usually, the interest rates for these types of promotions are extremely high.

Q. I just bought a house that has an oil burner for heat and domestic hot water.  I never used oil and want to know what I should be looking for in an oil company.  Are there regulations regarding the oil delivery process?  B.K., Levittown

A. The best advice for locating a reputable oil service company is by asking your neighbors.  Many of your neighbors have probably used oil companies for years and can give you some insight on service contracts and reliable service.  You can also check with your local consumer protection office and the Better Business Bureau.  Bucks County Consumer Protection & Weights and Measures Department can be reached at 215-348-7442.  The Better Business Bureau (BBB) can be reached at 215-985-9313 or online at www.bbb.org.  As for the regulations, the state requires that a delivery ticket accompany every delivery.  The ticket must have the date, full name, address and phone number of the company.   The ticket must have the name and address of the customer, along with the number of gallons delivered and price per gallon.  The ticket must start at zero and end with the exact number of gallons delivered.  All of the information must be printed on the ticket and not hand written.  The ticket must be left with the consumer or, with the consumer’s approval, sent to them with the bill.  The truck itself is required to be inspected by either the local weights and measures department or the PA Department of Agriculture and should have a visible vinyl seal.  With the high cost of energy in general our office is offering a free booklet on conserving energy.  The booklet is from the Federal Trade Commission and can be viewed online at www.ftc.gov, or call our office for a copy.

Q. My son has been in college and he is going into his second year.  He rents an apartment off campus with three other boys and he has a part-time job.  While my son was home this summer he started looking into getting a credit card.  I don’t believe he should get a credit card with only a part-time job.  I never owned a credit card and don’t believe in them.  How can I help my son stay out of trouble with his credit?  B.T., Bensalem  

A. You are right in your belief that a student living on his own should learn to live within his means.  Explain to your son the pitfalls of owning a credit card, how it is so easy to spend money you do not have while using the credit card.  Tell him that if he doesn’t pay the balance right away that he will have to pay interest on the unpaid amount and that the interest could actually make the balance grow at a fast rate.  Also, he needs to know that students are getting the hard sell from credit card companies and getting into a lot of financial trouble as a result.  What is also important for him to know is that a person’s credit history of late payments and missed payments will get sent to the major credit reporting agencies.  A poor credit history will follow him everywhere and can stay with him for a long time.  It could hurt his chances of getting a mortgage when he is ready to settle down or even could be examined by a potential employer when he is ready to look for a job.  If he still decides to get a credit card he needs to shop around to get the best deal.  It is wise to compare terms and fees before he agrees to open a credit card.  Find out what the annual percentage rate is and if it would be a fixed rate or a variable rate.  Look for a card that has no annual membership fees. Some cards will charge a fee if he decides to use the card to get a cash advance or exceeds the credit limit.  Your son really needs to be careful.                    

Q. This is the first year my family and I bought pumpkins that were individually priced and not by the pound.  I thought they had to be sold by the pound only.  My wife told me I was wrong.  Who is right?  P.N, Dublin

A. Your wife apparently does most of the grocery shopping.  Pumpkins may be sold in the state of Pennsylvania either by the pound or individually at a set price.  When you do buy pumpkins from folks who sell by the pound, there are a few guidelines to follow.  If the seller puts the pumpkins in a box and then places it on a scale the box weight must be deducted as the tare weight.  If the pumpkin is placed on the scale without any packaging then that is the actual weight and you are charged accordingly.  Pennsylvania also requires that any scales used for commerce must be inspected for accuracy and then sealed with a sticker from the issuing department.  In Bucks County that would be the Department of Weights and Measures.  If consumers find scales being used that are not inspected they should contact the department at 215-348-7442. 

Q. I have lived in an apartment for the last six years, and I have had many problems with the management ever since I moved in.  I called almost immediately after I moved in about a leak in the bathroom, which took them eight months to fix.  Then my refrigerator broke and they replaced it with a used ugly gold one.  I called to complain and they told me that it runs and that is all that matters.  I have been putting up with a lot of issues in the apartment that the management would not address.  I decided enough was enough and I moved out.  Now the apartment complex has sent a letter saying that they are keeping my security deposit of $1200.00, plus I owe them another $1200.00.  The letter states that since I didn’t give them the 60 day notice to vacate, that I owe them.  I feel that with all the problems that I had with the apartment that I didn’t have a choice but to just move out.  Can the apartment complex do this when they really didn’t take care of all the problems that I had with my apartment?  D.I., Levittown

A.  Bucks County Consumer Protection looked into this complaint.  The facts are there was a lease that stated there had to be a 60 day notice to vacate in writing, which was not done.  It is important to read your lease from beginning to end and follow the agreement.  Also, there was never a letter sent to management from the tenant concerning any of the issues in the apartment.  Tenants must document their issues with their apartment units to management by sending letters with the details of the problem to the complex, and make sure that a copy is made for their records. This way tenants have proof that they contacted management with their concerns.  There wasn’t anything Bucks County Consumer Protection could do to get this consumer a resolution.

Department of Consumer Protection /
Weights and Measures
Michael D. Bannon
Director
50 North Main Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
Phone: 215-348-7442
Fax: 215-348-4570
Canny Consumer Hotline 1-800-942-2669