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Consumer Protection: Advice from The Bucks County Consumer Advocates

April 2009

Q. I’m a senior citizen living in Bucks County.  I am constantly hearing on the news or reading in the paper about people who are always trying to scam us seniors.  Is there any kind of information that you can give us that we should watch out for?  L.W., Trevose 

A. There are many different scams circulating so consumers should always be leery of people contacting them either by phone or mail.  Never give your credit card number, your social security number or bank account numbers to anyone that has called you.  If someone calls saying they are from your credit card company or from your bank and needs you to verify your account numbers so they are sure they have the right person, tell them you will call your credit card company or bank on your own and check into it.  Hang up and use the phone numbers that you are familiar with to check to see if someone has tried to contact you.  Beware of anyone calling you to tell you that you have won a lottery.  If you didn’t play the lottery, then you couldn’t win the lottery.  It simply does not happen.  They are either looking for you to give them personal information or trying to get you to send money to cover so called taxes for your supposed winnings.  The other scam that we hear of so often lately is the government grants.  This is where someone contacts you and tells you that you can receive money from the government that you don’t have to pay back.  Again they are looking to take something from you, whether it’s your money or your bank information.  Another thing to be leery of is companies that contact you claiming they can help you recover lost money.  Remember if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  If you feel you are being pressured, just hang up the phone.  Please contact Bucks County Consumer Protection at 1-800-942-2669 to receive a free brochure on “Avoiding elder abuse/fraud.    

Q. I received a phone message from an organization soliciting funds.  They told me my donation was not tax deductible but that they were a legitimate organization that was registered with the state.  I am on the do not call list and told them, but they said they were allowed to call me.  Are they allowed, and who would they register with?  P.D., Warrington

A. To answer your first question, political calls, charitable organizations, public surveys and businesses that you have an established relationship with may still call you even if you are on the do not call list.  Not every organization that solicits funds is tax exempt.  Their exemption status is determined by how they file their taxes.  The organization that registers charities doing business in Pennsylvania is the Bureau of Charitable Organizations.  They can be contacted at 800-732-0999 or at the Department of State’s online site, www.dos.state.pa.us.  Just click on the Charitable Organizations link.  We encourage consumers to verify the status of organizations soliciting funds.  There are many fine charitable organizations out there and we want consumers to ask questions, such as how much of my donation actually goes to the cause and how much goes to administrative costs.  Also, we would like to remind consumers that they can check to make sure they are on the do not call list by simply going to www.nocallsplease.com or calling 888-777-3406.

Q. I just moved to Bucks County from another state six months ago.  I wanted to have some work done on my home, but I am not familiar with any companies in the area.  I was asking my neighbor who would be good to use for several different jobs that I want done and he told me to check out companies with Bucks County Consumer Protection.  I didn’t even know that your agency existed.  What exactly does your agency handle?  J.W., Warrington

A. Bucks County Consumer Protection/Weights & Measures handles many different issues for consumers. Our agency will try to resolve a complaint between a consumer and a business by means of voluntary mediation or, if a case can be deemed criminal, will refer the complaints to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office for investigation and/or prosecution.  Our office keeps a two year record against a company where a complaint was filed against them.  If you are interested in using a company and would like to check the company with us you can call 1-800-942-2669.  We believe that you should always get several written estimates with companies to compare the price for the work that you are having done and we would be happy to check all the companies that you are interested in. Our office will also provide speakers and brochures for interested groups, organizations, and classrooms.  We have brochures concerning everything from how to hire a contractor to buying new/used cars to credit issues to buying a dog.  Bucks County Consumer Protection/Weights & Measures works alongside state and local officials to get better consumer laws put in place for Pennsylvania.

The Weights and Measures division administers and enforces State and Federal laws pertaining to Weights and Measures.  The office inspects and certifies all weighing and measuring devices used to offer products for sale in Bucks County.  Some of the devices tested include fuel/oil trucks, gas pumps, scales ranging from jewelry scales to trucks scales and all those in between, timing devices including parking meters, laundromat dryers and car washes, and barcode scanning systems.  The inspectors check packaged commodities for correct weight and will check delivered wood and mulch for shortages. This department also investigates consumer complaints falling within the jurisdiction of Weights and Measures and has the authority to prosecute violators of any and all Weights and Measures laws.  Consumers can call Bucks County Consumer Protection at 1-800-942-2669.

Q. Due to some financial hardship I had to sell my house and for the first time I am looking to rent an apartment.  I don’t actually know what to look for.  Can you give me some suggestions on choosing the right apartment?  C. W., Middletown

A. You would want to shop around for the best apartment that would suit your needs.  Choose an apartment that you can afford without putting yourself in a hard spot each month.  Location can also be important to some.  You may want to look at apartments near your place of work.  Once you find an apartment that you are interested in, make sure you read the lease thoroughly.  Ask to see the actual apartment that you would be renting.  Sometimes the model that they show you is in much better shape then the actual apartment that they want you to rent.   Make sure you get a copy of your lease and a copy of the walk-through inspection.  If a walk-through inspection isn’t done, make a list of things that are wrong with the apartment and send a copy to the office, making sure you keep one for your records. If there are some items that need to be addressed make sure they are listed in writing and get a signed copy.  This will avoid any misunderstandings as to what was expected and a time frame to get the items addressed.  For a free copy of a condensed version of the Pennsylvania Landlord Tenant Act call our office at 800-942-2669.

Q. We participated in a sales seminar for a vacation plan.  We thought we were buying into a reputable company with a claimed 90,000 members for discounted travel.  During the presentation they alluded that they were a member of the Better Business Bureau along with other reputable organizations.  We signed a contract based on that reputation.  When we got home we researched the company with the BBB and found out that not only are they not members, but they have an F rating based on the fact that the travel company did not respond to one complaint.  We tried to resolve the matter with the merchant by cancelling the contract, but have not had any response.  We may have made a mistake by signing away our three day right to cancel.  Something else that we found out is that the free gifts they offer as an incentive are not really free.  Can you help?  E.W., Warrington

A. Bucks County Consumer Protection has looked over your contract with the travel company and noticed many red flags.  First of all consumers should never sign a contract on the spot without investigating the company.  There are no valid reasons that a consumer shouldn’t be able to think over a four to five thousand dollar sale.  Also, consumers should never sign away their three day right to cancel unless there is some emergency in the home that needs to be repaired immediately.  This business’ contract reads “This agreement does not fall under any recission laws”.  Understand that Bucks County Consumer Protection does not have attorneys on staff and are working on finding out if a company can actually have a contract that allows consumers to automatically waive their three day right to cancel.  At this time there are already two complaints in our office that this business is ignoring, and we have contacted the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office to seek assistance.         

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