Departments
Community Services
Consumer Protection
Consumer Protection: Advice from The Bucks County Consumer
Advocates
May 2009
Q. I heard from some friends that this is the best possible time to buy a new car so I’m thinking of buying one. I have never owned a new car and I’m a little nervous about taking such a big step. I want to be able to make the best informed decision. Can you give me some things to look out for? B.T., Warrington
A. You are absolutely right when you say it is a big step. A new car is second only to buying a home as the most expensive purchase many consumers will make. First think about what car model and options you want and how much you are willing to spend. Do your research. You will be less likely to feel pressured into making a hasty or expensive decision at the showroom. Know exactly how much you can afford on the car and don’t allow a sales person to sell you a more expensive car. Search the internet and objective publications, such as Consumer Reports and The Car Book, for information about the features, performance, durability, and costs of the models which interest you. Take the time to shop around from dealer to dealer to get a competitive price. It’s best to conduct this shopping process by phone. If you try to do it in person, you will waste many hours and you will have difficulty persuading sales people that you are really serious about leaving and getting other dealers’ prices. If the dealers don’t want to work with you over the phone let them know that if they don’t bid, they have no chance for your business. Be businesslike and persistent. Wait to discuss any extra matters like used car trade-ins, paint sealant, or any other add-ons until you have settled on the price of your new car.
If you plan on financing your car, be aware that the financing obtained by the dealer may not be the best deal you can get. Contact lenders directly. Shop around for the best deal, comparing the annual percentage rate and the length of the loan. Be careful when it comes to extended warranties. Many new cars are very reliable, so there are few service claims. Also many cars now carry long manufacturer warranties, so many service problems are covered by the warranty, leaving little to be covered by the extended service contract. Please contact Bucks County Consumer Protection at 1-800-942-2669 for a free brochure on buying a new car.
Q. I want to sell some old and broken gold jewelry. With all of the gold buyers on the Internet, T.V. and in the newspapers, how will I know which gold buyers are honest and which ones to avoid? S.R., Bensalem
A. While it may be difficult to sort out good gold buyers from bad, the best way to protect yourself is to do your homework. If the market price of gold is $900/oz. on the day you want to sell, don’t expect to be paid $900/oz. Whatever they pay you will most likely be substantially lower. It would be like trading in your old car when you are buying a new one. Here’s what to look for:
- Gold and precious metal buyers must be registered with the sheriff’s department. Ask to see their certificate.
- Their scales must be certified annually by Weights & Measures. Evidence of this certification will appear in the form of a Weights & Measures seal of approval. Ask to see it if it is not visible to you.
- Pennsylvania law requires prices of precious metals to be posted. Know exactly what they’re paying for your gold, silver, platinum, etc. Verify that gold pricing is clearly displayed for 24, 18, 14, and 10K gold.
- Scale display and weighing process must be clearly visible to you. Scale must also be “zeroed” before the weighing process begins.
Consumers should be wary of sending their jewelry away, because if the offer is not fair the consumer will have to pay for the return shipping and may not get everything they had sent back. Each piece should be accounted for and photographed prior to sending.
Fraud Alert!
Attorney General announces that registration is open for
home improvement contractors; under new law,
contractors must register by July 1
Attorney General Corbett announced that contractors who perform $5,000 or more in home improvements in a year must register with the Attorney General's Office and the Bureau of Consumer Protection, in order to comply with a new law that goes into effect July 1.
The intent of the Act is to:
- Protect consumers from unscrupulous contractors
- Provide new protection for consumers who hire home improvement contractors
- Authorize criminal penalties for home improvement fraud
As of July 1, 2009, consumers in Pennsylvania will be able to verify a contractor's registration with the Attorney General’s office by visiting our website, www.attorneygeneral.gov or by calling our toll-free hotline, 1-800-441-2555. In the coming months, our office will encourage consumers to use registered contractors when deciding to make home improvements.
The law requires that:
- All contractors who perform $5,000 or more in home improvements in a year must register with the Attorney General's Office and the Bureau of Consumer Protection
- Maintain minimum insurance coverage
- Use contracts that contain important information about home projects
- start date and completion date
- a description of work being performed with estimate and payment schedule
- consumers' rights under the law
- The registration is valid for two years
"Complaints involving home improvement or repair projects are one of the top subjects of calls to the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection," Corbett said. "This legislation will give us new tools to identify and prosecute problem contractors, while also helping consumers avoid frustrating and potentially expensive problems in the future."
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter, please contact the Attorney General’s Office, the Bucks County Office of Consumer Protection or one of the other Task Force agencies below.
Bucks County Crimes Against Older Adults Task Force
Fighting Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of Older Adults in Bucks County
Bucks County District Attorney’s Office
215-348-6344 |
Bucks County Consumer Protection
215-348-6060 |
Network of Victim Assistance
1-800-675-6900 |
Bucks County Area Agency on Aging
215-348-0510 |
Bucks County Coroner
215-348-3852 |
US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General
215-861-4586 |
A Woman’s Place
1-800-220-8116 |
Bucks County Register of Wills
215-348-6265 |
www.crimesagainstolderadultsbucks.org
24 - Hour Hotline 1-800-490-8505
Q. We received a letter yesterday. It stated it was an official sweepstakes notice. There is a number that has to be called before the deadline expires. It was mailed by a company called NME, Clearwater, Florida. Is this a real sweepstakes contest or just a scam? B.K., Fairless Hills
A. This is one of those sweepstakes that is real but is run by a business that sells magazines. They invite people to call and enter the million dollar sweepstakes. There is no purchase necessary to enter. That does not mean the operators will not try and solicit you to make a purchase of a magazine subscription. This business goes by several different names like NME, National Publishers Exchange, National Clearing Exchange and National List Exchange. The marketing tool is the sweepstakes entry. If a consumer calls they explain the sweepstakes offer and then they hammer the sales pitch to close the deal. Better Business Bureau records show the business has addressed consumers’ concerns and complaints. Consumers should view sweepstakes offers with skepticism. The odds of actually winning are incredibly low. The odds of you buying a subscription are much higher. Consumers should also understand that if they reply to such offers, they may end up on endless marketing lists.
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