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Consumer Protection: Advice from The Bucks County Consumer Advocates

September 2009

Q. I live in Levittown and was wondering if your office was located in Levittown?  I received a letter in the mail saying I won a lottery in England.  I know it is a fake but thought your office may like a copy.  S.H., Bristol

A.  Bucks County Consumer Protection Weights and Measures has its office located in Doylestown at 50 North Main Street.  We would indeed a appreciate a copy of the letter.  Our office forwards all scams to the state or federal agency mandated to handle particular issues.  A few years ago the County Commissioners established a satellite office at the Government Services Center, 7321 New Falls Road in Levittown 19055.  There is a staff member there on Wednesdays only from 8; 30 am to 5Pm.  The office handles calls and walk ins.  This past year the County Commissioners opened the Upper Bucks Government Center.  The address is 261 California Road, Quakertown 18951.  There is a staff member available on site on Thursdays only.  The office has a staff of two investigators and four weights and measures personal.  We encourage consumers with problems or questions to contact our main office at 215-348-7442.  Our office works with many county, state and federal agencies to direct the consumer to the right spot. 

Q. I am considering leasing a new car.  Some of my friends say that I would be crazy to lease and that I should just buy.  Can you give me some advice so I can make an informed decision?  C.W., Furlong        

A. It is important to consider all the advantages and disadvantages.  Leasing can be complicated and is not right for everyone.  If you like to own free and clear and usually drive your car for more then four years, buying is probably a better deal.  If you are considering a lease, there are several points to keep in mind.  Agree on a selling price before you even mention leasing to the dealer because the lower the price, the lower the lease payments.  Stick with a lease where you can turn in the car at the end of the lease and walk away or buy it at a predetermined price.  Ask if “gap insurance” is included which will pay the difference between the residual value of the car and the amount still owed on it if you stop using the vehicle for some reason such as a collision.  Also, be sure you understand the lease terms, such as mileage allowances, what constitutes “wear and tear” charges, capitalized cost, and residual value.  Some leasing advantages include getting more car for smaller monthly payments and low or no down payments.  Consider both sides carefully.  In today’s economic climate a consumer really needs to take time and evaluate each dealers offer.  There are many factory as well as dealer incentives that make a new car purchase very attractive. 

Q. I’m new at being a landlord in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  I really don’t know too much about the laws in Pennsylvania and would like to get some information.  I would like to start out doing this right and to be a fair landlord.  An associate of mine told me that he had once gone to a seminar on landlord issues that was put on in Bucks County, but said that it had been a couple years and wasn’t sure if there has been anything like that recently.  Can you please tell me if there are any seminars going on concerning landlord/tenant issues anytime soon?  W.C., Bristol  

A. As a matter of fact the Bucks County Fair Housing Committee is putting on a Landlord Workshop.  The workshop will be held Thursday, October 1, 2009, at the Habitat for Humanity Offices at 31 Oak Avenue, Suite 100, Chalfont, PA 18914.  This workshop is free and there will be information and advice on Landlord/Tenant issues such as: What is the landlord’s responsibility for property left behind? What is reasonable accommodation/access for a disabled person? What are the rules on occupancy limits and what rights and obligation exist with respect to security deposits?  There will be a host of speakers that will be able to answer your questions.  I understand seating is limited and reservations are required so if you are interested you should call Liz Fritsch by September 25th.  Her number is 215-781-1111, ext 204 or at efritsch@lasp.org.   

Q.  My son has turned eighteen and is now in college.  My husband and I would like him to get a credit card so he can start building a credit history.  What should we be looking for? M.H., Warwick

A.  Most credit card companies have special student offers that usually come with a five hundred dollar limit.  Most of these offers do not require a parent co-signer.  That is important so your credit does not become affected if your son has trouble handling the responsibility of his credit card.  For young adults who choose a different career path that does not include college other options are available.  Look for competitive rates and no annual fees. Remember that low introductory rates are temporary, and may be good only for a balance transfer and not purchases.  Right now the credit climate is in an upheaval and credit card companies are changing terms and rates without notice.  The entire industry will come under new regulations in 2010.  Hopefully the new regulations will create a system that is fair and equitable.  The very biggest problem with credit cards at this time is the fine print agreement that you must agree to in order to get credit from a particular company.  Late payments, over the limit fees, transfer fees and cash advance fees all are subject to change especially if you make a late payment.  It is hard to believable, but your rate could jump as much as 15% due to a late payment.  Everyone should be watching for the new rules and advocating with their members of Congress and the Senate to make sure this legislation is fair to the general public.

Q.  My wife and I are having serious financial difficulty for the last ten months.  We are falling behind on our bills and we are very close to losing our home.  We understand there are many scams out there to watch out for and we are not sure how to proceed.  Can you give us any advice?  G.L., Dublin

A. Here are a couple things to remember to avoid foreclosure scams.  First of all and very important to remember is if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  A reputable counselor will not guarantee to stop the foreclosure process, no matter what your circumstances.  Working with a legitimate counselor can certainly increase your chance of keeping your home, but be wary of people who promise a sure thing.  Know what you are signing.  Don’t let a counselor pressure you to sign paperwork you haven’t had a chance to read through carefully or that you don’t understand.  Don’t sign any blank forms or let the counselor fill out forms for you.  Be sure to talk with an attorney before signing anything that transfers the title of your home to another party.  Do not pay money to anyone unless you know exactly what services you will receive and make sure any promises are in writing.  Consumers who are looking for help to prevent foreclosure should be sure the counseling agency is on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s list of approved agencies.  For more information please call Bucks County Consumer Protection at 1-800-942-2669.

 

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