National Consumer Protection Week, March 2 - 8
BALTIMORE, MD (March 4, 2008) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler released the top five Maryland consumer complaints from 2007 to highlight the importance of financial literacy during National Consumer Protection Week. The Consumer Protection Division (CPD) was able to acquire more than $4 million for consumer reimbursements and received 15,661 complaints in 2007. The CPD works to mediate disputes between consumers and businesses such as car dealers, repair shops, landlords or debt collectors. Landlord management topped the list with 3.8% of complaints.
Consumers are faced with daily financial questions ranging from managing their budgets
to understanding their credit reports. Without being financially aware, consumers can make mistakes resulting in serious consequences such as foreclosure or identity theft.
“National Consumer Protection Week is a great time for Maryland consumers to renew their efforts at becoming financially savvy,” said Attorney General Gansler. “Armed with the right information, Marylanders will make smarter decisions to build a solid financial foundation.”
The top five consumer complaints for 2007 include:
* Landlord/Property Manager - 629 complaints (3.8%) were filed on landlords and property managers with varying tenant issues such as failing to return security deposits to not providing a habitable place to live with lack of maintenance or excessive damages deducted from deposits. Consumers can download the pamphlet, “Landlord and Tenants: Tips on Avoiding Disputes”
* Auto Repair - 628 complaints (3.8%) concerned consumer experiences on auto repair. The most common complaints were unsatisfactory workmanship, misdiagnosis of services needed and cars held for servicing damaged or not returned. Other top issues in auto repair were failure to honor express warranty and billed for goods/services not requested or received.
* General Merchandise - 572 complaints (3.5%) from Marylanders were on general merchandise issues. Failure to deliver any goods or provide any services was the top complaint in this category. Billed for goods/services not requested or received came in second and other complaints varied from failure to honor refund requests to price gouging.
* Collection Agency - 474 Marylanders (2.9%) complained about collection agency practices. Consumers often complained of collection agencies attempting to collect debt not owed and inaccurate information reported to credit reporting agencies. Consumers who have trouble with a collection agency can order the Consumer’s Edge issue #117 or online
* Used Auto Dealer - 516 consumers (3.1%) filed complaints on their experiences while buying a used car. Defective/damaged goods, failure to honor implied warranty of merchantability, misrepresentation of material fact and omission of material facts were all big issues. Before purchasing, consumers can request the pamphlet “Buying a Used Car” by calling the Consumer Protection Division
Source: Maryland Attorney General
Sex offender bill advances to Missouri Senate
JEFFERSON CITY | The Missouri House approved a trio of measures Thursday to keep sex offenders out of classrooms, change rules regarding initiative petitions and limit lawsuits involving unsafe cars.
The sex offender bill is designed to make it harder for teachers who leave their jobs because of inappropriate relationships with students to get hired by another school district.
Rep. Jane Cunningham, a St. Louis County Republican who sponsored the bill, said teachers with questionable histories move between districts so often that it has a name: “It’s called ‘passing the trash.’ ”
The bill requires school districts to report any allegation of sexual misconduct to the Social Services Department within 24 hours. Even if the allegation is found to be unsubstantiated, it would be reported to the Child Abuse Registry.
The registry is confidential. But beginning in 2009, teacher applicants would be asked to sign a waiver to give school officials access to the confidential records. School districts would be required to disclose any allegations of sexual misconduct about former employees to other school districts.
The legislation, House Bill 1314, was approved 139-6.
The unsafe car legislation would allow lawsuits only against the dealer with whom the consumer negotiated the purchase of the car. Any dealer who previously handled the car would be immune from lawsuits.
Supporters said the bill stems from a Missouri Supreme Court decision that found that current law permits lawsuits against parties not involved in a transaction.
Rep. John Burnett, a Kansas City Democrat, warned that the bill would gut the consumer protections in Missouri’s anti-lemon law. Under the proposed bill, an unscrupulous mechanic could rebuild a car, fail to install airbags, then sell it a dealer, who sells it to a consumer. If the consumer is later injured in a wreck because the airbags were missing, the consumer could sue only the dealer, who did nothing wrong, Burnett said.
Rep. Michael Frame, a Eureka Democrat, said the bill was little more than pandering to the auto industry.
But Republican Reps. Don Wells of Cabool and Brian Nieves of Washington, both car dealers, said the bill actually helps consumers. Without the clarification, dealers will dramatically lower the price they offer for trade-ins because current law makes them liable for the condition of that trade-in even after they re-sell it to a wholesaler.
The legislation, House Bill 1970, was approved 113-37.
The House also approved changes in the rules regarding people who circulate initiative petitions seeking to place an issue on the ballot. Under the bill, signature gatherers would have to be Missouri residents.
In an effort to reduce the number of invalid signatures, those handling petitions could not be paid per signature. And each person gathering signatures would have to register with the secretary of state’s office.
The measure, House Bill 1763, was approved 107-41.
By KIT WAGAR
The Star’s Jefferson City correspondent
The sex offender bill is designed to make it harder for teachers who leave their jobs because of inappropriate relationships with students to get hired by another school district.
Rep. Jane Cunningham, a St. Louis County Republican who sponsored the bill, said teachers with questionable histories move between districts so often that it has a name: “It’s called ‘passing the trash.’ ”
The bill requires school districts to report any allegation of sexual misconduct to the Social Services Department within 24 hours. Even if the allegation is found to be unsubstantiated, it would be reported to the Child Abuse Registry.
The registry is confidential. But beginning in 2009, teacher applicants would be asked to sign a waiver to give school officials access to the confidential records. School districts would be required to disclose any allegations of sexual misconduct about former employees to other school districts.
The legislation, House Bill 1314, was approved 139-6.
The unsafe car legislation would allow lawsuits only against the dealer with whom the consumer negotiated the purchase of the car. Any dealer who previously handled the car would be immune from lawsuits.
Supporters said the bill stems from a Missouri Supreme Court decision that found that current law permits lawsuits against parties not involved in a transaction.
Rep. John Burnett, a Kansas City Democrat, warned that the bill would gut the consumer protections in Missouri’s anti-lemon law. Under the proposed bill, an unscrupulous mechanic could rebuild a car, fail to install airbags, then sell it a dealer, who sells it to a consumer. If the consumer is later injured in a wreck because the airbags were missing, the consumer could sue only the dealer, who did nothing wrong, Burnett said.
Rep. Michael Frame, a Eureka Democrat, said the bill was little more than pandering to the auto industry.
But Republican Reps. Don Wells of Cabool and Brian Nieves of Washington, both car dealers, said the bill actually helps consumers. Without the clarification, dealers will dramatically lower the price they offer for trade-ins because current law makes them liable for the condition of that trade-in even after they re-sell it to a wholesaler.
The legislation, House Bill 1970, was approved 113-37.
The House also approved changes in the rules regarding people who circulate initiative petitions seeking to place an issue on the ballot. Under the bill, signature gatherers would have to be Missouri residents.
In an effort to reduce the number of invalid signatures, those handling petitions could not be paid per signature. And each person gathering signatures would have to register with the secretary of state’s office.
The measure, House Bill 1763, was approved 107-41.
By KIT WAGAR
The Star’s Jefferson City correspondent
Toyota and Honda get least percentage of complaints
Ford and General Motors vehicles garnered more than a third of the Lemon Law complaints lodged by Hawaii consumers in 2007 -- double their local market share.
Toyota, which commands 30 percent of the Hawaii market, and Honda, second with 14.5 percent, both saw considerably fewer complaints than their market share.
The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, which released the data yesterday, said Hawaii's Lemon Law program helped consumers obtain replacement vehicles and refunds totaling more than $490,000 last year stemming from 66 complaints.
The year before, the agency handled 71 complaints, recovering more than $1 million; in 2005 there were 80 complaints and $919,000 recovered.
Market share figures are for new retail cars and light trucks registered in Hawaii in 2007 as reported in the Hawaii Auto Outlook, a trade publication of the Hawaii Auto Dealers Association.
The two American manufacturers each received 12 complaints, or 18.2 percent of the total 66 complaints received. The figures were more than double Ford's market share of 8.9 percent and GM's market share of 8.8 percent.
Toyota, with 17,944 newly registered vehicles, and Honda, with 8,644 vehicles, each had only five complaints, or 7.6 percent of the complaints received. Four of the five Toyota complaints were later withdrawn.
Other manufacturers that received a double-digit percentage of complaints compared to the 66 received were Nissan, with 13.6 percent of the complaints and 12.8 percent of the market, and Chrysler, with 12.1 percent of the complaints with 6.1 percent of the market.
Lemon law statistics are compiled annually by the State Certified Arbitration Program staff to assist consumers and manufacturers. More information can be found at www.hawaii.gov/ dcaa/rico.
By Dave Segal
Toyota, which commands 30 percent of the Hawaii market, and Honda, second with 14.5 percent, both saw considerably fewer complaints than their market share.
The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, which released the data yesterday, said Hawaii's Lemon Law program helped consumers obtain replacement vehicles and refunds totaling more than $490,000 last year stemming from 66 complaints.
The year before, the agency handled 71 complaints, recovering more than $1 million; in 2005 there were 80 complaints and $919,000 recovered.
Market share figures are for new retail cars and light trucks registered in Hawaii in 2007 as reported in the Hawaii Auto Outlook, a trade publication of the Hawaii Auto Dealers Association.
The two American manufacturers each received 12 complaints, or 18.2 percent of the total 66 complaints received. The figures were more than double Ford's market share of 8.9 percent and GM's market share of 8.8 percent.
Toyota, with 17,944 newly registered vehicles, and Honda, with 8,644 vehicles, each had only five complaints, or 7.6 percent of the complaints received. Four of the five Toyota complaints were later withdrawn.
Other manufacturers that received a double-digit percentage of complaints compared to the 66 received were Nissan, with 13.6 percent of the complaints and 12.8 percent of the market, and Chrysler, with 12.1 percent of the complaints with 6.1 percent of the market.
Lemon law statistics are compiled annually by the State Certified Arbitration Program staff to assist consumers and manufacturers. More information can be found at www.hawaii.gov/ dcaa/rico.
By Dave Segal
Attorney Eugene Krukas Calls Upon NY Political Leaders to Protect Consumers from Potentially Lethal Vehicle Defects by Adding a "Safety Lemon" Provisi
The Law Office Of Eugene Krukas, a New York Lemon Law firm, urges governor Eliot Spitzer, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno to enact legislation updating and improving the New York Lemon Law by adding a 'safety lemon' provision in order to protect consumers from potentially lethal automobile defects.
Garden City, NY, March 06, 2008, The Law Office of Eugene Krukas, a New York law firm focusing on consumer protection matters, announced today that it is urging New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno to update and improve the New York Lemon Law.
In a letter to New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, dated March 6, 2008, attorney Eugene Krukas urged immediate changes to the New York Lemon Law in order to protect the health and safety of New York residents. Mr. Krukas noted that since originally enacted in 1983, the New York Lemon has been a resounding success. However, while other states have improved their own versions of the law, New York political leadership have failed to take the important steps necessary to protect the health and safety of their constituents. Specifically, Mr. Krukas urged New York political leaders to add a "safety lemon" provision to protect consumers who may otherwise be forced to drive dangerous vehicles.
Mr. Krukas explained in his letter that in New York, to have a viable Lemon Law case, owners of new cars must typically demonstrate either 4 repairs for the same defect or 30 days out of service for warranty repairs, within the first 2 years or 18,000 miles from original delivery of the vehicle. The statute does not distinguish, however, between run of the mill defects and potentially lethal ones. Mr. Krukas noted that he is routinely forced to advise clients to continue driving their dangerous vehicle until enough repairs can occur. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to take advantage of the Lemon Law. Examples of such potentially lethal defects can include brake failure, stalling at highway speeds, and sliding doors opening on their own.
Mr. Krukas also noted that New Jersey, with the #2 ranked Lemon Law in the Nation by the Center for Auto Safety, is currently in the process of enacting such a 'safety lemon' provision to its statute. New Jersey Senate Bill S-454 recently passed the Senate Commerce Committee by unanimous vote, and awaits consideration by the full New Jersey Senate. The Bill would require automobile manufacturers to repurchase or replace dangerous vehicles that continue to be defective after just a single repair attempt. Mr. Krukas stated that New York, which is ranked #17 by the Center for Auto Safety, must take similar measures.
The complete text of the letter can be viewed at Mr. Krukas
Contact Information
Law Office Of Eugene Krukas
Eugene Krukas, Esq.
516-203-4001
ekrukas@gmail.com
http://lemonfirm.com
New York Lemon Law Firm
The Law Office of Eugene Krukas is a prominent consumer protection law firm based out of Garden City, New York. Since 2003, our attorney, Eugene Krukas, has successfully litigated, arbitrated, and negotiated settlements of Lemon Law cases for hundreds of clients. In addition to his local practice on Long Island, Mr. Krukas is also involved in numerous multi-jurisdictional consumer protection law practices.
The consumer protection statutes we utilize, including the New York Lemon Law, require that automobile manufacturers repurchase or replace automobiles when they are unable or unwilling to honor the warranty. These cases can almost always be resolved without any attorney fees being paid by the client. In most instances we are paid directly by your vehicle's manufacturer.
Unlike many other law firms that handle these types of cases, we actually litigate and arbitrate cases when appropriate to do so. Many other law firms will rely simply upon negotiation with the manufacturer. If you are considering another law firm, make sure to ask how many cases they have litigated or arbitrated.
Although we handle many cases every year, our goal is to treat each of our clients with the same amount of attention and respect that we would expect to be treated with ourselves. As a rule, we return all of our calls and inquiries as quickly as possible.
You may also call us at 516-596-8943 for a free telephone consultation with Mr. Krukas.
Garden City, NY, March 06, 2008, The Law Office of Eugene Krukas, a New York law firm focusing on consumer protection matters, announced today that it is urging New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno to update and improve the New York Lemon Law.
In a letter to New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, dated March 6, 2008, attorney Eugene Krukas urged immediate changes to the New York Lemon Law in order to protect the health and safety of New York residents. Mr. Krukas noted that since originally enacted in 1983, the New York Lemon has been a resounding success. However, while other states have improved their own versions of the law, New York political leadership have failed to take the important steps necessary to protect the health and safety of their constituents. Specifically, Mr. Krukas urged New York political leaders to add a "safety lemon" provision to protect consumers who may otherwise be forced to drive dangerous vehicles.
Mr. Krukas explained in his letter that in New York, to have a viable Lemon Law case, owners of new cars must typically demonstrate either 4 repairs for the same defect or 30 days out of service for warranty repairs, within the first 2 years or 18,000 miles from original delivery of the vehicle. The statute does not distinguish, however, between run of the mill defects and potentially lethal ones. Mr. Krukas noted that he is routinely forced to advise clients to continue driving their dangerous vehicle until enough repairs can occur. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to take advantage of the Lemon Law. Examples of such potentially lethal defects can include brake failure, stalling at highway speeds, and sliding doors opening on their own.
Mr. Krukas also noted that New Jersey, with the #2 ranked Lemon Law in the Nation by the Center for Auto Safety, is currently in the process of enacting such a 'safety lemon' provision to its statute. New Jersey Senate Bill S-454 recently passed the Senate Commerce Committee by unanimous vote, and awaits consideration by the full New Jersey Senate. The Bill would require automobile manufacturers to repurchase or replace dangerous vehicles that continue to be defective after just a single repair attempt. Mr. Krukas stated that New York, which is ranked #17 by the Center for Auto Safety, must take similar measures.
The complete text of the letter can be viewed at Mr. Krukas
Contact Information
Law Office Of Eugene Krukas
Eugene Krukas, Esq.
516-203-4001
ekrukas@gmail.com
http://lemonfirm.com
New York Lemon Law Firm
The Law Office of Eugene Krukas is a prominent consumer protection law firm based out of Garden City, New York. Since 2003, our attorney, Eugene Krukas, has successfully litigated, arbitrated, and negotiated settlements of Lemon Law cases for hundreds of clients. In addition to his local practice on Long Island, Mr. Krukas is also involved in numerous multi-jurisdictional consumer protection law practices.
The consumer protection statutes we utilize, including the New York Lemon Law, require that automobile manufacturers repurchase or replace automobiles when they are unable or unwilling to honor the warranty. These cases can almost always be resolved without any attorney fees being paid by the client. In most instances we are paid directly by your vehicle's manufacturer.
Unlike many other law firms that handle these types of cases, we actually litigate and arbitrate cases when appropriate to do so. Many other law firms will rely simply upon negotiation with the manufacturer. If you are considering another law firm, make sure to ask how many cases they have litigated or arbitrated.
Although we handle many cases every year, our goal is to treat each of our clients with the same amount of attention and respect that we would expect to be treated with ourselves. As a rule, we return all of our calls and inquiries as quickly as possible.
You may also call us at 516-596-8943 for a free telephone consultation with Mr. Krukas.
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