For Immediate Release:
Aug. 1, 2008
County Department of Consumer Affairs moves
The office is now more centrally located in Hall of Records Annex
FREEHOLD – The Monmouth County Department of Consumer Affairs has relocated its offices to the first floor of the Hall of Records Annex at 1 East Main St.
“This ‘new’ street-level office space provides the Consumer Affairs staff with improved physical space to assist consumers who believe they may have been a victim of fraud or unfair business practices,” said Patricia Watson, Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs. “We are ready, willing and able to meet consumers and help them resolve all sorts of consumer-related issues.”
The Consumer Affairs department is a law-enforcement agency, created and funded by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders. It protects against consumer fraud and dishonest and unscrupulous business practices by enforcing the state Consumer Fraud Act and other regulations.
“The county’s Consumer Affairs office enforces consumer laws and helps people whether violations are present or not,” said Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the department. “Since the Department of Consumer Affairs was established in 1977 it has handled more than 49,000 complaints and resolved disputes, resulting in savings to consumers of more than $11 million dollars.”
In 2007, the department mediated 1,050 complaints and recovered more than $575,000 for consumers. Mediation includes letters, telephone calls, e-mails, faxes and informal conferences with businesses. If a business is uncooperative and does not appear as scheduled, the Department has the authority to subpoena, a function coordinated with the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office.
The Department also maintains a “complaint history” on all reported businesses that can be helpful to consumers who are considering an agreement or transaction with a local business. If there is an active file, the information may be very valuable.
Additional information about fraud and other consumer affairs programs can be found on the county Web site at www.visitmonmouth.com or by calling 732-431-7900. The office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Space became available for the Department of Consumer Affairs when the state-run Workers’ Compensation Court vacated the county facility in the spring of 2008. The Workers’ Compensation Court is now located at 2 Paragon Way in Freehold Township.
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