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CONSUMER ALERT: DON'T OPEN THE DOOR TO TROUBLE
May 1, 2013
LITTLE ROCK - Who's that knocking at your door? In some cases, it's trouble.
It's that time of year where Arkansas homeowners will notice an uptick in door-to-door sales, with solicitors often peddling home improvements or home security systems. Many of the sellers will offer legitimate items that benefit consumers, but sometimes the product doesn't live up to the sales pitch.
In those cir...
CONSUMER ALERT: LAW TARGETS HOME-REPAIR SCAMS
April 24, 2013
LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas homeowners now have an additional protection against unscrupulous home-repair contractors who dash to neighborhoods damaged by severe weather.
Known as "storm chasers," the scam artists attempt to take advantage of storm victims by going door-to-door to offer repair or debris-removals services, typically offering inexpensive prices or other terms designed to entice homeo...
CONSUMER ALERT: AVOID SCAMS INVOLVING PREPAID DEBIT CARDS
April 17, 2013
LITTLE ROCK - For years, con artists have used wire transfers as a mechanism for separating consumers from their hard-earned money. Now, though, scammers are increasingly using reloadable debit cards in their schemes to extract funds.
Dozens of Arkansans have lost money in the last few months after sending account information from their prepaid debit cards to con artists. Attorney General Dust...
CONSUMER ALERT: ARKANSANS CONCERNED BY "INVOICES"
April 10, 2013
LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas consumers and small business owners alike wade through countless bills every month for the services they use or products they acquire. Sometimes, as the invoices mount up and due dates approach, payments are processed without much care or notice.
It appears that at least one out-of-state company recognizes that consumers may sometimes pay invoices without ensuring that th...
CONSUMER ALERT: OIL SPILL AFFECTS ARKANSANS
April 3, 2013
LITTLE ROCK - Attorney General Dustin McDaniel on Wednesday visited the Mayflower neighborhood where Exxon Mobil Corp.'s Pegasus pipeline ruptured, causing a major oil spill and forcing the evacuation of area residents.
McDaniel has launched an investigation into the cause and impact of the spill. Today, in the Attorney General's weekly Consumer Alert, McDaniel wanted to update Arkansans a...
CONSUMER ALERT: ADVICE FOR DEALING WITH UNSOLICITED TELEPHONE CALLS
March 27, 2013
LITTLE ROCK - Unsolicited telephone calls can be a nuisance to Arkansas consumers, especially if the calls are from a business or marketing company trying to sell products or services that consumers don't want or need.
The unsolicited calls become more than a mere nuisance, though, when the caller attempts to mislead a consumer, perpetrate a fraud or obtain sensitive personal or financial info...
CONSUMER ALERT: TAKE THE TIME TO RESEARCH TIMESHARES
March 20, 2013
LITTLE ROCK - While the purchase of a vacation home may not be financially feasible for many consumers, investments in timeshare units may offer many of the same benefits with substantially less cost.
Yet, timeshare ownership may have pitfalls, and the Attorney General's Office regularly receives complaints about unscrupulous timeshare resellers who attempt to take advantage of consumers. So,...
CONSUMER ALERT: ADVICE FOR IDENTITY THEFT VICTIMS
March 13, 2013
LITTLE ROCK - More than 140 Arkansas State University employees in Jonesboro received unwelcome notices from the Internal Revenue Service recently, questioning the number of deductions they had taken on their recently filed tax returns.
More problematic than the deductions claim was the fact that the employees had not yet filed their tax returns this year. All of them had fallen victim to an ...
CONSUMER ALERT: ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCES COMMON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS
March 6, 2013
LITTLE ROCK - The Arkansas Attorney General's Office assisted more than 7,400 consumers with their consumer complaints last year, returning more than $1.7 million to them as a result of the office's informal mediation and dispute resolution efforts.
Concerned Arkansas consumers contacted the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division for help in handling legitimate business disputes, and...
CONSUMER ALERT: CONSUMERS MAY LOSE MONEY, NOT WEIGHT
February 27, 2013
LITTLE ROCK - A guarantee to lose weight without dieting sounds appealing to consumers hoping to shed a few pounds, but businesses that promise quick-fix weight loss are most likely taking away more money than they are pounds.
According to the FDA, Americans lose billions of dollars a year to health-fraud schemes. Dietary supplements touted as "magic pills" and supposed fat-dissolving product...
CONSUMER ALERT: STATE LAWS PROVIDE PROTECTIONS AFTER MAJOR WINTER STORM
February 20, 2013
LITTLE ROCK - With significant winter precipitation expected to impact the State, Arkansans can expect hazardous driving conditions or damage from fallen trees and limbs.
As they prepare for winter storms, consumers who rely on liquid propane gas for home heating should know that Arkansas law provides an important consumer protection in the event that they run out of fuel during a major winte...
CONSUMER ALERT: REVIEW CREDIT REPORTS FOR ACCURACY
February 13, 2013
LITTLE ROCK - The information contained on credit reports is often the basis for interest rates on loans and any other credit transaction, from credit cards to cell phone contracts. Credit reports can also affect insurance premiums and even employment applications. So, when credit reports contain errors, the results could be costly
A Federal Trade Commission study released earlier this week fo...
CONSUMER ALERT: AVOID COMMON SWEEPSTAKES SCAM
February 6, 2013
LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas consumers are once again the targets of a common scam in which con artists pose as representatives of a sweepstakes company and make false promises of free cars and cash.
Many consumers have contacted the Attorney General's Office recently to report that scammers had attempted to dupe them into sending a few hundred bucks to pay for taxes and "processing fees" related to...
CONSUMER ALERT: NEW FEES COULD BE IN THE CARDS
January 30, 2013
LITTLE ROCK - Shopping with a credit card may be a bit more expensive today, now that retailers are permitted to pass along the cost of credit card processing fees to consumers.
As of Jan. 27, retailers may impose a surcharge of up to 4 percent of the purchase price to customers paying by credit card, depending on the amount the merchant pays to the credit card company in processing fees. Merc...
CONSUMER ALERT: FREE TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO MANY TAXPAYERS
January 23, 2013
LITTLE ROCK - Whether taxpayers find the 1040EZ to be not so easy after all, or they would prefer to have assistance in preparing and filing their tax returns, countless consumers will seek help from tax preparation services this year.
There are a variety of free tax assistance options available. So, as tax filing season approaches, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel today issued this consumer a...
CONSUMER ALERT: AUTOMAKERS OFFER REIMBURSEMENTS
January 16, 2013
LITTLE ROCK - Hyundai and Kia owners in Arkansas may be eligible for money from the automakers to reimburse for errors in the car companies' advertised fuel economy ratings.
The two companies voluntarily established a consumer reimbursement program because of the incorrect ratings for more than 900,000 vehicles sold in the United States between 2010 and 2012. Attorney General Dustin McDaniel i...
CONSUMER ALERT: SOME TAX REFUND PRODUCTS PROVE COSTLY
January 9, 2013
LITTLE ROCK - It's never too soon for most consumers to want to have their federal income tax refunds in hand. Some tax preparation services have accommodated by offering immediate cash in the form of short-term loans secured by a taxpayer's expected refund.
The thought of quick cash is appealing, especially to financially strapped consumers. However, the reality is that taxpayers pay high fee...
CONSUMER ALERT: AVOID SCAMS AFTER THE STORM
January 2, 2013
LITTLE ROCK - Dreams of a white Christmas have turned into post-Christmas nightmares for some Arkansas homeowners who sustained property damage or had downed trees as a result of the Christmas Day winter storm.
Cleanup continues for those Arkansans, who may seek assistance from home-repair professionals or tree-removal specialists. While most contractors are reputable, some may seek to take ad...
CONSUMER ALERT: RESOLVE TO RESEARCH BEFORE JOINING A HEALTH CLUB
December 26, 2012
LITTLE ROCK - As the calendar turns to another year, many Arkansans will make New Year's resolutions to rid themselves of the extra pounds they may have gained from holiday sweets. Those consumers who have resolved to get fit may be searching for the right fitness club or gym.
Health spas and fitness clubs across the state are vying for consumers' turn-of-the-year business with special deals...
CONSUMER ALERT: BE INFORMED ABOUT RETAIL STORE RETURN POLICIES
December 19, 2012
LITTLE ROCK - Whether it's a sweater that just doesn't fit or a DVD of your not-so-favorite movie, some holiday gifts inevitably will go back to the store for refunds or exchanges.
Many retailers offer hassle-free return policies that make gift giving and receiving go smoothly. Other stores have more restrictive policies, or they may require consumers to pay restocking fees for returned items....
CONSUMER ALERT: MAKE WISE CHOICES WHEN GIVING TO CHARITIES
December 12, 2012
LITTLE ROCK - The abundant generosity of Arkansans is never more apparent than it is during the holidays, when our State's residents open their hearts and their wallets to worthy charities.
Arkansas consistently rates among the top states for spending on philanthropic causes. On average, Natural State households donate 6.3 percent of their discretionary income to charity, according to the Chro...
CONSUMER ALERT: AVOID HOLIDAY DECORATING HAZARDS
December 5, 2012
LITTLE ROCK - Decorating ahead of the holidays can be as enjoyable to many Arkansans as the holidays themselves. Yet, whether consumers are decking a hall or stringing lights across a rooftop, holiday decorating carries some safety risks.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, injuries related to holiday decorating have increased every year since 2009, with approximately 14,...
CONSUMER ALERT: GIFT CARDS COME WITH PROTECTIONS FOR CONSUMERS
November 28, 2012
LITTLE ROCK - Every holiday shopper has that family member or friend that is difficult to buy for, which is one reason why gift cards are increasingly popular each year. Gift cards are some of the most requested Christmas gifts, as well, since recipients can shop for the items they want.
According to the National Retail Federation, about eight in 10 American consumers will buy gift cards this y...
CONSUMER ALERT: TIPS FOR SAFE ONLINE BUYING
November 21, 2012
LITTLE ROCK - American consumers will spend billions of dollars shopping online this holiday season, foregoing the crowded department store aisles to browse for deals from retailers on the Internet.
Online gift-buying may be faster and more convenient than traditional holiday shopping, though Internet transactions are not without risk. To ensure consumers stay safe while shopping online, Attor...
CONSUMER ALERT: SHOP SMART WHEN CHOOSING A LAYAWAY PLAN
November 14, 2012
LITTLE ROCK - With holiday shopping season now in full swing, some Arkansas consumers may view a layaway plan as an attractive option for obtaining a must-have gift.
Many retail stores offer layaway purchase plans for those consumers who choose not to use a credit card but may not have enough cash on hand to buy a product. In a layaway plan, a consumer places a deposit on an item, then makes p...
CONSUMER ALERT: AIRLINE TICKET OFFER MAY TAKE CONSUMERS NOWHERE
November 7, 2012
LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas residents promised free airline tickets on "US Airlines" shouldn't start packing their bags just yet.
That's because US Airlines doesn't exist. And, the tickets offered, if they exist at all, are not free as promised by a direct mail offer that has landed in Arkansas consumers' mailboxes in recent weeks.
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel's Consumer Protection Division...
CONSUMER ALERT: DON'T GET BURNED WHEN BUYING FIREWOOD
October 31, 2012
LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas consumers who heat their homes with firewood should know that a "cord" is more than just something attached to an electrical appliance.
In fact, a cord is a unit of cut wood by which firewood can be sold in Arkansas. The Arkansas Bureau of Standards has adopted specific regulations on the sale of wood to be used as fuel in fireplaces and wood-burning stoves. The regulati...
CONSUMER ALERT: TIPS FOR A SCARE-FREE HALLOWEEN
October 24, 2012
LITTLE ROCK - Late October can be a fun time of year for children and adults alike, with traditional Halloween activities like costume parties, haunted houses, hayrides and trick-or-treating. It's a great time of year for retailers, too. The National Retail Federation estimates that 170 million Americans will spend about $8 billion this year on costumes, candy and other items associated with Hallo...
CONSUMER ALERT: MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD NOW UNDERWAY
October 17, 2012
LITTLE ROCK - Medicare's open enrollment period is now underway, giving current or newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries the opportunity to sign up for benefits or make changes to existing coverage.
The open enrollment period began Oct. 15 and continues until Dec. 7. And, as senior citizens review or consider changing their Medicare benefit plans, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel issued this ...
CONSUMER ALERT: ARKANSAS LEMON LAW BENEFITS OWNERS OF PROBLEM CARS
October 10, 2012
LITTLE ROCK - Car shoppers who choose to buy new cars often do so because of the likelihood that a never-driven vehicle will be more reliable than a used car.
That assurance of reliability, coupled with a manufacturer's warranty, helps justify to consumers the higher cost of a new vehicle compared to a used one. Yet, even brand-new vehicles sometimes experience mechanical problems or contain d...