The Norfolk District Attorney's Office offers a free informal mediation service aimed at resolving disputes between consumers and merchants outside of court. This office works in cooperation with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office on consumer issues, education and complaints.
Mediation helps you and the other party try to resolve the problem through facilitated dialogue. Although we cannot compel a business to take part in this voluntary mediation service, many businesses do.
When appropriate, the Consumer Protection Division will refer parties to face-to-face mediation programs, provide small claims assistance and/or refer to a private attorney.
The Consumer Protection Division does not provide legal advice or opinions.
If you need assistance before you make a purchase or after unsuccessfully trying to resolve the problem on your own, please call the Consumer Protection Division at 781-830-4800 ext. 279.
Consumer Advisory
Scams, Auto Insurance and Loan Modifications top the list of Consumer Issues for 2012
Below are a few issues affecting Massachusetts residents today For additional information, click on each link:
Auto Insurance
Massachusetts Division of Insurance
Health Insurance and Home Insurance
www.mass.gov/doi
617.521.7794
Questions about claims, adjusters or denial of claims
Mortgages & Loan Modifications
Attorney General's Office
www.mass.gov/ago/homecorps
617.573.5333
For those facing foreclosure or seeking support with borrowing
Foreign Lottery Scams
U.S. Postal Service | Consumer Fraud Unit
www.deliveringtrust.com
https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov
877.876.2445
Issues that may require reporting: telemarketing from a Jamaican location, foreign lottery winning, work at home schemes, check deposit/money wiring, reporting or to
check for the frauds or scams
Protecting Your Personal Information
Massachusetts Division of Banks
This site provides all the steps you should follow if you are a victim of identity theft. : Check your credit report and your rights available to you if you suspect someone could be using your identity, taken out a credit card in your name, or if your personal information was stolen thru computer hacking or thief of your home or pocketbook www.mass.gov/dob
Consumer.gov
http://www.consumer.gov
1-877-IDTHEFT to report suspicious activity
Transunion
www.transunion.com
800.680.7289
Experian
www.experian.com
888.397.3742
Equifax
www.equifax.com
800.525.6285
Home Improvement Contractors
Items to be aware of before and after you hire a contractor; i.e. license, registration referrals:
Massachusetts Consumer Affairs and
Business Regulations
www.mass.gov/consumer
Check to see if the contractor has a license:
www.mass.gov/dps
Check to see if the contract is registered: http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/business/home-improvement-contract/hic-registration/
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Federal Resources
Annual Credit Report
This site allows you to request a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and Transunion.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Consult the FTC for information regarding scams on the internet, advertising practices and consumer education.
Better Business Bureau
The Better Bureau allows you to file a complaint, check out a business or charity before working with them or to keep up on the latest consumer issue or scam.
National Do Not Call 888.382.1222
(and cell phone)
Massachusetts Do Not Call 866.231.2255
(does not apply to cell phones)
Consumers should put landlines on both the national and the state DNC registries. Cell phones can only be put on the national list. The DNC registry is updated quarterly, so it may take up to three months for consumers to see the effects. You have to put your number back on the list every seven years. The DNC registries do not apply to business lines.
Credit Card offers Opt-Out 888.5.OPTOUT
This is to opt out of credit card offers that come in the mail saying that you are pre-qualified for a card you did to want or sign up for.
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