Consumer Protection

Consumers are encouraged to attempt to resolve problems through their alarm company, allowing companies every opportunity to correct problems and resolve disputes. If the consumer feels they have exhausted all means to resolve the dispute with their alarm company, and are not satisfied with the results, they may wish to request assistance from other sources.

For your convenience, listed below is contact information for various organizations that may be able to provide advice and/or assistance to you in resolving disputes with any company offering products or services. If you feel you are a victim of false advertising, fraud, contract fraud, etc., or if you have a complaint or a dispute, you may wish to contact one of these organizations for assistance.

• Consumer Protection Division
  State of Maryland Office of the Attorney General
  200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor
  Baltimore, MD 21202
  Phone: 410-576-6550 or 410-576-6300
  Complaint Hotline: 410-528-8662
  Attorney General's Main Switchboard (Toll-Free): 1-888-743-0023
  E-mail: consumer@oag.state.md.us
  Internet Web Site: www.oag.state.md.us/Consumer



The Consumer Protection Division of the Office the Attorney General provides mediation services to consumers to help resolve complaints against businesses. They can also provide information about complaints that have been filed against businesses and provide publications to help consumers make good decisions in the marketplace.

• Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Metro Washington DC
  1411 K Street, NW, 10th Floor
  Washington, D.C. 20005
  Phone: 202-393-8000 Fax: 202-393-1198
  E-mail: info@dc.bbb.org
  Internet Web Site: www.dc.bbb.org
  
  

The BBB promotes integrity and business ethics through self-regulation in the marketplace and offers public services related to ethical business practices and dispute resolution. Services provided by the BBB include a 24-Hour automated telephone inquiry service, which provides reliability reports on companies and charitable organizations. In addition, the BBB provides complaint filing services, general monitoring of advertising in the marketplace, dispute resolution services and consumer/business education programs. BBB information and services are provided at no cost to the public with the exception of mediation and arbitration services.

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
  600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
  Washington, D.C. 20580
  Phone: toll-free 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) or 202-FTC-HELP
  Internet Web Site: www.ftc.gov

While the FTC does not resolve individual consumer disputes, your complaint, comment, or inquiry may help them spot a pattern of law violations requiring law enforcement action. It can also help the FTC recognize and tell people about larger trends affecting consumers. If you have a complaint about a particular company or organization, you may volunteer to submit information for investigation. Consumer protection matters investigated include consumer fraud, false or misleading advertising, telemarketing, and warranties.

• Direct Selling Association
  202-347-8866
  www.dsa.org
  
  
• National Fraud Information Center
  800-876-7060
  
  

• National Association of Attorneys General
  202-326-6000

• National Consumer Law Center
  The center discusses the ways consumers can get financially ripped off by fraudulent door-to-door sales of products
  www.nclc.org/consumer/open.html

• Charles County Chamber of Commerce (CCCC)
  6360 Crain Highway
  La Plata, Maryland 20646
  Phone: 301-932-6500 Fax: 301-932-3945
  Internet Web Site: www.charlescountychamber.org

The members of the CCCC provide leadership in supporting and promoting the free enterprise system through business development, education, and sound ethical values for the benefit of members and the community.

• Small Claims Court, District Court of Maryland, Charles County
  200 Charles Street
  P.O. Box 3070
  La Plata, MD 20646-3070
  Phone: 301-932-3300 / 1-800-941-3463
  Internet Web Site:www.courts.state.md.us/district/

  Small Claims Court is a division of the District Court of Maryland. It handles disputes involving no more than $2500, and does so with less formality than other Maryland courts. The Court's rules of procedure and evidence are relaxed to make it easier for persons to represent themselveswithout hiring attorneys, although parties may have attorneys represent them if they choose. An officer of a corporation may appear on behalf of the corporation in a civil suit involving a claim not exceeding $2500. The cases are decided by the judge. There is no jury. There is a $10.00 filing fee.

  A lawsuit may be filed in Small Claims Court in the District Court if:

• The suit is for money only (not for the return of property or performance of a service, for example
• The suit is for no more than $2500 plus interest and costs.
• The person filing suit (plaintiff) is at least 18 years old. If the plaintiff is not 18 years old, another person who is at least 18 years old must sue on the plaintiff's behalf.

District Court staff help individuals by handing out sample pleading forms, samples of how pleading forms are filled out and pamphlets describing how small claims courts work. Various forms can also be accessed and printed from the web site address. The staff does not give legal advice.

• Maryland State Police (MSP)
  Sgt. William Johnson
  License Service Section, Licensing Division
  Pikesville, MD
  Phone: 410-799-0191 x329
  7751 Wash Blvd.
  Jessup, MD 20794

Title 18 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, enacted October 1, 1997, requires alarm and security related businesses be licensed by the MSP with the issuance of a State of Maryland Security Systems Agency License. This license requires criminal history background checks and fingerprinting be conducted for security/alarm company employees. You may wish to contact this office if you believe your alarm company is not in compliance with this state law.

• American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
• 601 E St. NW
  Washington, DC 20049
  Phone: 1-800-424-3410
  E-Mail: member@aarp.org
  Internet Web Site: www.aarp.org

AARP engages in legislative and consumer advocacy in many forums and on many subjects. Through its publications, web site and on-line services, educational forums and many other activities, the Association informs members and the public about consumer and other important issues. For excellent information on protecting consumers from telemarketing and door-to-door sales fraud, visit www.aarp.org/money/wise_consumer

• Attorney Referral Service of the
  Charles County Bar Association
  301-609-9350

• Local Consumer Reporters:

WRC/NBC 4
Liz Crenshaw
Consumer Reporter
202-885-4111/202-885-4000
4001 Nebraska Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016
askliz@nbcwashington.com

WJLA/ABC
Michael Finney
7 ON YOUR SIDE
202-364-7777
P.O. Box 39103
Washington, D.C. 20016

False Alarm Statistics
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